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START ROYAL: could face stronger opposition in pursuit of his second Mens Open of the season
photo: Jackie Oliver

East Anglia's Pub Quiz Team have another go at seeking out the winners for Cottenham's Sunday meeting.

11.30 a.m. Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club Members Race - 13 Entries
The Hunt Club Members has 13 possible runners and the obvious outstanding entrant is Cork All Star, who won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham no less, but we need to see what ability has been retained since last run two years ago. Anns Benefit has ability and Cousin John is talented and could run well.

Crazy Music is young and open to more improvement. Forget the Ref, Honourable Spider and Lord Attica all seem to have been around forever but are capable on their respective days. Gold Heart has won over £100k under Rules, but disappointed when favourite at Folkestone for a Hunter Chase and commands respect as does Kjetil.

Master Wolfe is difficult to fancy against some of these and Melteme who has winning Point-to-Point form may struggle too. Mister Pous is another who has won over 100k under Rules and ran well when second at Hereford in a hurdle in 2010. Saddlers Mount won two Point-to-Points in Ireland and has been campaigned unsuccessfully under Rules. All in all a fascinating race.
Selection: Cork All Star (Saddlers Mount)

12.05 p.m. Restricted - 11 Entries
Following the recent appalling weather it will be the going and the fitness of the mounts that will decide the race which has a rather sparse list of 11. Lan Na Lamh is the only horse to have run this season so should be in the frame after his eight lengths third on this track at the last meeting to Divine Intavention.

Hall Kelly, an Irish Maiden winner in October '09, twice seventh in both a bumper on the All Weather at Lingfield and a Maiden Hurdle at Ludlow in February 2010, does not inspire confidence and may not go the trip. The headstrong Sharmon, an easy young horse Maiden winner in May '10 at Easingwold following a second at the same track in April, could be the one to beat.

Rapidolyte De Ladalka won a short Maiden at Whittington in April this year beating Right Enough one length but not seen since. Mountain Emperor placed in three of his Restricted finishes in 2010 but seems to lack resolve and age is not on his side - best watched.
Selection: Sharmon (Lan Na Lamh)

12.40 p.m. Mens Open - 24 Entries
Once again the Entries contain several interesting horses and with many front runners included another sub-six minute time is on the cards, although several of these hold alternative engagements either here or elsewhere.

The Mens Open at the last meeting became an easy task for Start Royal, who was maintaining his unbeaten run in Points, when favourite Cedrus Libani all but refused to take part. This win showed there were no ill effects following his fall in a Hunter Chase at Fakenham last season.

Although Cedrus Libani was the winner of two Mens Opens and two Hunter Chases last season, a watching brief is recommended following his antics. Quotica de Poyans and Hivikos met in a Hunter Chase at Aintree in May over 2m4f. Hivikos won, whilst Quotica de Poyans fell at the third last. Prior to this Hivikos had won a Restricted at Woodford in the fastest time of the day, over five seconds quicker than the Mens Open in which Cedrus Libani finished second.

Before his fall at Aintree, Quotica de Poyans was unbeaten, having won a 2m4f Maiden at Cottenham two years ago before winning his Restricted in January ‘09, he was not seen again until he won a three-runner Members at Friars Haugh in February last year; this was followed by a facile win in a Hunter Chase at Kelso.

Indian Print won seven consecutive races last season, a Restricted, an Intermediate, a Confined, a Members and three Mens Opens; although he has yet to beat anything of note, he is young enough to show he win against better horses.

My Flora progressed from a Maiden winner to Intermediate winner in three successive runs and is clearly progressing; although she won her races well, a step into Open company against seasoned performers is a stiff task on her seasonal debut, but is an interesting contender.

Cork All Star has not run since November 2008, but was a horse of immense ability. The winner of his first four runs in Bumpers, which included the Cheltenham Bumper at the festival in '07, he then won his first run over Hurdles; he continued to compete at the highest level, finishing second to horses such as Pomme Tiepy, Jered and Forpadydeplasterer, also finishing seventh in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival behind Captain Cee Bee.

Another who has not run since 2008 is Massimo, who won an Intermediate and a Mixed Open and then two Hunter Chases, one at Towcester and one at Cheltenham.

Those that have had a run hold a clear advantage particularly with the recent inclement weather, but it may be worth taking a chance on the fitness of Hivikos who won first time out last year.
Selection: Hivikos (Quotica de Poyans)

1.15 p.m. Countryside Alliance Club Members (Novice Riders) - 11 Entries
With a blanket of snow covering most of the country it is clear that many yards will not have done much work over the last few weeks so fitness will be at a premium. Four of those entered have had a run this season, Ballybough Jack and Tumbling Dice from the Ferguson yard, Aughlee Bridge fourth (and last) in the Ladies Open at Cottenham and Sykee Savage, fourth of eight finishers in a Novice Riders race at Black Forest.

