18:23 A delayed final report from Folkestone after I lost patience with the connectivity.

It has been an interesting afternoon, frustrating and the frustration not soothed by the, frankly, poor quality racing on offer.

The one good thing is the sun came out late on, although the wind did manage to get even stronger.

From a train somewhere between Ashford and London a very good evening.

18:22 Just two races on the round course and both say the winners making all. This time it Lucy Barry on Gems who took the initiative and who took the sting out of her opponents challenges.

Turning for home it was Gems, along with Derby Desire and the favourite, Rose Aurora – who was already looking beaten – who were clear of their rivals.

Derby Desire was soon under pressure and even Gems was beginning to show signs of tiring approaching the furlong marker.

It was Musashi, who had been leading the chasing pack, who emerged as the main challenger to the winner but, even so, was only able to get within 3¼ lengths of the winner.

Vinces, in last place 6f from home was another doing his best work in the closing stages but was still only able to come home third, four lengths behind the runner-up.

17:17 If you are old enough to remember what the Internet was like speed wise in the mid 90's you will have an idea of how slow the GPRS signal is here.

17:10 Our final contest is our longest race and the biggest field of the afternoon as 10 line up for the 1m 4f Stone Street Apprentice Handicap.

Suhailah is pulling hard and swishing her tail, Birthday Star is also on her toes, Fast Elaine is pulling.

Derby Desire is the pick of the parade ring.  

17:00 Send for the police as Jack Doyle stole that race on Ya Hafed, setting a decent pace pulling clear as they turned for home and opening up a big enough gap to hold off all-comers to record a four length victory.

Kieren Fallon had another hard pulling runner, this time with Lady Morganna, who was in second spot before dropping out tamely beating only one home.

Not So Bright was settled in last before making progress and mounting a vain challenge in the home straight, to come home in second spot.

16:44 Fallon has picked up a one day careless riding ban for his ride in Chillie Peppar

16:43 Our penultimate contest is the Claydon Horse Exercisers Handicap over the extended 1m 1f, with 8 going to post.

Martin Lane rides Sixty Roses in the next and Fallon puts up 1lb overweight on Lady Morganna.

Not So Bright has the largest pair of cheekpieces I have seen in ages, will be easy to spot in running.

Surprise is a little bit on her toes. Lady Morganna is a little bit on her toes.

16:29 Gay Gallivanter was keen to post and was equally keen coming back giving Kieran Fallon a double handful.

He led to just after half way but approaching two out Jack Mitchell asked From Here To Eternity for an effort and she was soon in front, although not allowed to have things all her own way as Timpanist first of all stayed with her.

From Here To Eternity shook off Timpanist but then had to deal with a rattling late run from Play The Blues but From Here To Eternity just had enough in the locker to hold on by three-parts of a length.

Timpanist held on for third with Gay Gallivanter a well beaten fourth.

16:16 Favourite From Here To Eternity being taken very steadily to post, whereas Gay Gallivanter is very keen to post.

16:11 Race five is the Claydon Horse Exercisers Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over seven furlongs with five going to post.

16:08 A very cold Simon Holt has come to the press room to warm up - the commentary box is taking the full brunt of the strong wind

16:04 A cracking finish to the first of our seven furlong contests with Red Zeus coming up the stand rail, having looked beaten half way, to deny the favourite Tony Hollis on the line.

The layout of the course and poor camera angles makes it nigh on impossible to be dogmatic about events in the early stages.

Chillie Pepper, Red Zeus and Sing Alana Sing all broke well and shared the early pace.

Chillie Pepper certainly had the lead half way but it was a packing field and by a furlong out Tony Hollis had a narrow lead.

At that point Red Zeus was half way down the pack before getting the prime pitch and clear run against the stands rail.

Chillie Pepper held on for third.

15:42 The Claydon Horse Evercisers Selling Stakes is next, with eight going to post over the straight seven furlongs.

15:29 Apollo D’Negro virtually made all to take the handicap by a length, in a race where there was little change in the order throughout.

Christaliyev was with the leader and, indeed, briefly headed him half way, but the lead was short lived.

Queen Of Cash looked to be poised to make a run against the stands rail but no gap appeared and she lost ground, having to switch to the outside but only able to finish third, three parts of a length behind the runner-up.

Arctic Mirage was in fourth spot throughout and Snow Ridge was always behind.

15:16 Christaliyev is taking a strong hold to post.

15:14 Race three is the Spiffing Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap, over six furlongs with five going to post.

Arctic Mirage had a brief hissy fit but I think it was a reaction to a very strong gust of wind, rather than temperament. Queen Of Cash is being very girly, pulling and jig jogging around. Snow Ridge is quite a big horse. Apollo D'Negro was best looking

14:57 Two races and two beaten favourites, this time His Grace, who was first away but was cocking his jaw to the left, trying to put his head over the rail, giving Neil Callan a torrid ride.

By two out Alpha Delta Whiskey was upsides and by oen out it was a line of three as Chokurei joined in the action.

His Grace was the first of the leading three to throw in the towel and it wasn’t much longer before Chocurei had pulled a length clear to take the spoils.

Alpha Delta Whiskey took the runners-up spot with the favourite back in third.

Bahri Sheen was always in last place.   

14:46 Race two is the claydon.com Median Auction Maiden Stakes over 6f with just four going to post.

14:31 The Dancing Lord makes all to take the opener in convincing style, coming home six lengths clear of his rivals.

Queen Of The Hop, sent off favourite, was unimpressive, running quite green hacking with Thorpe Bay and the two were still locked together passing the line with Queen Of The Hop getting the verdict by a short head.

The others made no impression in the contest. First Rebellion came home third with Sea Poet, who missed the break completely, fifth.

The Coulbeck Kid, very reluctant into the stalls was green in running and came home last.   

14:15 Our opening contest is the Claydon Horse Exercisers Median Auction Maiden Stakes over 5f.

Hard to make a choice in the opener. Queen Of The Hop did rear in PPR but is now OK in main parade ring. Others look more of a muchness, having said that The Coulbeck Kid is getting a bit worked up.

13:26 Decided to come here on the train and had my first trip on the high speed rail link, most impressive. You don’t realise quite how fast the train is going until you are alongside the motorway and the cars you are “overtaking” seem to be going very slow – the train is travelling at 140mph which makes the journey from London to Ashford just 38 mins compared with over an hour on a “traditional” train.

13:13 The weather here is overcast with a brisk, chilly, wind (right to left in relation to the home straight).

I’m glad I put my thermals on today – apparently Pete from the Racing Post hasn’t and is dressed for the sun.

12:43 We have a non-runner, Speedfit Girl who cannot get here from Newmarket due to an accident on the M11

12:33 Good afternoon from Folkestone although the chances are you will not be able to read this as the BT lines into the course are down so there is no broadand and no 3G signal for the dongle . . . ho hum

08:29 It has to be said this afternoon's card does not look to be the greatest ever staged and with the course only a couple of miles from the Eurotunnel terminal there is a very, very strong temptation to nip across the channel for the day instead.

07:38 It has been a dry night and a dry, sunny, day is forecast with temperatures expected to reach 11 degrees.

The official going is Good, Good to Soft in places. There is no up to date going stick reading yet.

There are currently no non-runners.

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

Non-runners

15:20
1 Speedfit Girl (travel -12:34)

Results

14:20 Magnolia Stakes 5f

14:50 Maiden Stakes 6f

15:20 Handicap 6f

15:50 Selling Stakes 7f

16:20 Maiden Stakes 7f

16:50 Handicap 1m 1f 149yds

17:20 Handicap 1m 4f