News

Amicelli - the 2008 Cheltenham Foxhunter hero - made light of his 13 years with a comprehensive victory for the mother and daughter team of Cherry and Jacqueline Coward to win the AGA Ladies' Open Point-to-point Championship qualifier at this rearranged fixture.

Jacqueline received a 12-day ban for taking the wrong course at the Gloucestershire venue in December, but this only comes into operation on days when there are amateur races under Rules, so with none scheduled this weekend she was free to ride.

"We thought the only way to beat Sea Scout was to take him on and he travelled really well," said Jacqueline. Her tactics paid off - as the favourite, who likes to front-run - could never establish a lead as he had in his previous week's success. At times last season Amicelli had seemed a light of former days, but a change in his dietary routine has made all the difference.

He is likely to be kept to ladies' races for much of the campaign, but the AGA final, in which he finished fourth last year, is definitely on the agenda once again. Second-placed Sea Scout had already booked his place, having won the qualifier at Alnwick in December.

FULL RESULTS

1.  Amicelli, owned and trained by Cherry Coward, ridden by Jacqueline Coward.  SP 17/2.

2.  Sea Scout, owned by The Me And U 4 Partnership, trained by Russell Ross, ridden by Claire Metcalfe.  SP evens fav.

3.  Optimistic Harry, owned, trained and ridden by Sam Drake.

4.  Impact Zone, ridden by Jo Mason.

5.  Miss Tosca, ridden by Tina Jackson.

6.  Forsomeonelikeyou, ridden by Lucy Sutcliffe.

PU  Madison de Vonnas, ridden by Emma Todd.

7 ran.  Distances: 12 lengths & 20 lengths.  Time: 6min 48sec.