News

Cottage River: landed the final Point-to-Point Classic Race of the season, The Lady Dudley Cup

Peter and Liza Hall had cause for celebration after Cottage River had outstayed his rivals to claim one of the most sought after prizes in the sport, the Lady Dudley Cup. The official going was good but that was not enough to persuade the connections of Coolefind to run and he remained in his box.

Eight runners went to post for the final classic of the season with Irilut favourite at 9-4, but there was also significant support for The Hookie Bookie and Cottage River.

Ran Morgan and Gentle Rivage set a strong pace from the start, so this was a true run race, and, as they went along the back straight for the first time, they held a narrow lead over Cottage River and the Welsh challenger Cannon Bridge.

That order remained virtually the same throughout the first mile or so, but The Hookie Bookie had already made a couple of mistakes before he was pulled up by Tom Ellis after making another at the 11th.

Gentle Rivage maintained his lead until the 13th but at the open ditch on the far side of the course he was passed in the air by Cottage River with Cannon Bridge 3-lengths away in third, while Irilut was noted making progress into fourth.

Having committed a long way from home, David Mansell was pushing Cottage River along to maintain their advantage as they made the climb into the home straight, where Irilut, under Sam Waley-Cohen, began to make their bid for glory.

Cottage River skipped over the third last and the gap over his pursuers began to increase, and at this point it was evident that Irilut was not going to repeat last year's success.

Cottage River and Mansell held a healthy advantage at the penultimate fence, but Dai Jones's mount, Cannon Bridge, began to look threatening as Irilut weakened back into third place.

Cottage River's stride began to shorten as they came to the last and this, coupled with Cannon Bridge's renewed effort, had the crowd on its feet, but having safely negotiated the last David Mansell drove his mount out to claim one of the sport's best pieces of silverware.

The jockey reported afterwards that: "the horse does nothing when he hits the front, but always finds more if required". This was the first win in the race for Bishops Cleeve based David Mansell and he had another good day in the saddle, although he was beaten on Deep Hall in the Restricted.

This victory was yet another feather in the training cap of North Nibley trainer Julie Houldey who saddled yet another winner later in the afternoon.

Nick Lowe's Orion de Sienne is described in the form book as being totally batty and his recent racecourse appearances appear to confirm that assessment but, the Westbury on Severn trainer insists, the horse has ‘some engine' but he needs to be covered up as much as possible.

Adrian Wintle carried out his instructions to the letter on the 6-year-old and after moving into a challenging position at the uphill fence four from home they then led over the remaining three fences.

Deep Hall was tracking that move but probably made what turned out to be a race-losing mistake at the 14th, which lost them ground at a vital time. They were soon back in contention but had 2-lengths to make up at the penultimate obstacle.

David Mansell then got down into the drive position and the partnership suddenly began to eat into the leader's advantage, but Deep Hall was still a head adrift as they swept past the judge.

The afternoon finished on a winning note for the Julie Houldey/David Mansell partnership when they took Division II of the Maiden with Will Gaskin's Grey Image.

The West Country challenger, Max's Choice, looked to have this race in the bag when he was left clear by the fall of his nearest challenger Good Time Willie at the third from home.

Ian Popham's mount was left with a healthy advantage at this point, although Grey Image was just starting to eat into that lead by the penultimate fence.

The complexion of the race then changed completely as Max's Choice's stride suddenly began to falter, while Grey Image appeared to sprout wings (although the trainer confirmed afterwards that her charge does not have a turn of foot). Grey Image stormed past his rival on the flat to claim the spoils by a length and a half.

The opening Members race had set the standard for the rest of the meeting with one of the day's most exciting finishes. Mikey Harris had taken Carthago to the front at the 13th and had maintained a narrow advantage until they were challenged over the final two fences.

At one time it looked as though Harris's strength would prevail, but he was passed in the last 75 yards by Alex Smith-Maxwell, aboard Hi Tech Man, who got the better of her cousin, Josephine Banks and her mount Coole Venture, by a length and a quarter with Carthago a head away in third.

"We've got the firmer ground at last", was the post race comment of owner Katherine Smith-Maxwell, while the winning rider was full of praise for trainer Pip Hooley.

Fergal O'Brien consolidated his position at the top of the trainer's championship after Fergal's Find and Hambaphambili had filled the first two places in the Confined.

Philtre set a strong early pace so Mark Wall was content to bide his time on the favourite, but with Philtre dropping back at the halfway point the lead was taken up by Jane Williams and Sapega. They had nothing left in reserve though when Hambaphambili struck the front as they turned back towards home.

Briefly outpaced down the back straight Fergal's Find suddenly began to find his stride and they came through to claim the spoils at the penultimate fence before sprinting away from his stablemate on the flat.

The 9-year-old has found a new lease of life this season and was winning his third race of the campaign for owner Patricia Duncan.

Oh So Lively had finished second to Croix de Guerre at Andoversford recently, but went one better in the Ladies' Open over the extended 3 mile 2 furlong trip.

The 10-year-old had been brought privately from Edward O'Grady by his Wormington based connections. The horse had been brought for Tom Evetts to ride but when he broke his collarbone in a schooling accident his trainer/father James decided the horse should take his chance in Ladies' races.

That proved a wise decision because there was only one winner when Claire Hart sent her mount to the front at the 15th. The writing was on the wall for their rivals thereafter because the leader just went further and further ahead and won by 25-lengths without coming off the bridle.

The Mares race went to the Puckeridge qualified Scare Lotte, who was given a confident ride by Claire Hobson. This partnership stormed to the front between the final two fences to land an easy victory in the colours of the rider's mother Rosemary. This is a real family affair because the mare is trained by Harry Hobson and was making up for last weeks unlucky defeat at Higham where she lost her weight cloth.

Adrian Wintle was taken to hospital with suspected back injuries after Ole Maestro had run out through the wing in Division I of the Maiden, but he was discharged later that evening.

This race resulted in the easiest win of the day, when Jeff Tredwell's home bred 8-year-old, Alf's Spinney, made up for his recent fall at Kimble with an easy win under Mark Wall who was replacing regular pilot Charlie Wadland.

Back to Top