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LEASE BACK: fancied to run well in the Novice Riders race
photo: Tim Holt

The East Anglian Pub Team have taken some time off from last minute Christmas shopping to provide us with a comprehensive preview of the festive meeting at Cottenham on December 28th.

11.00 a.m The Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club Members Conditions Race - 11 entries
Well here we go with an 11am start for the Hunt Club Members and if the eleven entries hold their ground this could be a cracker! Duke of Stradone won at Higham last year but is likely to find this too hot, whilst Master Wolfe makes mistakes but is capable on his day. Ronan The Warrior won at Cottenham last year but that was a poor race. Sirius Storm was extremely impressive when winning a Hunt Club Members at Cottenham though ran poorly under Rules. Start Royal was superb in two runs last season, winning a Maiden here and Restricted at Higham, subsequently being named in the Mackenzie & Harris Annual as a Chase Star to watch this season. Where's My Baby was excellent last year, winning the Mens Open at Fakenham as well as three other contests. Young Collier is another extremely capable horse who ran well in Hunter Chases at Leicester last year, but Real Cracker may struggle in this company. Presenting Express has run well under Rules this year and is another danger, whereas Mulaazem has been running reasonably on the flat but that form has started to tail off. Mnason is another who has been running under Rules but may struggle in this.
Selection: Wheres my Baby (Young Collier)

11.35 a.m. Restricted - 17 entries
Two horses return to Cottenham after winning their respective Maidens here earlier this month; ex-National Hunt eight-year-old Goscar Rock and the promising four-year-old Inner Steel. Goscar Rock took first place in the older horse Maiden, beating many other higher rated horses, including evens favourite Bynack Mhor, by a distance, whilst Inner Steel won the first division of the 2m4f Maiden by four lengths, starting as favourite in his first race over jumps having finished sixth in a bumper at Kempton in April.

Another to have raced this season is General Bob, runner up in the second division of the Restricted at Black Forest Lodge, finishing twelve lengths adrift of evens favourite Moncada Way. The Eric George-trained High Toby was sent off as 6-4 favourite for a Restricted at Delting in March 2009, finishing three lengths behind the Philip York trained Nessa, and could be one to keep an eye on. Supa Tramp was last placed between the flags at Fakenham in 2008 but has run creditably under Rules since then, including a second place in a Conditionals' Handicap at Plumpton as well as two further places at Market Rasen and Fakenham within the last year. Another to have performed well at Fakenham is ten-year-old Tuesday Club, a Maiden winner at the course last season; the Henry Hill-trained gelding finished the season with a second in the Confined at Northaw, just half a length behind favourite Bunratty's Sole, and could be a contender here, although past form under Rules suggests he is error-prone.
Selection: Supa Tramp (Inner Steel)

12.10 p.m. Mens Open - 23 entries
Many of the horses entered in this race are also entered in other races here or at Chaddesley Corbett. Five of the entries ran in the Mens at the last meeting, including the winner of that race, Cedrus Libani, who jumped well and won easily that day with Yann's in second and Moscow Court in fourth. Keepthedreamalive ran out in that contest, whilst One To Note pulled up. The form was boosted when Robin De Sherwood, who unseated his rider two out when in touch, came out the following week to win the Ladies Open at Alnwick.

Forget the Ref also won at the last Cottenham fixture, claiming the Club Members Conditions race by 20 lengths from Sirius Storm, with Real Cracker back in third, in a time seven seconds slower than Cedrus Libani's contest. Caveman was in the form of his life last year, winning four Mens Opens and being placed in a Towcester Hunter Chase, whilst Where's My Baby was a model of consistency during his last campaign and has an option here as well as in the first.

Many of the remainder have been running under Rules, one of the classiest being Billyvoddan, who was a high class winner for Henry Daly and finished less than a length behind Taranis in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in 2007, but has gone without a win for three years.

Locksmith was a multiple winner at up to Grade 2 under Rules whilst owned by David Johnson, whilst Azetec Warrior and John Diamond both won chases for Henrietta Knight back in 2007. The Luder was successful for Paul Nicholls but has not won since February 2008, the former Charlie Mann inmate Nadover would benefit from cut in the ground, whilst Super Lord was last seen in action in the Velka Pardubicka in October, where he finished a creditable seventh.
Selection: Locksmith (Cedrus Libani)

12.45 p.m. The Countryside Alliance Club Members Race for Novice Riders - 12 entries
Duke of Stradone, Presenting Express and Lease Back have all run this season so should strip fitter for their endeavours and no-one can have failed to be impressed with Lease Back's win at Cottenham in the first division of the PPORA Club Members race. However, there are some interesting new recruits to Pointing who have found glory under Rules in the past but now may benefit from a step down in grade.

