17:52 That's it from a lovely afternoon at Fontwell. Once again those who left early and skipped the last race missed all the excitement.

Tomorrow we shall be at Sandown, until then good evening.

17:50 What is it they say about tempting fate?

For years I have rattled on about how much I dislike bumpers, yet over the past few months I have witnessed more exciting and eventful bumpers than I have in a long time.

This afternoons is now added to the list.

Most of the contest was relatively uninteresting, although we had three pulled up before they went out on the final circuit.

The betting had it as a three horse contest with High Gales and Benarctic, who met here almost a month ago, heading the market with the Paul Nicholls newcomer There’s No Panic.

The betting was spot on with these three well ahead as they came down the home straight.

Of the three Benarctic looked least likely to win and was the first to come under pressure.

It was as they entered the final furlong the fun began High Gales was nearest the stands, although in the centre of the course, Benarctic was next and There’s No Panic was nearest the far side.

Passing the wings of where the final hurdle would have been, High Gales jinked right. Drifted towards the stands rail then tried to run out at the paddock exit and Robert Thornton demonstrated how good a horseman he is by managing to keep the partnership intact.

Not wanting to miss out on the fun There’s No Panic veered right across the track to try and join High Gales.

Benarctic was the only one to keep a straight line.   

After all the shenanigans it was the Nicholls newcomer, There’s No Panic who held on to beat the recalcitrant High Gales by three parts of a length, with Benarctic a further three lengths back in third.

17:09 Our last contest over obstacles, a 3¼ mile chase, saw a bold front jumping  performance from Rebel Melody, giving Noel Fehily a double on the afternoon.

It is actually quite difficult to find superlatives to describe the display of jumping.

Sesame Rambler had  a futile attempt of a challenge and managed to get within a couple of lengths of the leader turning for home but that was the extent of the challenge as the front runner soon pulled away again.

Disappointment of the race for me was Earcomesannie, always in rear and was eventually pulled up.

16:40 Our longest race of the afternoon was a 3m 3f hurdle where the jockeys needed a lap counter as they passed the post four times during this marathon contest.

The favourite Will If I Want hit the front as they approached the second and was never headed despite tiring in the final stages and facing a late challenge from Fishguard Fily. The winning distance was a fast diminishing half-length.

A very brave front running performance considering the warm weather as well.

Plane Painter led from the start and then spent the remainder of the race tracking the leader. Even at the last he was within a length of the winner and it looked as though this pair would be fighting out the finish, with Fishguard Filly five lengths behind the front pair.

As previously stated Charlie Huxley launched Fishguard Filly with the late run splitting the long time front runners and he would have won in a few more strides.

16:08 Race four was a 2m 2f handicap chase, with 12 going to post.

It was one of those races where several were prominent throughout, although in the early stages Manly Money looked to be outpaced.

Of the front runners, Long Road remained prominent longest, along with Huck Finn.

Kinkeel  made good progress as they turned for home and took up the running two out, although Manly Money had also made good progress to also be in with a shout.

Between the final two fences Manley Money took up the running and Kinkeel was unable to respond.

Both jumped well but Manley Money had more in the locker and ran on to record a three length victory over Kinkeel.

Campden Annie ran on well to take third spot.

15:37 A 2m 6f novices’ hurdle for our third contest.

A class four on paper but nothing to set the pulse racing. Having said that we had a good finish with a battle between Timon’s Present and former pointer Caragh Bridge.

Either could have been called the winner jumping the last but in the final stages Noe Fehily just managed to get a bit more out of his mount to bring Caragh Bridge home by a length.

The standard of the contest is best exemplified by the proximity of the running-on So Extreme a 100/1 shot.

Timon’s Present led for most of the contest, although Caragh Bridge was with him throughout.

The favourite Inner Voice was in with a chance as they came out of the back straight but was soon detached  from leaders and came home a tired fifth.

15:07 A four runner chase over 2m 6f and an odds-on favourite in the shape of Dream Falcon, although for favourite backers the race was race was a nightmare.

Dream Falcon and the outsider Lethal Gun set the pace whilst Chunky Lad, who had been obstinate going down and at the start, and Prince Vector were happy to hack along behind.

