09 March 2010 Preview: Fitzwilliam (Milton) - Cottenham
by James Crispe
START ROYAL: unbeaten in Point-to-Points
photo: Steve Hunt
Cottenham hosts a busy day of equine entertainment on Sunday March 14 when the main attraction is the 102-entry Fitzwilliam (Milton) Point-To-Point, which commences at 1.00pm.
Seven races are scheduled but there is every chance that the closing 2m4f Maiden will have to be divided on the day as it has 30 entries and a maximum field size of 16. At present the finale is set to come under orders at 4.35pm but, should it need to be split, the second division will go off at 5.10pm.
The East Anglian Pony Racing season got under way at Ampton last Sunday and carries on with two more races here. Unusually for Cottenham, these will take place before the steeplechasing rather than after, so an early arrival is necessary to catch them at noon and 12.15pm.
Another additional attraction is an Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) sponsored legwax, which will take place in the bar in the centre of the course at the end of the afternoon. Organised by jockey Tony Williams, who received outstanding support from the IJF when he broke his leg last year, alongside his wife Becky, the event will see ten of the region's top jockeys go through the pain of having their legs waxed in full public view.
Back to the jump racing, the action gets under way with a seven-Entry Hunt Race which could see a meeting of two old rivals, the 2008 winner Bobbies Ryde and Wicked Nice Fella, who deposed him last year.
The Mens Open has 14 engaged and the stand-out here is the unbeaten course specialist Start Royal, from the Alan Hill yard. Pick of his potential rivals is Coat Of Honour, who ran creditably in a Huntingdon Hunter Chase on his seasonal debut.
There are also 14 possible runners in the Ladies Open while the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate should see a change of luck for Lotta Presents, whose two outings at this venue have resulted in a narrow defeat to Posh Dude and a first fence calamity.
Cottenham is four miles north of Cambridge near the B1049, post code CB24 8RG. It is best approached using junction 33 of the A14.
Take the A10 signed for Ely. Then take the third left (after the Park and Ride and the Recycling Centre) to Landbeach. Go straight through the village of Landbeach, past the playing field and take the first left out the other side. The course is half a mile further down this road.
Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s free and racecards priced at £2.50.
