Not the biggest of crowds for Brighton's opening meeting of the 2008 season. Then again it was an additional meeting, transferred from Great Leighs, so it would not have appeared in peoples racing diaries.
It must also be said the field sizes were somewhat disappointing, not helped by several non-runners.
The opener saw some see-saw betting with The Galloping Shoe from the Noseda yard opening at odds on, drifting out to 6/4, before returning to evens.
Benhego missed the break terribly and when they eventually settled down it was the well backed North South Divide who made the running, tracked by Kitto Kasu and the favourite.
At the furlong pole North South Divide looked the winner, but Seb Sanders unleashed the favourite with a decisive run to win by 4 lengths. Outsider Lady Longcroft ran on to deny North South Divide second place.
With eight runners the mile handicap was the largest field of the afternoon. Winning Show was sent off the 11/4 favourite and, despite stumbling out of the stalls, was soon in the lead.
Coming to the final half furlong marker it seemed the Andrew Balding trained gelding was destined for victory.
Victory was thwarted, however, by a late charge from the Carl Llewellyn trained Steig who grabbed the spoils by ¾ length.
Support Fund took the only paying third spot of the afternoon.
A six furlong sprint was next up and yet again a front runner was denied.
Angus Newz was the one to be denied this time and, again, defeat came inside the final furlong.
This time it was the favourite Bentong, from the Paul Cole yard, who eventually took the race with something in hand.
In truth it was clear from early on that these two would be contesting the finish as none of the other runners looked like making a challenge.
On paper the second six furlong sprint looked to be a two horse race, with Phar Mai Blue at 4/5 and Espy at 15/8 clear favourites.
It is a fact of life that whenever plans are made there will invariably be a party pooper. This afternoon it appeared in the shape of the Andrew Balding trained 9/1 shot Restless Genius, who proved to be the genius, with a well timed run under Martin Dwyer.
The odds on favourite was only able to finish third, being done on the line by Espy.
What a contrast in the following race where the ying of a shock was balanced by the yang of an odds on winner.
In truth the race was over as a contest 4 furlongs out, when Mark Johnston justified the long journey south.
His 4/9 shot Captain Webb ran out a facile 20 length winner of the 1¼ mile contest.
I wonder if Captain Webb's supporters would have been so relaxed had they seen him in the parade ring, where he was rearing and being a real handful.
The excitement came in the race for second where it looked as though Kayflaa would have the measure of Maximus Aurelius.
For some reason though, Kayflaa just did not seem to want to pass his rival - rather disappointing that!!!
The form of the penultimate race is one to take with the entire Dead Sea, never mind a pinch of salt.
Arturius was on his toes in the parade ring and was not much better behaved down at the start.
Come the race he had his own ideas as well, setting off like a bat out of hell. After two furlongs he was already eight lengths in front, forcing a strong pace and making life difficult for the other riders.
Inevitably he tired and The Flying Cowboy was the first to challenge, but he flattered to deceive and after a short while his challenge petered out.
This gave the advantage to the favourite Prime Number but Harvest Joy under Jim Crowley was not going to let him have his own way, eventually wearing down the favourite for a 4½ length victory.
The pair finishing 20 lengths clear of the remainder
Despite the breakneck pace the race was still two seconds slower than Captain Webb's .
It matters not if you are the champion jockey or a claimer - you are not exempt from the effects of gravity, as Seb Sanders discovered when Bollywood unshipped him on the was to the start of the finale.
In the race itself Gunnadoit, ridden by Hayley Turner was sent off the odds-on favourite. His backers were made to sweat as he was under pressure as far out as four furlongs.
Even half a furlong from home it seemed the Gunnadoit was going to be done, but Haley gave one last push to send favourite backers home happy.