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RICHARD BURTON: sporting some tight-fitting silks aboard Cedrus Libani
photo: Jackie Oliver

Richard Burton, wearing the set of colours normally donned by 14-year-old Emily Rucker for pony racing - "They were the only ones we had available," smiled her father William - won the Men's Open on Cedrus Libani, now trained at home by Angela after a spell with Evan Williams.

"All my schooling over poles has obviously helped," said Angela, adding "even though he wasn't very good over them!" "He needed the run because he blew up along the back, but that will have done his confidence a lot of good," reported Richard of Cedrus Libani, who had frightened himself when running over fences

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Whether an ‘A' level in Religious Studies proves to be good grounding for a profession as a National Hunt jockey remains to be seen, but Jack Sherwood, who is combining this subject with Business Studies and P.E. at Shrewsbury School, certainly showed his potential when bringing Posh Dude with a perfectly-timed run under hands and heels to get up on the line to land the spoils in the Restricted.

Posh Dude has been lent for the season by breeder Simon Plumbly to Jack's father Simon, himself a former top jockey who started his racing career between the flags in East Anglia, the course at Marks Tey being on the family farm. "John Ferguson [owner of the runner-up Lotta Presents] is a great mate of mine," said Simon, "and when they came round the last bend I realised who was in front, so I shouted at him ‘Oh no, it's your bl***y horse in the lead!'"

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"I like it here. Alan's been on about what a good course it is, and he's right. I'd have come again even if I'd had a c**p day!" Norman Thomas, whose Leader Blue - "if she hadn't won a Point-to-Point I'd have given up owning horses!" - was saddled by Alan Hill to take the 2m4f Maiden Division Two.

Norman's Knightsbridgelives was runner-up in Division One, and his other runner Freedomofthecity ran well prior to parting company with Tom Garner on the final bend in the Members Conditions.

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"She's honest but not the quickest. She needs a strongly-run race and a trip." Jockey James Tudor's summing-up of Leader Blue, on whom Racing Post Weekender pundit Andrew Barr has been riding work at home.

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Brothers Christopher and Simon Cox had not been Point-to-Pointing for about 30 years, but both were present to see Lease Back take the Members Conditions Division One under trainer Linda Cannon's son Tom.

"It's a poignant success," explained Christopher, "as this was father's horse, and he died in August." Tom, for whom it was a third winner, spent some time with David Pipe but is now working for Alan Fleming.

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Another rider to register a third victory was Cirencester student Claire Douglas, who brought Big Moment with a well-timed run to land the spoils in the Ladies' Open and thus retain the trophy he won 12 months earlier. "He's a quirky old horse, but he does jump well," was trainer Jenny Gordon's assessment.

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"We might win a prize for being the first East Anglian on the day." Ian Thurtle, joint-owner, with trainer Robert Abrey, of Forget The Ref, takes a pessimistic view after eyeing up the opposition in the Members Conditions Division Two. Suffice to say the mare romped home in the hands of Rupert Stearn.

Surprisingly, Robert had never before had a winner at Cottenham. "Anyway, it usually takes us until May," he laughed. Forget The Ref, who is not always an easy ride at home, is ridden out every day by Ian - "because Robert's afraid of falling off!" he grinned.

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Maz Scudamore rarely leaves Cottenham without a winner, but Sunday was not her day. A problem with her lorry meant that the vehicle could manage a top speed of only 40mph, so the usual three-hour journey took five, and her charge Mr Goofy, favourite for division two of the Members Conditions, hit the deck before halfway.

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Peter and Lisa Hall's colours are well-known in the world of Point-to-Pointing, Cottage River and Why Connie being just two of their success stories, but Goscar Rock, who led from pillar to post in the 3m Maiden, was the first winner they had trained at home. "I just led him get on with it," reported rider Phil York, " and the only time he messed up was when I tried to organise him at the last."

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Simon Walker, who celebrated his 37th birthday three days earlier, has won the Amateur flat racing title on numerous occasions, and when all the fences in the home straight had to be dolled off in the 2m4f Maidens due to low sun, he must have wondered in which discipline he was taking part.

In any case, he had little difficulty in taking Division One on Don Cantillon's hard-pulling four-year-old Inner Steel. "He wears a cross-noseband at home," said Don, "so maybe I should have put it on today."

Inner Steel, on whom the money was down, was ready to go Pointing last season but ran instead in a Bumper, from which he returned with a temperature. His fencing was not always fluent, but, reported Simon, "He hated the ground, and we just weren't going fast enough."

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