Often with Novice Riders races it can pay to check the jockey connections - last season we raved about Sam Twiston-Davies, who sure enough has gone on to great things. We also noted Jack Sherwood, who impressed many with his win on Posh Dude at the course earlier this month. The Railway Man is an interesting recruit from Ireland, having had one Pointing start there since losing his way under Rules. Log On Intersky is the one of the most experienced in the field, with no less than 81 races under Rules, but hasn't bothered the judge for almost three years. The Luder's form has been in decline, so he may benefit from a change of scenery, whilst Aztec Warrior may be a good schoolmaster for a Novice Rider, having never fallen even if he has not managed to win since 2007.
Selection: The Railway Man (Lease Back)

1.20 p.m. Ladies Open - 18 entries
A high quality entry topped by Cedrus Libani, and Full House, who won the Ascot Stakes in 2007 and also ran in the Cesarewitch on the level and Peterborough Chase when on National Hunt duty for Paul Webber. Cedrus Libani is preferred, as Full House, although possibly a better horse over fences, may need the run as he was last seen when pulling up in September 2008. Other recent NH recruits include Badger, who won a 3m Novices' Chase at Fakenham last season but rates well below the best here.

Cathedral Rock was let down by poor jumping at the last meeting but should come on for the run; Inaro is the course record holder over 2m6f at Towcester but fell here last time and really needs faster ground. Montevideo won three chases for Jonjo O'Neill but has a Timeform squiggle to his name, and Robin de Sherwood was picked up cheaply last summer after failing to thrive at Richard Guest's yard and then won the Ladies at Alnwick. Of the established pointers, Big Moment won here last time though the race time was five seconds slower than the Mens and this will be tougher; King Du Berlais is talented but the Turner's horses usually run better later in the season, whilst Petit Lord was favourite here last time but appeared to fade after the last.

Scotland Yard was the region's leading Ladies horse last season, winning all the Points he completed, but did look vulnerable when up against stronger competition later in season, whilst Sericina and Skyhawk both have very good Point-to-Point form from last season.

Cedrus Libani is our selection but connections may well prefer the Harkaway Club meeting in which case our selections are:
Selection: Full House (Scotland Yard)

1.55 p.m. Open Maiden - 15 entries
A very modest lot entered here, typical of many senior Maiden races in the area. Crack at Dawn has had a run this season, finishing second and beaten three-quarters of a length in an Open Maiden at Black Forest Lodge. Double Past and Carriage Ruler both ran at the last meeting here, finishing fifth and sixth respectively to Goscar Rock, but both were beaten a long way and appear to be modest.

Lee Gap Fair has had four runs under Rules and missed last season, but did finish a creditable fourth at Godstone in 2008 although he will probably need the run here.

Moisyr Ashan had five runs in Irish Points, twice finishing fourth on soft; Monkerty Tunkertey was two lengths second here to Leader Blue at the last meeting here, with Mr Johnson a further 20 lengths back in third.

Supreme Henry has third on two occasions in Larkhill Maidens and appears to have his limitations but could just be good enough for this depending on what runs. The outcome may depend on which race Monkerty Tunkerty runs in, as he looks the obvious selection in both Maidens, however we feel connections may prefer to run him in the young horse contest.
Selection: Mr Johnson (Crack at Dawn)

2.30. p.m. Open Maiden 4, 5, 6 and 7yo - 2m4f - 28 entries
This race has attracted an entry of 28 and with the safety factor being 16 there is every chance of a split on the day. Monkerty Tunkerty sets the standard when a two length second to Leader Blue at the last meeting here. The time of that race was six seconds faster than the division won by Inner Steel; a repeat of that form should see him go close here. Mr Johnson was third last time, 15 lengths adrift of the runner-up.

Just Judy was third in Inner Steel's race, beaten six lengths; she could again run into a place. Horsham Lad was second in a Hereford bumper for Evan Williams in February 2008, beaten three-and-a-quarter lengths by Vacario. Rockfield hails from Nibby Bloom's stable and was placed second on his final three runs last season, which gives enough encouragement to suggest that he could go close if fully wound up on his seasonal debut. Grand Silence was second in a Beginners' Chase at Fontwell in May 2008, beaten 12 lengths by Zilcash.

Law Court was third on his debut in a Huntingdon bumper when 11 lengths behind Topsham Belle, but disappointed on his next outing at Stratford; he comes from a yard that can get them ready first time out, whilst Deadly Dude was placed once from two starts in Irish Points.

A trappy contest to assess and with a split likely it makes it even harder. Monkerty Tunkerty finished a good second here previously in a quick time and gets the nod and Rockfield if fully fit should go close.
Selection: Monkerty Tunkerty (Rockfield)

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