17:40 and that is it from a rather forlorn Cartmel, where the weather has done its utmost to spoil the day.
In all honesty not the best afternoons racing in history but Cartmel is still a lovely place to visit.
From deepest Cumbria good night.
17:30 Oh dear!! An absolutely shocking result for punters in our final race.
Only six runners, two of whom were 33/1 shots – guess which two filled the places? Yep, got it in one.
The Mike Sowersby trained Good Line, who was stone last for the early stages came to take the lead approaching the last and, quite frankly , won as he pleased by 21 lengths, from Sportula with the favourite Yachvili a further 22 lengths back in second.
The favourite was in with a chance for the first two mile but faded badly in the final stages.
Not sure if it was the ground or distance that did for him.
17:00 The bookies are smarting after our sixth as the very well backed Irish raider Sienna Storm took the spoils with a come from behind run under Michael Butler.
Debutant Boxhall set the pace from flag fall but faded two from home. Spiders Star’s race was brief as he was pulled up after the first and claimer Harry Haynes hit the deck hard after being unseated from Key To Caius.
Once Boxhall faded the running on Sienna Storm took up the running and it looked as though we would be in for our tightest finish of the afternoon as five turned the final bend with chances.
AP McCoy again dominated the finish on a spare ride, Hernando Cortes. As he did earlier he launched a late challenge only for the line to come too soon, although it must be said the leader had plenty in hand.
16:35 Another going change it is now Good to Soft
16:25 Our final chase of the afternoon saw the bookmakers prove the bookmakers wrong.
Za Beau was put in the favourite but weight of money for Commanche Topgun meant he went off favourite and Za Beau drifted from 9/4 out to 11/4.
Of course the horses don’t know about the betting and the favourite was never in contention, eventually pulling up.
Barneys Luck set the pace until it ran out four from home and he was headed by Harry May who was, in turn, headed by the winner at the last and he never looked to be in any danger pulling away the further they went, to claim a six length victory from Harry May with Red Dawn two lengths further back in third.
16:50 the weather may be wet and miserable but I have a warm feeling as I have just backed a 12/1 winner.
The beginners chase has some good contenders on paper, none more so than Peter Monteith’s Kristiansand.
The punters, however disagreed with me and made City Affair the 6/4 favourite, although he was somewhat uneasy in the betting.
Interestingly the favourite never really figured in the race, finishing a distant fourth.
Caliban was the one who set the running accompanied by Caliban in a race that was run in the pouring rain. Kristiansand was not going to let him have an easy lead though and was harrying him all the time, until taking up the running himself after the fourth.
By the end of the first circuit they were well spread out with Kristiansand still the leader but being challenged by both Caliban and then Jubilee George, who had been backed at long prices. Indeed until making a mistake four out Jubilee Georged looked as though he would be the one to give the leader most to do.
Jumping the last Kristiansand had a six length lead and although Film Festival tried to cut his lead down he held on for a 3¼ length victory with Caliban in third.
15:30 An official going change, it is now Good (good to soft in places). No surprise as the rain now looks to be here for the afternoon.
15:15 A cracking race for our big race of the afternoon a 3¼ chase, where the lead flip flopped in the final stages and AP McCoy almost pulled of an amazing win.
Ferdy Murphy’s Clemax made the running, first of all with last years winner Innisfree then later on with Keltic Lord.
As they jumped the last and began the long run-in it was Keltic Lord who took the lead and Clemax looked beaten. However nobody told the horse and Richard McGrath deputising for the missing Graham Lee drove the gelding into the lead as they turned for home and that looked to be it.
Of course AP McCoy should never be written off. The favourite Lydon House had been a real handful for the champ throughout the race and was never better than mid-division, however we all know McCoy wants to win every race in which he competes and it doesn’t matter if it is Cheltenham or Cartmel. In this instance he had one final go at Lydon House and the gelding responded gaining on the leader all the way up the run in and only just failing to grab victory as the line came a few yards too soon for him.
The veteran Ross Comm took third place another who had a late go at the finish.
14:40 Favourite backers had a chance to smile in our second as AP McCoy took the spoils on Bahaus, riding a tactical race. He was happy to track the leaders before coming with a menacing run as they came down the back straight for the final time.
Like the first there was a decent pace set, this time by the almost white I’m Your Man and Michaels Dream.
Of the two front runners I’m Your Man cracked when McCoy challenged but Michaels Dream was nothing but brave. Looking well and truly beaten he did rally but didn’t have enough to trouble the winner.
The grey I’m Your Man held on for third place in a photograph with the fast finishing Laureldean Melody.
14:15 The opening Novices Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 1 furlongs, was an interesting betting heat.
Brave Broncho was the uneasy favourite, opening at 6/4 but drifting out to 2/1. There was support for two runners, the Irish raider Honkey Tonk Woman (6’s into 4’s) and Peak Seasons (16’s into 10’s).
It was the latter who was the hare in a decently run race and as in greyhound race the hare was not caught, although the pack was closing at the end, foremost amongst the challenges the other backed horse Honky Tonk Woman.
The favourite was most disappointing, a front runner at Perth last time out but today Timmy Murphy settled him around third or fourth but he soon folded when the action began.
There was a worrying incident when Lindseyfield Lady appeared to slip or fall on the flat, at the end of the first circuit – luckily horse and rider were OK. However the Stewards did take a look at the incident.
11:30 Good morning from a rather miserable, dank Cartmel, where the weather is wet and the skys a leaden grey and this is meant to be picnic and barbeque day - what a pity.
The "crowds" are arriving and the village is busy, especially the village store which is doing a roaring trade with its famous sticky toffee pudding.
This is one course where I wouldn't want to be a horse box driver, they really are struggling to get through the streets of this pretty lakeland village. One well worth a visit, even on a non-racing day.
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