Ferguson finds form with double
JOHN Ferguson was the man to follow at Cottenham on Saturday after notching a quick-fire double at the Cambridgeshire circuit.
Getting the ball rolling for the Cowlinge handler was a victory for Now Then Charlie in the Ernest Edwards Challenge Cup.
Partnered by leading point-to-point jockey James Owen, the pair stormed to victory by 15 lengths.
Ferguson was to return to the winners enclosure just a race later after watching his son James upset the odds on Earth Dream in the first of the afternoon’s feature races, The Ames Nissan Men’s Open.
Held up during the early stages of the race, Earth Planet took up the running three fences from home before coasting home 25 lengths clear from the former Alan King trained warm favourite Ravethebrave.
Macklin looked to give Ferguson a third winner of the afternoon when taking up a commanding position in the Hewitsons Open Maiden.
But Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock advisor’s charge drifted badly wide on the final bend under Owen, surrendering his lead to Oscar The Myth.
Although attempting to make up the lost ground, it was a case of too little too late with Oscar The Myth having seven lengths in hand at the post.
There was a thrilling conclusion to the day’s second feature race, The Cheffins Estate Agents Ladies Open, which saw Leac An Scail stage a late rally to deny Spellchecker on the line.
Jumping the last eight lengths clear Spellchecker, partnered by Georgina Andrews, looked to have the race in the bag.
But the former Howard Johnson trained gelding tired dramatically in the run in with Leac An Scail storming past just yards from the post under Samantha Drake to snatch an unlikely looking victory.
In the opening Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club Members conditions race a patient ride proved to be the key for winner Timeshift.
Gradually brought into the race by David Mansell the pair took up the running at the second last before running on to post a cosy 10 length victory.
Patrick Smith celebrated his first win in style when guiding Flowersoftherarest to a facile 20 length win in The Countryside Alliance Novice Riders Chase.
With the high number of entries in the Pointtopoint.co.uk Open Maiden, it was decided that the race would be split into two divisions.
Triumphing in the first was Accessallareas and Jeremy Mahot, while a photo finish was required for the second division, with Midnight King prevailing under Peter Martin.
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Weather for Newmarket
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
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