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A high standard has been set for the remainder of the season following a second successful meeting at Cottenham on Sunday. A total of 76 runners faced the starter for the seven-race card, on ground conditions described officially as Good and “perfect jumping ground” by several jockeys in attendance.

Two winners from the previous meeting that took place six weeks ago were back in the winners’ enclosure this time around. Fumet D’Oudairies, this time in the Restricted, once again excelled in the hands of Jack Andrews. With near foot perfect jumping the four-year-old comfortably saw out the three-mile trip and there should be much more to come from this exciting prospect that has been given the name “Nick” in Tom Ellis’ yard as a result of the circumstances of his purchase. He was picked up for a relatively cheap price and considered, jokingly, “nicked” as a consequence! Frank And Honest, who also won here in November, fell mid-race, whilst the runner-up, Bonamargy, pleased trainer/jockey Dale Peters as his horse was giving the winner seven pounds and was not beaten out of sight on his first run of the season.

The Ladies Open saw Nantwich trainer Joseph O’Shea saddle Ravished for another facile win following the gelding’s success here last month. Harriet Tucker enjoyed the proverbial ‘armchair ride’ for a convincing 15-length margin of victory. Having walked the course before racing, Tucker considered “it rode better than it looked” and was thankful for the opportunity to ride this stylish jumper to bag her first winner at the course. The trainer enjoys his visits to Cottenham and once again had the bookmakers running for cover as he considered his horse was effectively a 1/10 shot that went off at 4/6.

The Men’s Open went to the classy market leader Art Mauresque, who won with ease after Will Biddick asked for his mount’s effort three from home and the pair never looked back. Biddick rarely makes an appearance at Cottenham and this was only his second winner at the track in a career which has seen him amass over 450 winners.

There was a close finish between Call Me Vic and Ballykan in the Novice Riders contest (see video above), with the former confirming the form after their first and second placings at Barbury recently. Seventeen-year-old Albi Tufnell, from Cirencester, was riding his sixth career winner on his first visit to Cottenham and was both delighted and grateful for the experience. Delighted as his mother, Jane, owns the horse and grateful to the horse’s trainer Sally Randell – both of whom were in attendance to witness the win. Tufnell confirmed that the horse had given him every confidence and “a great feel “in a race where the favourite, The Last But One, spoilt his chances with several jumping errors, including one which Fergus Gillard did well to survive.

The two winners from the East Anglia region came courtesy of Laser Beam (Conditions) and Fiddler of Dooney (three-mile Open Maiden). Timworth-based trainer Andrew Pennock was delighted with both Laser Beam’s performance and his rider Sam Lee, on what was his debut ride for the stable. Lee had Laser Beam to the fore approaching six fences out and the partnership capitalised on the departure of the previously unbeaten Champagne Lilly three fences from home. The favourite had been travelling comfortably in the middle order and had just moved alongside the leaders before crashing out – her unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end. This left Laser Beam and Lords Park Star to make their way home, with the winner eventually finishing four lengths clear of the running-on Burtredgipandgump.

During the pre-season, Newmarket trainer James Owen had indicated that Fiddler Of Dooney was his selection as a horse to follow for the season, and apparently there are still some shares available in the horse. The six-year-old gelding, soon to be seven, had been placed in Irish points and hunter chases and looks an even better proposition following his efforts at the weekend. Although difficult to handle at home, the gelding was much more compliant on the track and combined with Alex Chadwick to win the three-mile Open Maiden by a half-a-length, with the pair just holding off the Philip Rowley runner Quinta Do Mar, ridden by Alex Edwards.

The aforementioned jockey had a mixed afternoon by his usual high standards, twice on the floor in his opening two rides on Champagne Lilly and then Caliente, followed by a somewhat disappointing effort from Now Ben in the Men’s Open, who was unable to improve on his previous four course. His final mount of the day, I Will Follow Her, finished pulled-up in the two-and-a-half-mile Open Maiden, which was eventually won by Oscars Fame. This win completed a fine training double on the day for Tom Ellis, with wife Gina Andrews aboard on this occasion. The horse had been purchased in the summer and brought along steadily, not helped by the recent wet weather causing some bottomless ground at the yard’s training gallops. However, there was a quiet confidence that the gelding would give a good account of himself and so it proved to be, with a three-length finishing advantage over Bold Gesture and Classic Lady a further five lengths adrift.