11 February 2008 Cambridgeshire University United Hunts Club - Cottenham
Lord Brunello: impressive winner of the Restricted under James Tudor
Although he had only 11 jumps to negotiate due to the omission of the three fences in the straight because of low sun, the eye-catcher of the day was undoubtedly the 2m4f Maiden Division Two winner, the Di Grissell-trained debutant Rear Gunner. Rider Alex Merriam, deputising for Philip Hall who was at Godstone, is unlikely to have an easier time all season.
Co-owned by Neil and Jane Maltby with his breeders Barry Cockerell and Alan Cowing, Rear Gunner, who had a wind operation last year, is out of the smart Nethertara, 13 times successful between the flags. Three days previously, Rear Gunner's half-sister Allfortara had finished a staying-on fourth in a Huntingdon Bumper. Nethertara herself has now been retired from broodmare duties and has returned from Ireland to live with Di's mother Ann Bailey near Newmarket.
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Di earlier legged up daughter Hannah to take the 3m Maiden on Prey Bird, whose owner-breeder Gavin Wragg had flown over from Ireland that morning to witness the triumph. It was only a fourth ride for Hannah since breaking her hip in a fall at Godstone last April.
It was a "double double" for Di, who also trained both Prey Bird's dam Goodlooking Bird and Nethertara.
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Georgina Andrews, 16 on February 3, made the perfect start to her Point-to-Point career by easily winning the Members' race on Moving Earth, who had completed two Aintree Fox Hunter Chases under Charlie Ward. Moving Earth has sometimes been reluctant to set off, and although on this occasion there was no problem, both Charlie, armed with an umbrella, and Georgina's father Simon, with plastic bag ready to rustle, were at the start in case a little help was required.
Georgina later finished a close fourth in the 3m Maiden on the hard-pulling Mountain Emperor, an excellent ride which left racegoers in no doubt that she would be booting home hatfuls of winners in future seasons.
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David Kemp, trainer-rider of 2m4f Maiden Division One winner Took My Eye, has a novel method of keeping owner Barry Belchem informed as to how things are going on the gallops. David tucks his mobile phone into the earflap of his helmet and is thus able to talk to Barry as the horse is working.
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"Well, that's stuffed up entering any Conditions races later on." Trainer Nibby Bloom in mock despair after George Greenock had given Caveman another good ride to hold off the Shropshire raider Go For Bust in the Men's Open.
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Alan Hill's love affair with Cottenham continued apace, the Oxfordshire handler's two runners both obliging. Lord Brunello gave championship leader James Tudor a weekend double by taking the Restricted, and Bering Gifts won the Ladies' Open to maintain Emily Jarvis's 100% strike rate at the track. Her four rides, all in Alan's own colours, have all been successful. Bering Gifts ran considerably further than any of his rivals, with Emily obeying instructions to the letter and keeping him to the wide outside of the track to avoid the chewed-up ground on the inner.
"He doesn't like people at all, and he's quite dangerous," said Alan's wife Lawney of Bering Gifts, who is a law unto himself. "The only people who have anything to do with him are Alan, and Emily's cousin Budge Griffiths, who's leading him up. She gets on well with him, and she massages his hamstrings for him. Alan would like her to do his as well!"
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Scare Lotte has a tremendous following in East Anglia, and her supporters went home happy after she comfortably landed the odds in the Novice Riders' race under Clare Hobson.
