At The Races

This contest, probably seen as something of an anachronism by many punters despite - or perhaps because of - its long history, brought together the traditional mix of old-timers pursuing new careers after being with top stables and relative upstarts from the point-to-pointing field.

Unfortunately for those needing a steer as to which group to bank on for betting purposes, results from the past few years were inconclusive, with the likes of Earthmover (2004) scoring for the old-timers and Kingscliff, back for more after his 2003 triumph, collecting for the upstarts.

Furthermore, the record showed that punting in this event is fraught with dangers, however much you study the form from Larkhill and Milbourne St Andrew, as winners in the past decade had been returned at odds of 20-1 four times and 33-1 once.

CAPPA BLEU, twice a winner in Ireland last season, had made a step forward since joining Sheila Crow's stable and good judges who had seen him score at Horseheath and Chaddesley Corbett this term reckoned he had the talent successfully to take on more experienced jumpers.

No horse since Rushing Wild, 17 years previously, had landed this event after coming straight from the pointing field, but Cappa Bleu, an 11-2 shot superbly ridden by Richard Burton, emulated that one's effort when collecting here by 12 lengths.

Burton's track-craft, which saw him keep tabs on the leaders without doing too much on the first circuit and then produce his mount for a decisive charge after the home turn, was also in evidence as he kept the seven-year-old commendably straight on the run-in.

Turthen, who, in contrasting fashion, lost ground by wandering under pressure after the final fence, nevertheless managed to hold on for second, beating Baby Run, whose effort was tremendously creditable considering he had been up with the pace from the outset.

Fourth-home Amicelli was attempting to notch back-to-back successes in this event and, as a course and distance winner, he had obviously deserved healthy respect, even if the form of the 2008 race had not looked vintage.

He had been deprived of his normal rider, Ollie Greenall, as he had been injured when falling earlier in the week, but his brother Thomas, stepping into the hot seat on a horse who is not the easiest of rides and had fallen on his most recent outing, did well to come home fast and late for his minor place.