That was the scenario until the final circuit when Lethal Gun lived up to his odds, leaving Dream Falcon in front wan the other two on his quarters.

Dream Falcon made a dreadful blunder six out but it did not seem to affect his momentum.

Turning for home both Chunky Lad and Prince Vector swept past the favourite, who was unable to respond.

Of the pair Prince Vector was, by far, the better and soon had a decisive lead. Paul Moloney popped him over the final two fences and came home a 20 length winner with Chunky Lad in second, Dream Falcon was a further 28 lengths back and Lethal Gun picked up fourth prize money, finishing  afence behind the winner.   

14:40 Must add before I forget, there is a really good crowd here this afternoon, considering it is a mid-week meeting and no school holidays.

14:38 A 2m 2f mares maiden hurdle to get us under way and a good result for favourite backers although the Where’s Susie did everything possible to try and throw the race away by jumping more to right the further they raced, making Seamus Durack earn his fee.

Isntshelovely was the pacesetter until they turned for home for the final time and she did stumble on the final turn, although after she started dropping out of contention.

This left Quanitque and Where’s Susie to fight out the closing stages and although Quantique may have had her head in front just after the second last the favourite had enough in hand, despite her extravagant jumping.

13:07 Good afternoon from a sunny Fontwell where the going is good, good to firm in places (watered)

We have two non-runners so far.

This afternoon's selections:-

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

2:20
7 Overspin (cast in box - SC 10:13)

3:50
2 Ground Breaker (Travel 10:20)

Results

2:20 Maiden Hurdle 2m 2f 110yds

1st 14 Where's Susie 13/8 fav
2nd 1 Alflora Dora 11/4
3rd 9 Quantique 5/1
13 Ran Nr 7
Distances 6l & head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.70
Places £1.20 £1.20 £2.20
Exacta £6.60
CSF £5.67
Time 4' 26.6"

2:50 Novices' Chase 2m 6f

1st 4 Prince Vector 3/1
2nd 1 Chunky Lad 5/2
4 Ran
Distances 20
Fav 2 Dream Falcon 10/11 (3rd)
Tote
Win £3.80
Exacta £6.30
CSF £10.59
Time

3:20 Novices' Hurdle 2m 6f 110yds

1st 3 Caragh Bridge 7/1
2nd 11 Timon's Present 9/4
3rd 9 So Extreme 100/1
11 Ran
Distances 1 & 12
Fav 1 Inner Voice 6/4 (5th)
Tote
Win £6.90
Places £2.20 £1.30 £32.20
Exacta £25.70
CSF £22.45
Time 5' 31.69"

3:50 Handicap Chase 2m 2f

1st 1 Manley Money 13/2
2nd 7 Kinkeel 5/1
3rd 6 Campden Annie 8/1
12 Ran Nr 2
Distances 3 & 5
Fav 3 Zorro De La Vega 9/2
Tote
Win £8.50
Places £3.20 £1.40 £2.50
Exacta £44.30
CSF £38.66
Tricast £267.96
Time 4' 36.44"

4:20 Handicap Hurdle 3m 3f

1st 1 Will If I Want 6/4 fav
2nd 5 Fishguard Filly 6/1
3rd 2 Plane Painter 14/1
10 Ran
Distances 1/2 & 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.10 £1.70 £4.30
Exacta £13.50
CSF £11.62
Tricast £93.27
Time 6' 40.5"

4:50 Handicap Chase 3m 2f 110yds

1st 1 Rebel Melody 2/1 fav
2nd 2 Sesame Rambler 13/2
18 Ran Nr's 7 & 13
Distance 12
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Places £1.80 £2.70
Exacta £12.70
CSF £14.49
Time 6' 44.59"

5:25 NH Flat 2m 2f 110yds

1st 7 There's No Panic 9/4
2nd 1 High Gales 2/1 fav
3rd 2 Benarctic 9/4
9 Ran
Distances 3/4 & 3
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.60
Places £1.70 £1.30 £1.10
Exacta £8.00
CSF £6.95
Time 4' 16.97"