17:52 That’s it from Ffos Las, a fantastic racing surface.

The facilities are rudimentary, not helped by the large crowds at the opening meetings (3,500 here today), however they are certainly in a better position then Great Leighs were at their corresponding meeting.

However I can see this being a very successful course and wish them well – my only, selfish, gripe is it seems a long way for anywhere. However the locals deserve a racetrack and by jove they have a great course.

Our next coverage is from Ascot on Friday, until then da hwyr   

17:45 I think I have sussed out the tactics on the round course. Hit the front as you come down the straight and leave your rivals flat footed.

This is what happened in our closing 1½  mile handicap, run in glorious sunshine.

Horseshoe Reef set the pace and led until they turned for home, where Mustajed and Paddy Rielly ran on and hit the front, with Mustajet looking the better.

However Dane O’Neill then launched the favourite Sir Boss with a run and it was race over, hitting the front and putting daylight between himself and his rivals in a matter of strides.

Trainer Don Cantillon may not be too impressed with the five length winning distance – the handicapper will not be able to ignore the decisive win.

Mustajed looked set to take the runners-up spot but Mae Cigan ran on very well to grab the runners-up spot by a short head in the dying stages.

17:16 Our longest race of the afternoon a 2m handicap and it was one for the girls, well at least in terms of riders as Catherine Gannon rode a good tactical race to bring Black Or Red home by an easy nine lengths.

Settled towards the rear for most of the contest, she quietly advanced as they turned for home, taking the far rail and hitting the front approaching two out.

Ambrose Princess emerged as the challenger, after tracking the leaders before taking a breather down the back straight. I say challenger but the filly was never a threat to the winner.

Double Spectre, another who had been held up early on, was another running on well in the closing stages finishing a never nearer third – arguably given an earlier run he may have had more of a say in the finish.

16:44 We have a course champion jockey and trainer, well we have had five flat contests in the history of Ffos Las, with Dandy Nicholls and Ahmed Ajtebi having a double in our third, and final, six furlong contest.

As with their last win this was another pillar to post run as Cape Vale set off in front and was never headed, eventually coming home a 1½ length winner.

Wotasparkler trailed the leader in the early stages before tiring two out. Cape Melody was running on well in the latter stages to give a Cape 1-2.

There was a battle for third spot with Di Clarke having to revert to the camera to give the verdict to Dresssed To Dance over Don Pele.

16:13 Our first contest on the round course was a 10 furlong fillies handicap.

Classic Legend set the pace and led for the first half of the contest, with the field reasonably well spread out.

Turning for home the field began to bunch and the outsider Light Dubai hit the front, albeit briefly, pursued by Charity Belle.

Charity Belle hit the front approaching two out and looked to be the likely winner. However Louis-Philippe Beuzelin launched Hollow Green, who had been settled in rear early on, with a late run and hit the front inside the final furlong, running on well to record a length victory.

The favourite, Polly’s Mix, another settled near the rear, was doing her best work in the closing stages but only finished a never nearer third.

15:44 Down to the minimum distance for our third contest.

Quite a few non-runners, reducing the field to only six runners.

Just to confuse us even more this was a race where the lead changed hands several times.
Anjomarba, Vilnius and Mijas Playa all had their turn in front, with the latter being in front where it matters.   

Once again the winner came three or four off the rail – not sure if it is better ground or whether the camber is bringing runners of the rail – the feeling here is currently the latter.

Listillo was running on to take second place, whilst the disappointing favourite, Transfixed, was a never nearer third, having run flat early on.

15:15 Another six furlong contest for race two, this time for more experienced runners.

Interestingly the winner this time ran the entire race three or for horse widths off the rail although she could have had the rail if wanted.

Sams Lass hit the front under Ahmed Ajtebi after about two furlongs and turned the contest into a procession. So still no clues with the first contest going to a running on contender and the second to a front runner, with nothing running on to challenge.

14:50 Michael Hills said the track is perfect and would “have no qualms about riding a good horse here.”

14:48 Well Our Dream Queen will go in the record books as being the first winner of a flat race at Ffos Las and to the delight of favourite backers.

