17:23 Well that’s it from an eventful afternoon here in the sweltering heat at Catterick.

I’m off to battle the A1 and our next live coverage will be from Warwick on Friday.

From a sunny North Yorkshire a very good afternoon.  

17:21 At least the final contest proved to be uncontroversial.

A mile and a half handicap and the biggest field of the afternoon.

The favourite Promise Maker set off to make it an all the way run, somewhat brave in theses conditions. Having said that it was a tactic that almost worked, as he was still leading inside the final furlong.

However Gary Moore’s Bijou Dan came with a late charge to claim a length and a half victory.

17:04 Our second contest over six furlongs and it has to be said a farcical build up to the contest and one of those incidents which makes racing a laughing stock.

Neva A Dull Moment certainly lived up to his name. Reluctant at the start he planted himself in front of the stalls. Adrian Nicholls jumped off and began to lead his runner back to the stalls. The horse then bolted and ran the full six furlongs full pelt.

He was caught at the finish and led off the course, everyone assuming he would be withdrawn. However no announcement was made and the remaining runners showed no sign of re-entering the stalls.

After five minutes the horse re-emerged and it was announced he was going to take part. In this time some bookmakers had reformed their books assuming he would be a non-runner.

Adrian Nicholls remounted but 200 yards behind the stalls the horse planted itself again and the horse was withdrawn by officials.

The point is he should have been withdrawn immediately – there is no way a horse could have run to his full potential, having spooked, run six furlongs full speed, especially in these weather conditions.  

He should have been withdrawn immediately, not only would it have had little hope had it run. It was also unfair on the other runners, some who had to be taken out of the stalls and were then left waiting at the start for a good six or seven minutes.

In the race itself Cindy Incidentally set off in front  with Roodee King in pursuit and it looked as though this pair would fight out the finish.

However Neo’s Mate was launched with a late run centre course, stealing the race in the final yards.   

16:22 Arjemis has been pulled out of the next

16:19 Well after a close finish it was back to normal service in race four, the first of two six furlong contests, as the well backed (9/2 into 11/4 on course although he was 13/2 this morning) Red Cape came home the easy five length winner.

Cape Vale was keen to take up the running and tacked across from a high draw to set the running.

Andrew Elliot on Red Cape, however, was not going to give a big lead to anyone and he sat behind the winner.

The pair were still in front well down the home straight but Elliot asked for an effort and he was soon clear and it was race over.

Cape Vale plugged on, one pace, for second and Imprimis Tagula ran on for third.      

15:41 Much more of a contest this time in an incident packed race.

Nuit Sombre set the pace, tracked buy Johnny Lesters Hair and Bold Marc.

The first incident happened on the home turn where Woodsley House almost fell and apprentice Neil Brown did very well to stay on board.

Bold Marc took up the running after two out with Turn Me On and Johnny Lesters Hair the main challengers. However the field were bunching up and there was quite a bit of argy bargy with quite a few hard luck stories.

15:22 More experienced runners in out third contest, a seven furlong handicap.

Again well behaved in the parade ring with no real positives or negatives.

An update on the weather we have a few clouds and there is a bit of a breeze picking up, making it more pleasant.

15:11 I am running out  of superlatives and we are only on the second race.

If the winner of the first recorded a facile win then how do I describe the winner of the second, Totally Invincible?

Out of the stalls Graham Gibbons got a flyer on Totally Invincible and he was never headed. The only criticism is the rider looked over his shoulder inside the furlong pole to see he was four lengths clear and in no danger, yet he still saw fit to use his whip.

The runner up, and other joint favourite, Elusive Sue – less experienced – ran green and was doing her best work in the final stages yet only managed to get within two lengths of the eased winner.

The pair were ten clear of their rivals, headed by the debutant Tut.

14:54 Another two year old contest for our second race, this time over five.

However the difference between the runners in the parade ring is marked.

In the first most of the runners were getting worked up, in contrast this bunch is fairly relaxed.

Mrs Jones And me is jig jogging slightly but the others are happily strolling around.

A couple look quite unfurnished, notably Moonlight Babe.

14:45 Well the opening seven furlong maiden can easily be summed up in one word – facile.

The Pat Eddery trained Contract Caterer was sent off the very short priced favourite and was never in any danger.

Setting off in front, at a fair pace in this heat, he led all the way and when the challengers arrived approaching the furlong pole Micky Fenton shook the reigns and any possible doubts about the winner were dispelled.

Mark Johnston’s newcomer Jutland, was very sluggish in the early stages, sitting last, before finally getting the hang, doing his best work in the closing stages, although only finishing fourth.

Desert Forest came home second, albeit a well beaten second, settled third for most of the contest before running on.

Richard Fahey’s newcomer, Aquarian Spirit, was running on the the closing stages and came home third.  

13:55 I have just ventured outside for a walk around and it is oppressively hot out there this afternoon.

12:41 Another non-runner.

12:13 Good afternoon from Catterick where the sun is shining and temoeratures rising.

We currently have two non-runners, details on the right.

07:30 After 1mm of overnight rain the going is Good to Firm, Good in Places.

Here are this afternoon's selections:-

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

3:30
10 Fitzilini (Not eaten up - SC 09:41)

4:30
6 Arjemis (withdrawn)

5:00
9 Casablanca Minx (other - 12:25)
15 Treetops Hotel (pulled shoe off - SC 11:10)

Results

2:30 Maiden Stakes 7f

1st 4 Contract Caterer 2/5 fav
2nd 5 Desert Forest 12/1
7 Ran
Distances 4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.50
Places £1.10 £3.10
Exacta £5.70
CSF £6.50
Time 1' 26.35"

3:00 Fillies' Stakes 5f

1st 6 Totally Invincible 5/4 jf
2nd 3 Elusive Sue 5/4 jf
7 Ran
Distances 2
Fav first and second
Tote
Win £2.40
Places £1.50 £1.30
Exacta £3.90
CSF £2.86
Time 58.87"

3:30 Handicap 7f

1st 2 Bold Marc 11/4 jf
2nd 1 Turn Me On 5/1
3rd 5 Johnny Lesters Hair 16/1
9 Ran Nr 10
Distances 1 3/4 & 2
Fav winner & No 3 (4th)
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.20 £1.60 £4.10
Exacta £21.00
CSF £17.19
Tricast £189.67
Time 1' 25.30"

4:00 Handicap 5f 212yds

1st 4 Red Cape 11/4 fav
2nd 1 Cape Vale 4/1
3rd 5 Imprimis Tagula 5/1
8 Ran
Distances 5 & 1
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £1.30 £2.00 £1.80
Exacta £15.00
CSF £13.86
Tricast £51.84
Time 1' 10.73"

4:30 Maiden Stakes 5f 212yds

1st 10 Neo's Mate 20/1
2nd 5 Roodee King 4/1 fav
3rd 7 Cindy Incidentally 20/1
9 Ran w/d 4 & 6
Distances 1 1/2 & 1 3/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £27.00
Places £4.70 £1.50 £3.70
Exacta £131.50
CSF £79.58
Time 1' 13.21"
Rule 4 10p in £

5:00 Handicap 1m 3f 214yds

1st 3 Bijou Dan 9/2
2nd 5 Promise Maker 4/1 fav
3rd1 Andorn 14/1
13 Ran Nr's 9 & 15
Distances 1 1/2 & 3
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.90 £2.10 £4.60
Exacta £29.40
CSF £23.84
Tricast £245.48
Time 2' 34.97"