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Bettrends' regular blogger made the last day of 2011 one to savour with a trip to Cottenham.

Pointing in the Wrong Direction

What better place to spend New Year's Eve than in a field, with hundreds of other people, a few miles north of Cambridge. They have been racing at Cottenham since the mid-1800s, formerly under rules before becoming solely a Point-to-Point course in the middle of the last century. It was the first Point-to-Point course I ever visited and always features at least once on my winter itinerary. There is a stand to keep the rain off, permanent toilets and a bar, not to mention an old fashioned ‘Spangeletti' style number board with the runners and riders written up in chalk. The flat, sharp course is just under a mile and a half round and the viewing is superb.

With a whopping 184 entries across the seven race card, the opening Hunt Members race was brought forward to 11am. Yes, 11am! Not adverse to an early start, I was on the road shortly before nine and arrived at the Cambridgeshire venue just after ten. Now, 10am, is that too early to have a drink? I decided it wasn't and on the premise that the bar probably wouldn't be open yet, I hastily pulled a bottle of Badger's Thirsty Ferret from the boot of the car. With my thirst duly quenched, I then headed over towards the enclosures to actually find the bar was indeed open, so I ordered a pint of Adnams Broadside to keep the Badger company!

It was quite refreshing to actually be at Cottenham with the mercury in the thermometer reading in double figures. At the corresponding meeting last season, it barely rose above freezing and was probably one of the coldest days I have ever spent at the races, even the mulled wine failed to warm the cockles that day! Cambridgeshire always seems colder than anywhere else though. It must be something to do with how flat the county is - it wouldn't surprise me if they have to tie the grass down to stop it blowing away!

Despite being a great day out, my punting prowess at Points is unfortunately nigh on dreadful; in fact I can name the winners I have backed at the amateur game on just my fingers. Hunter Chases, well they are different, I seem to have a bit of a knack at those, but I still haven't mastered Pointing. I can spot a fit horse, I can tell you who the leading trainers or more proficient riders are, but putting all those things together seems beyond me!

Given Cottenham's proximity to Newmarket, I shouldn't have been surprised to see a whole raft of the town's training contingent had made the short journey down the A14 to Cambridgeshire. James Fanshawe, Peter Chapple-Hyam and John Ferguson were all seen ambling about, the latter, under his Pointing licence, had a quick fire double in the shape of Now Then Charlie in the Restricted and Earth Dream in the following Men's Open. I must admit I was quite furious with myself for allowing the first to go unbacked, given he had some form in a hot little novice chase down at Chepstow earlier in the season against the likes of RSA candidates Join Together and Teaforthree. I then, mistakenly, took on Earth Dream with Ravethebrave, who was formally with Alan King, but is now under the tutelage of Alan Hill - Lawney's husband. He was pretty good under rules, or so I remember, so was disappointed to say the least when he trailed home in second place, about half a dozen lengths off the winner. Never mind, no major harm done, I always halve my stakes when Pointing and you can understand why!

Given the financial position outlined above, I unfortunately had no money to spend on the number of trade stands that had set up shop on the in-field. Past purchases from Cottenham have included a pair of salt and pepper shakers with an attractive hunt scene painted on (I recently broke the salt one), a small Snaffles print (unbroken at present) and a waistcoat (don't ask). It's amazing what you can pick up at these events; I was particularly taken with a hat in the shape of a dog's head, a sort of canine deer-stalker number, but I decided to leave it on the shelf on the basis that no one really wants to spend New Year's Eve alone!

With such an early start and given that I didn't stay for the last race for fear of being trapped in there until the New Year, I was home by mid-afternoon allowing me to catch up with the action from Challow Hurdle day at Newbury. I didn't fare much better there to be honest with three more losing selections! Dear oh dear, what a way to end the year, four losers in a row. Slightly depressed, I opened a bottle of Champagne, settled in for the night with Jools Holland and his annual Hootenanny and prayed that 2012 was going to be more kind!

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