5:20 A postscript to the first race - it seems the Stewards shared my concerns about the run of Dabaratsa. Having spoken to both the trainer, who was unhappy with the ride and to the jockey, Marcus Foley, they decided to refer Foley to the BHA under rule 157.
Rule 157 relates to jockeys not riding the horse to obtain the best possible result.
5:10 Well we have clearly had our quota of close finishes as the bumper turned into a procession with the favourite nowhere to be seen.
Foolish Cliche ridden by Paddy Brennan was happy to let Ellie's Prince rush of in a 15 length lead only to surrennder it - sounds familiar? Two furlongs out Brennan went for the front and that was it - race over!!
Chesil Beach Boy was another to challenge for the lead but ended up 15 lengths second to the winner.
4:35 Only five runners but not a race for the faint hearted or those of a nervous disposition.
The betting said it was a two horse race with Mister Gloss (evens) and Ocean Du Moulin (11/10) the two being backed. The latter was birthday boy, Ruby Walsh’s only ride of the day.
Backers of Mister Gloss must have been having kittens as he planted himself at the first fence before the race started. The only way he would go to the start was when Tom O’Brien dismounted and led him back. He was then mulish at the start itself, although he did finally agree to jump off.
The pace was set by Ocean Du Moulin and the favourite has still not decided to give his backers an easy ride making a few mistakes along the way.
Mister Gloss finally took the lead three out but Ruby’s mount did not give up the fight.
4:00 Well that was an interesting race – a very tactical affair where they raced at a steady pace throughout. Even coming out of the back straight there were still only around ten lengths separating the entire field.
It will be no surprise to know the betting was fairly open as well with four of them vying for favouritism at various stages, (Cornish Jester, Ghallab , He’s The Gaffer and Jomelami) In the end it was Ghallabb and Jomelami who went off the 7/2 joints.
Even though the race was a tactical affair it came down to two at the end Cornish jester, who jumped the last in the lead, and Jomelami who appeared on the scene three out and ran on after the last to take the prize.
3:30 Think Hunter |Chase, then think Polly Gundry and it is a strong chance the favourite will stick out like a sore thumb.
This time it was the six year old Kiama trained and ridden by Polly who was sent off the 5/6 favourite.
Like many recent Hunter Chases the field was not large, only five this time. They set off at a steady pace led by Flinsky and Harnage, with Polly more than happy to sit behind the field.
Up front the lead changed several times as the pace varied and mistakes were made until, that is, they came out of the back straight. At this point Kiama passed all her rivals in a matter of strides and the result was never in doubt.
The fight for second was much more of a race having to go to the judge, who eventually called Misty Brook the second over Flinsky.
3:00 Having followed racing for more years than I car to remember, or should that be decades, it still never ceases to amaze me when horses go haring off in fron and build a massive lead. 99 times out of a hundred the tactic fails.
This race was no exception, Don’t Ask Me (why he ran like that) took the lead early on and by the start of the second circuit he was easily 25 lengths of the field. For a brief moment it seemed this would be one of the one in a hundred occasions when the tactic worked. Turning for home it was clear it wasn’t to be as the field, in particular Nostringsattached and Pitful Tercah, began to close.
2:30 Before the race one of the owners of Radnor Lad, Dick Price, was telling me he was concerned about the ground as he thought the gelding, trained by Richard Lee, needed cut.
As his horse crossed the line 12 lengths clear after a brave front running performance, the smile on his face said it all. If it could have been captured it would be the best advertisement for racehorse ownership you could buy.
The winner shared the early running with the favourite Hermando Cordobes, however he shot his bolt with a couple of jumping errors on the final circuit.
In the home straight the only possible challenger was River Indus, who had been ridden patiently by Daryl Jacob. However once over the last the contest was over as the winner accelerated away.
2:00 Well first blood to the punters as the very well backed odds on favourite Winsley Hill claimed the honours in the opener.
Jockey Felix DeGiles was happy to track the pace, set by Between Dreams and Over Ice. Launching a challenge two out it seemed the only likely challenger to the winner would be Orphina who, it has to be said made the favourite fight for her victory.
The one to take out of the race, however, is the third Dabaratsa, trained by Tor Sturgis and ridden by Marcus Foley. Well back half way down the finishing straight she ran on like a five furlong sprinter and one must assume that had the challenge been launched a fraction sooner the result may have been different.
1:15 Good afternoon from Exeter where the sun has finally broken through and we have a cooling breeze.
We have a six race card this afternoon and the going is good to firm, firm in places on the chase course.
There are currently two non-runners.