18:17 Well that's it from a sunny afternoon here at Fontwell, our next coverage will be from Chepstow on Wednesday.
From a sunny West Sussex good evening.
18:10 All the jockeys in the last race have been given a one day ban for failing to line up correctly.
A somewhat controversial decision to say the least, I'm sure there will be more to emerge on this one.
17:56 All the riders in the last race have been called into the Stewards room as the Starter was not happy with the way they lined up.
17:49 To call the finale, a conditionals 2m 7f handicap hurdle, a race would be something of a misnomer the handicapper will be having nightmares about this one for sometimes as not only were the field strung out like Monday’s washing in the wind but the winner 33/1 shot Pepito Collonges came home an amazing 20 lengths ahead of the field under Harry Skelton.
Sir Bumble was the initial pace setter but the winner was upsides as they began the penultimate circuit and was soon leading. By the time they were on the second circuit he had a huge lead.
Observers were waiting for him to tie up but the opposite happened and by the time they turned for home his lead was almost 20 lengths and seemingly increasing.
He did start to tire in the home straight but the lead was so great he could not be caught.
The only battle was for second place with the running on Lowe Go heading Brilliant in the run-in and another running on contender, You Know Bridie just failing to overhaul Brilliant by a neck.
17:17 Only six went to post in our sixth contest, a 2m 2f chase. However a small field does not equate to a boring race.
Irish Stream set the pace for the first two jumps but the running was then taken up by Play Master who had a really good lead as they passed the post to begin the final circuit.
By the time they jumped the final ditch there were three in contention with Wild Power and Lord Gunnerslake having joined the front runner.
At the second last Play Master still had the lead but he was still being attacked on both sides as they approached the last.
Unfortunately Play Master came down at the last and the favourite, Lord Gunnerslake jumped into the lead.
Wild Power was not going to go down without a fight and tried to catch the jolly but went down by 1¼ lengths. Millers Monarch was five lengths further back in third.
Play Master seemed to have injured his near fore and was taken away in the horse ambulance.
16:45 Back to the smaller obstacles for out fifth contest, once again over 2m 2f.
Fourteen went to post in the absence of Digger Gets Lucky.
The grey, almost white, Quizzene set the early pace although, in truth, he was never allowed a huge lead and Dantari and Spider Boy were in close attendance.
As they began the final circuit Dantari took up the running and was never headed, coming home by five lengths.
Swainson ran on to take the runners up-spot who headed Spider Boy in the closing stages.
This is one of those races where there was a large field but absolutely no strength in depth.
16:15 Our longest race of the afternoon a 3m 4f chase saw the plaudits go to Hazeljack, a fourteen-year-old who is a course specialist. All the more appropriate as the race was named after Bruce Friend-James who was commentator here for many years.
Finzi set the initial pace but the running was taken up by Peut Etre Sivola who tried to make all but was overhauled in the closing stages.
Hazeljack was, unusually for him, settled mid-division, before running on during the final circuit.
The favourite, Enroblim Trop, never looked happy and was pulled up before the final circuit and Le Briar Soul was pulled up approaching three out.
Connections say the winner will now be retired, what an appropriate end to his career.
15:43 Back to the smaller obstacles for our third contest, like the first over 2m 2f.
Anyone who backed Esturgeon Du Ranch would have known the fate of their bet before the race began – restless in the parade ring and a complete sod at the start.
The race itself it was like being in a time warp with the ten-year-old Penny Pictures, wearing first time blinkers, set off at a good pace, soon having a good lead on the field.
She held onto the lead until they turned for home the final time, where the challengers in the shape of Nawamees and Silver Sister emerged as the challengers.
A good battle approaching the last but the grey had more in the tank and eventually came home the nine length winner from Nawamees with Penny Pictures a further nine lengths back in third.
Hector Barboss and The Slider both fell at the second last, the latter taking a crashing fall and was down for some time but did, thankfully, walk back to the stables.
15:12 A 2m 4f beginners chase for our second contest which turned into a procession with two horses contesting the finish.
Greenbridge and Just Amazing were almost superglued together at the last.
They were together most of the run-in until Just Amazing’s stride began to shorten in the last 50 yards and he began to hang to the right allowing Greenbridge to claim the honours by a length. In the process virtually making all.
