17:03 That's it from a now sunny Chester, by no means their best quality card of the season but some very close finishes nonetheless.
A reasonable crowd, although tomorrow is expected to be a sell out.
From a sunny Chester - good evening.
17:00 Well another photo finish in our last and more joy for favourite backers as Safebreaker held off a late challenge from Barbirolli to win by a short head.
Drawn Gold set off under Stephen Harrison in an attempt to make all and held that position until well inside the final half furlong, only finishing third.
Desert Leader was with the pace before fading a quarter of a mile from home and Mister Fizzbomb made some progress three out, only to flatter to deceive.
16:47 Another competitive contest for our finale – a 1½ mile handicap and to add some spice to the equation this is an amateur riders contest.
Several of the runners were getting warm in the parade ring and I am sincerely hoping there is no such ting as GG ‘flu as Desert Hawk sneezed in my face and did not catch it or bin it!!!
Also it is time to cue violins – one of the pieces of equipment which aids race reading is the application of a sheepskin noseband – unfortunately five of the eleven runners are sporting nosebands – thanks guys.
16:32 I have been chatting to a young lady who wants to make her fortune laying horses on the exchanges - I hope she realises just how difficult it can be?
16:31 I am not sure if handicappers ever get smug but they have every right to after this contest.
It was the most competitive contest on paper beforehand and it turned out to be the most competitive on track.
All the runners bar one could have won the contest turning for home and five crossed the line together producing yet another photo with short heads deciding all the places.
The one to get his head in front where it mattered was Embsay Crag, who hit the front just where it mattered.
Clerk’s Choice was awarded second spot with the favourite Fastnet Storm back in third.
To illustrate how tight the finish was - Norwegian Dancer, who was in front with twenty yards to go, only managed to come home fourth.
16:13 A very tricky 1m 2f handicap for our penultimate contest and they are going 5/1 the field.
Two big negatives in the shape of Sandor and Clerk’s Choice, both of whom are getting very warm indeed.
15:50 Our second odds-on runner of the afternoon and what can only be described as a facile victory as Walk On Water came home an easy four length winner, totally outclassing the opposition.
Fly Silca Fly set the pace but was tracked by the favourite with Tom Queally waiting to make his move.
Diamond Laura was running on well and did well to finish third after almost falling emerging from the stalls.
15:34 Down to six furlongs for race four, a two year old fillies contest.
Diamond Laura is a little bit on her toes as is Fly Silca Fly.
15:21 Chester has one of the most notable draw biases in the country and Shibhan took full advantage of the plumb stall one draw to take the nursery.
Although the margin of victory was half a length there was almost a fairytale story as last nights Epsom winner, Transfixed, came close to defying her six pound penalty leading inside the final furlong, only to be headed in the final few yards.
Transfixed came home a brave runner-up, losing nothing in defeat.
It was very close for third spot with judge Mark Ritchie-Noakes being called upon to adjudge a photograph for the third time in three races, with Professor John getting the not over Dolphin Rock.
The well supported favourite Gunner Lindley was never sighted coming home a disappointing fifth.
News from the last race and My Gacho may well go for the Ayr Gold Cup.
15:00 Another seven furlong contest, this time a nursery.
Nine go to post, with Usqaebach being a late defection.
Leleyf was a tad headstrong in the parade ring as was, to a lesser extent, Transfixed (who carries a 6lb penalty for a win at Epsom last night).
Lady Lefroy was the paddock pick.
14:47 A muddling sort of race in which Fathsta set the early pace only to come home well tailed off.
The paddock Bismark I Confess, on the other hand, proved to be much better on the track than in the parade ring tracking the leader and being in front turning for home.
Mark Johnston’s My Gacho was looking for a four timer and tracked the leaders throughout. A furlong out he was on the quarters of I Confess and looked to be running best of all.
So it proved to be as he hit the front inside the final furlong, coming home the 1½ length winner, winning with plenty in hand.
Akhenaten was running on in the closing stages and the favourite, Feeling Fab, was another doing his best work in the closing stages to come home a never nearer fourth.
14:20 A seven furlong handicap for the second contest and a dozen face the starter.
Two minor negatives from the parade ring with Fathsta pulling and Kings Point shaking his head. The real negative, however, is I Confess, who is doing his utmost to remove his handlers arms from their sockets.
14:09 Heritage Coast was sent off the odds on favourite in the opener and favourite backers had few worries as she led from start to finish.
