During the off season in 2021 it was announced that no race meetings would be held at Cottenham Racecourse for the foreseeable future. With the current Pont-2-point season underway I thought we would publish the reports I wrote for the local media from the last three meetings held at Cottenham from the 2019/20 season. This is from the final race meeting to be held at Cottenham Racecourse, the Cambridge University Draghounds point-2-point held on 08-02-20. 

The final meeting of the Cottenham season, Cambridge Draghounds point-to-point, was held Infront of a modest crowd in sunny conditions. Ahead of the main meeting pony racing made a welcome return to Cottenham with two close races. Both flat races the first, Collington Racing Ltd was for 138cm and under and saw full field of ten runners over six furlongs. It was 12-year-old Zak Kent who made the running on Little Galway Girl but as they ran to the post it was 13-year-old Archie Gubb riding Bombay Moonstone who timed his run to perfection taking the win by half a length. The second Highflier Bloodstock Agency race was for up to 148cm and saw six runners over seven furlongs. In the run to the post it was a two-horse race between 14-year-old Joe Leavy on Madame Mimi and 15-year-old William Flinton on Its Fatherted. There was nothing to separate the pair and as they passed the post and the decision went to the judges, after some deliberation it was a win for Its Fatherted by a head. Following the two races course starter Sir Mark Prescott addressed the riders commending them on the enthusiasm they showed and encouraging them to continue in the sport.

The main meeting started with the members race which saw four starters. Having made the running all the race Forever Field with Archie Wright withstood a late challenge from General Arrow and Gina Andrews to win by four lengths. With General Arrow fading on the run home it was Net D’Ecosse with Rupert Stearn who come home second. Next up was the first of the feature races, the Happy Birthday Anna Men’s Open sponsored by Nick & Tim Barrett. With eight runners to start it was DanDan with Tristram Durrell who lead the field over the first circuit and was still holding on in the closing stages. With three to go DanDan was joined at the front by Crazy Jack with Gillian Crow and pre-race favourite Just Cause with Rupert Stearn. At the second last Just Cause took a lead they were not to lose coming home to win by ten lengths, behind it was Zeroeshadesofgrey with Alex Chadwick coming through for second with Mahlers Star and John Simpson just three quarters a length back in third. The Men’s Open was followed up by the other feature race, the Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons Ladies Open, with seven runners. Leading for the majority of the race was Knockedoutloaded with Alex Knight but midway around the second circuit came under pressure. At the Cattleyard it was pre-race favorite Lord Scoundrel with Lily Pinchin challenged, taking the lead with two to go. As Knockedoutloaded tried to stay in touch it was Lord Scoundrel who came home six lengths clear.

The first of the 2-mile 4-furlong races was next up, the Hardcastle Burton Restricted race with six runners. Bold Gesture with Richard Collinson lead early on, at the open ditch Rivercourt Guy with Alex Chadwick took up the running. At the third last Bold Gesture fell leaving Signed and Sealed with Jack Andrews to challenge. Into the last it was Signed and Sealed in the lead that they were not to lose coming home five lengths clear of Rivercourt Guy who was just a length and half ahead of Mano Cornuto with Charlie Marshall in third. Four runners came to start the Dakin Estates Open Maiden race where pre-race favourite My Bobby Dazzler with Ben Bromley lead the early stages but fell. That left Morning Smiles with Archie Wright and Manicman with Jack M Andrews to dispute the lead. For a while it looked like Archie Wright could get his second win of the day but it was Manicman who came through to win by five lengths giving Jack M Andrews his first Cottenham win. The final race of the day was the W.D.Chipchase Open Maiden over 2-miles 4-furlongs with nine runners. There was drama early on at the sixth fence when leader Mega Mani fell also causing second placed Courtley Love and No Gale with Archie Wright to fall. This left Josh The Plod in the lead with Charlie Buckle who came home three lengths clear of pre-race favorite Ringa Ding with Charlie Marshall in second.

There were also two presentations made at the meeting. The first was for rider of the month which went to Ben Bromley while Jack Andrews received the trophy for Cottenham leading rider 2019/20. Further information can be found by visiting Cottenham-racecourse.co.uk.

Photo galleries

Pony Racing – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3005305033070302&type=3

Point-2-Point – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3005319419735530&type=3

Gary Malkin