Fun before the off as debutant Wee Bobbie refused to go in the stalls, she must have taken offence at my comment about her being unfurnished!!

All the runners stuck to the stand side and with only six runners it is impossible to form any view about the draw.

Miskin Nights hit the front once the field has settled down, Going French was on the leaders heels along with the well backed Could It Be Magic. The favourite was settled in fourth under Michael Hills, although stuck behind a wall of horses.

Going French hit the front a furlong out, at which time Our Dream Queen found daylight in front and, launched with a run, soon hit the front and it was race over.

Going French stayed on to hold second spot with Could Be Magic also holding on for third.

14:15 A 2-year-old six furlong contest to open proceedings.

The seven runners were relaxed in the parade ring, could be magic was ever so slightly on his toes.

Wee Bobbie looks as though she has scope to grow.

14:05 A reasonable crowd here for a Monday afternoon, although most of them are in the stands sheltering from the weather.

13:31 Good afternoon from a miserably dreak Ffos Las, where the weather is wet and the visibility poor.

The official going is Good

We have five non-runners.

22:00 Monday We already have a couple non-runners, both lame. Kilmanseck is out of the opener with a vet's certificate and Bazsharani from the 3:30 with a self certificate.

Our selections are:-

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

2:30 3 Kilmanseck (lame - VC 17:09 Mon)

3:30
3 Leleyf (going - 12:15)
5 Radio City (Colic - VC 10:59)
6 Bazsharani (Lame - SC 08:35 Mon)
10 Duke Of Rainford (not eaten up - VC 10:46)

Results

2:30 Maiden Stakes 6f

1st 7 Our Dream Queen 10/11 fav
2nd 2 Go French 10/1
6 Ran Nr 3 w/d 8
Distances 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.90
Places £1.30 £1.90
Exacta £7.20
CSF £11.85
Time 1' 11.14"
No Rule 4

3:00 Fillies Stakes 6f

1st 8 Sams Lass 14/1
2nd 3 Kyleene 100/30
3rd 5 Milldown Story 7/4 fav
9 Ran
Distances 1 1/2 & 1
Fav third
Tote
Win £20.00
Places £4.30 £1.90 £1.10
Exacta £62.90
CSF £61.11
Time 1' 09.31"

3:30 Handicap 5f

1st 2 Mijas Playa 4/1
2nd 4 Listillo 3/1
6 Ran Nr'a 3, 5, 6 & 10
Distances neck
Fav 7 Transfixed 5/2 (3rd)
Tote
Win £5.20
Places £2.60 £2.00
Exacta £13.70
CSF £16.91
Tricast £35.23
Time 58.75"

4:00 Fillies' Handicap 1m 2f

1st 6 Hollow Green 12/1
2nd 2 Charity Belle 3/1
6 Ran
Distances 1
Fav 3 Polly's Mark 9/4 (3rd)
Tote
Win £10.70
Places £3.00 £1.80
Exacta £31.80
CSF £49.75
Time 2' 07.28"

4:30 Handicap 6f

1st 1 Cape Vale 9/4 fav
2nd 6 Cape Melody 13/2
3rd 2 Dressed To Dance 16/1
10 Ran
Distances 1 1/2 & 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £1.50 £2.10 £3.70
Exacta £13.70
CSF £18.06
Tricast £197.18
Time 1' 09.78"

5:00 Handicap 2m

1st 5 Black Or Red 5/1
2nd 6 Ambrose Princess 3/1 jf
3rd 3 Double Spectre 16/1
10 Ran
Distances 9 & 2 3/4
Fav Second & No 2 (6th)
Tote
Win £5.50
Places £1.60 £1.70 £7.70
Exacta £37.40
CSF £22.52
Tricast £241.78
Time 3' 29.86"

5:30 Handicap 1m 4f

1st 1 Sir Boss 7/4 fav
2nd 9 Mae Cigan 13/2
3rd 5 Mustajed 6/1
10 Ran
Distances 5 & short head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Places £1.40 £1.90 £1.90
Exacta £19.90
CSF £15.01
Tricast £62.12
Time 2' 36.76"