Tumbling Dice's race was the most impressive but this was in the hands of James Owen - it remains to be seen if likely jockey James Anderson can get the same tune out of this multiple Irish Hurdle and Chase winner. Of those with no run, Xila Fontenailles primarily ran in Ladies races last season and, whilst never winning, performed creditably and the same partnership should at least know each other better this season.

However, it is from elsewhere where we draw our selection. Belevard from the Quinlan yard is sure to be fit as was evidenced last season with a win first time out. Likely jockey Jack Quinlan, a noticeable recruit from pony racing, has already ridden three winners between the flags and one Hunter Chase. He looks a cut above the rest and this partnership should come out on top.
Selection: Belevard (Tumbling Dice)

1.50 p.m. Ladies Open - 21 Entries
A good quality Entry with two Foxhunters possibles in Kicks For Free and Picaroon, some decent recruits from NH and several well-respected Pointers. Kicks For Free won fairly easily here in December but could find Picaroon (ex-Tim Vaughan) a tougher opponent as he has better recent form. Description, Double Mead and Spellchecker are all new recruits from NH. Description was decent Chaser for Sue Smith and is probably the best of these three.

Double Mead (ex-Kim Bailey) has already tried a Point, finishing well behind Sericina at Wadebridge; he'll have to improve significantly to take this. Spellchecker cost J Howard Johnson £155k three years ago but has generally disappointed.

Of the established pointers, Quotica de Poyans has the best form and it would be interesting to see him take on the above. Scotland Yard (a half-brother to Picaroon) has a great turn of foot and is ideally suited to easy courses like Cottenham; although disappointing in Hunter Chases he still has a chance in this if back to his best.

Minouchka is returning from a season under Rules. Big Moment and Inaro both ran well here last time and have place chances.
Selection: Picaroon (Kicks For Free)

2.25. p.m. Open Maiden - 23 Entries
An Entry of 23 for this contest and with the safety factor being 18 there is a remote possibility the race may divide on the day. Aim For The Stars was the subject of a major gamble here at the previous meeting but finished second, beaten three lengths by Stress in a very quick time; he showed a bit of ability under Rules when with Henry Daly and was third to Like Minded in a Kempton Novice Hurdle in November 2009. The Maz Scudamore yard have a good record at this course, so he must have a very big chance in this race but also holds an Entry in the youngster's Maiden.

Alan Hill is another trainer with a fine record at this venue and his Viel Gluck unseated just after halfway in Aim For The Stars' race. Viel Gluck has been placed eight times under Rules he was third at Sedgefield in April '09 in an Amateurs' Chase when partnered by Nina Carberry and his best form has been at stiffish tracks and may be seen to more advantage at a course where the emphasis is more on stamina than speed.

Tank Top was once officially rated at 122 and has jumped round premier tracks such as Newbury, Cheltenham and Chepstow. He hasn't completed on his last two outings but was third at Newbury in December '09 beaten 14¾ lengths by Knighton Combe in a Handicap Chase; he comes from Harry Hobson's yard and will be ridden by Clare Hobson.

Killeaney Princess was second at Hexham in a 2m4f contest in May, beaten 10 lengths by Tigerific; she has had little racing but may improve and Victor Thompson's yard have had a Maiden winner at this course previously. Ringa Bay was sent off favourite for a Whitfield Maiden in February but fell whilst leading and was not seen out again. Lady Diktat was placed eight times on the flat, including seconds at Windsor and Goodwood, but she has never raced over a distance greater than 12 furlongs and more importantly hasn't raced for almost three-and-a-half years! Aim For The Stars really stands out in this contest to gain compensation for his previous run and we'll go with Tank Top as our second choice.
Selection: Aim For The Stars (Tank Top)

3.00p.m. Open Maiden - 4, 5, 6 & 7yr old - 13 Entries
The legend has already mentioned Aim For The Stars in the previous race but this race looks easier and connections could prefer to run in this one. Aim For The Stars, Argentato and The Dark Horse all ran in the same race at the previous meeting here this season. Argentato was second at Northaw in a Maiden last year but previously had been running in Ladies Opens and has been placed on a few occasions, probably been aimed rather too highly; coming back to Maidens could well offer a win.

The Dark Horse has shown plenty of speed but doesn't stay even over the shorter distance and would not appear to have much of a chance here. Jack The Lad has had three runs in Irish points, finishing fourth on one occasion and pulling up in the others. Coka has run under Rules and shown very little form. Ringa Bay is from a good yard and did finish second in an Irish point, started as favourite in only run last season in a youngsters Maiden in which fell and was not seen again, but he seems to have ability.
Selection: Ringa Bay (Argentato)

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