I said few worries as there were some heart stopping moments for favourite backers as both Astrodiva and Kool Katie came with late runs to force a three way finish.
Heritage Coast did hang on by a neck with the 40/1 shot Kool Katie grabbing second spot from the second favourite Astrodiva, who looked to be the greatest danger to the favourite one out.
Kool Katie actually ran a strange race, with the leader early on she dropped through the field to be last five out, before rallying in the closing stages.
Of the others Aquavella never looked to be happy and was always in rear and the same could be said of Laura Land.
Silk and Satin was settled mid-division and was never a threat.
13:49 They are in the parade ring for our opener - a 1m 2f maiden fillies contest.
In all honesty nobody could make a case for this being the best race to be run at Chester this season and it is more a race to watch than invest in heavily.
There were no stand outs in the parade ring. Kool Katie was cool initially but got more and more on her toes the longer she paraded.
Silk And Satin was on her toes and dug her heels in at one point.
Laura Land and Heritage Coast were the most relaxed.
13:24 Following a final look the going remains Good to Firm with a going stick reading of 8.2
13:16 Good news - the sun is out, although there is still a brisk breeze. 40 minutes until our opening race and it is fairly comfortable crowd wise.
12:41 Good afternoon from Chester where the weather is overcast but muggy. having briefly ventured onto the track the going description is pretty accurate.
11:49 Two more non-runners
08:00 The official going is Good to Firm (watered) and we currently have the one non-runner.
Our selections for this afternoon are:-
1:55 |
4 |
Astrodiva - unplaced |
2:30 |
1 |
Invincible Force - NR |
3:05 |
1 |
Gunner Lindley |
3:40 |
3 |
Diamond Laura |
4:15 |
4 |
Fastnet Storm |
4:50 |
1 |
Summer Lodge |
Return to race archive:
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Non-Runners
The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.
SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate
14:30
1 Invincible Force (lame - SC 11:38)
6 Brae Hill (not eaten up 09:03 Thu)
15:05
9 Usquaebach
15:40
1 Exotic Beauty (lame - SC 11:03)
Results
13:55 Maiden Fillies' Stakes 1m 2f 75yds
1st 1 Heritage Coast 4/5 fav
2nd 2 Kool Katie 40/1
6 Ran
Distances head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.00
Places £1.30 £4.20
Exacta £36.00
CSF £34.20
Time 2' 13.56"
14:30 Handicap 7f 2yds
1st 5 My Gacho 6/1
2nd 13 I Confess 25/1
3rd 7 Akhenaten 6/1
12 Ran Nr's 1 & 6
Distances 1 1/2 & neck
Fav 14 Feeling Fab 3/1 (4th)
Tote
Win £5.00
Places £2.10 £7.00 £2.50
Exacta £161.70
CSF £149.58
Tricast £956.13
Time 1' 26.29"
15:05 Nursery Handicap 7f 2yds
1st 5 Shibhan 13/2
2nd 6 Transfixed 10/1
3rd 2 Professor John 8/1
9 Ran NR 9
Distances
Fav 1 Gunner John 11/10 (upl)
Tote
Win £7.70
Places £2.40 £2.40 £2.10
Exacta £90.40
CSF £69.38
Tricast £533.54
Time 1' 27.48"
15:40 Conditions Stakes 6f 18yds
1st 5 Walk On Water 10/11 fav
2nd 4 Fly Silca Fly 8/1
6 Ran Nr 1
Distances 4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.10 £3.50
Exacta £8.20
CSF £9.00
Time 1' 14.51"
16:15 Handicap 1m 2f 75yds
1st 12 Embsay Crag 8/1
2nd 8 Clerk's Choice 16/1
3rd 4 Fastnet Storm 9/2 fav
12 Ran
Distances short head & short head
Fav third
Tote
Win £10.50
Places £3.30 £5.00 £2.20
Exacta £198.30
CSF £129.15
Tricast £651.80
Time 1' 10.44"
16:50 Handicap 1m 4f 66yds
1st 3 Safebreaker 7/2 fav
2nd 8 Barbirolli 9/1
3rd 5 Drawn Gold 11/2
11 Ran
Distances short head & 3/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.30
Places £1.70 £2.50 £2.60
Exacta £51.20
CSF £36.46
Tricast £175.01
Time 2' 40.96"
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