The nearest rival came home 30 lengths behind the front pair and that was Personal Column who had been settled towards the rear before running on, probably through beaten horses.
Disappointment of the race was Prince De Lacour who was with the pace in the early stages but came home a tailed off last.
In truth not a very competitive race and the field should not have been strung out as much as they were in the conditions.
14:34 After four days at Cheltenham this was coming back down to earth with something of a bump.
The most pertinent question would be which of the eleven runners did not make a mistake, exemplified by the fall of Tachbury who was unbalanced after jumping the fifth and he unseated Daryl Jacob.
Balnahinch set the pace along with Moonlight Cantor, the latter struggling as they set out on the final circuit.
This left the favourite Santia, the only filly in the field, as the challenger and she took up the running after putting in a better jump at the second last flight in this 2m 2f contest.
Once in the lead the result was never in doubt and she won pulling away, one of only two runners worth looking at in future.
The other was William’s Wishes who was running on and putting in his best effort in the closing stages, after being settled towards the rear.
The one to ignore must be Pistol Hill who started off behind and managed to get further tailed off as the race progressed, eventually pulling up.
13:32 We currently have five non-runners, details on the right.
13:11 Good afternoon from Fontwell where the sun is shining and the crowds are already flocking.
We have a going change - it is now good, good to soft in places.
07:49 Racing begins at 2:20 where there is a seven race card.
The official going is good to soft, good in places and a nice btight and sunny day is forecast.
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Non-Runners
3:25
13 Vanormix (lame - VC)
4:00
8 Push The Port (lame - VC)
4:30
5 Digger Gets Lucky (runny nose - SC)
5:00
5 Bearneen Boy (infection - SC)
5:30
9 Crossguard (stiff - SC)
Results
2:20
1st 7 Santia 10/11 fav
2nd 1 Balnahinch 3/1
3rd 11 Williams Wishes 25/1
11 Ran
Distances 9l & 1 3/4l
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.02 £1.60 £10.00
Exacta £3.80
CSF £3.76
Time 4' 35.31"
2:55
1st 3 Greenbridge 7/4 fav
2nd 4 Just Amazing 3/1
3rd 8 Personal Column 20/1
8 Ran
Distances 1l & 30l
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.00
Places £1.20 £1.60 £4.60
Exacta £8.60
CSF £7.37
Time 5' 05.1"
3:25
1st 14 Silver Sister 17/2
2nd 10 Nawamees 3/1
3rd 11 Penny Pictures 9/2
15 Ran NR 13
Distances 9l & 9l
Fav 2 Stance 9/4 (7th)
Tote
Win £8.20
Places £2.40 £1.30 £3.10
Exacta £46.70
CSF £33.74
Time 4' 33.3"
4:00
1st 7 Hazeljack 11/2
2nd 5 Peut Etre Sivola 7/2
7 Ran Nr 8
Distances 9l
Fav 1 Enroblim Trop 9/4 (PU)
Tote
Win £4.70
Places £1.90 £2.50
Exacta £18.80
CSF £24.68
Time 7' 30.1"
4:30
1st 14 Dantari 11/2
2nd 7 Swainsong 10/1
3rd 11 Spider Boy 14/1
14 Ran Nr 5
Distances 5l & head
Fav 2 L'Homme De Nuit 14/1
Tote
Win £6.80
Places £2.30 £3.70 £2.20
Exacta £71.80
CSF £57.92
Tricast £742.97
Time 4' 34.5"
5:00
1st 7 Lord Gunnerslake 5/2 fav
2nd 2 Wild Power 11/2
6 Ran Nr 5
Distances 1 1/4l
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.90
Places £1.70 £2.80
Exacta £9.00
CSF £15.22
Time 4' 52.2"
5:30
1st 5 Pepito Collonges 33/1
2nd 15 Lowe Go 11/1
3rd 11 Brilliant 14/1
4th 3 You Know Bridie 7/1
17 Ran Nr 9
Distances 20l, 2 1/4l & neck
Fav 4 Sawpit Sunset 11/2 (PU)
Tote
Win £42.00
Places £7.90 £3.10 £3.10 £1.70
Exacta £682.20
CSF £345.78
Tricast £5,237.70
Time 5' 46.9"
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