20:55 That’s it from Great Leighs, I have to say the course has improved since I was last here in May, although it still has a way to go before being the perfect venue.
From a muggy Essex good night.
20:50 A first and last race double for favourite backers as the well backed Thumbs Up took the spoils, although Jamie Spencer had to work very hard to get the favourite up on the line, in a bobbing finish with Speyside under Patrick Hills, who was not going down without a fight.
There was a worry for favourite backers as Spencer seemed to have nowhere to go as they turned for home, which probably gave Spencer more to do than should have been necessary.
The real eye catcher in the race was Suzi Spends who came with a late rattle to take third place. It could be argued that had John Egan on Suzi Spends gone for home sooner then he may have caused an upset.
20:15 I’m beginning to realise that Great Leighs is not a course for front runners.
It is also a course for trainer John Hills who had a double on the night as his Bomber Command took the first of our two mile races.
Pirates Of The Caribbean fans would have enjoyed the early stages of the race as Captain Jacksparra set the pace, tracked by Bomber Command.
Coming into the straight, once again we had horses running on. Bomber Command still had Captain Jacksparra in his sights running on easily to take the race by 3¾ lengths.
The favourite, High Standing, ran on into second, never troubling the winner and Mark Johnston’s Prince Of Light took third with Captain Jacksparra in fourth.
Although beaten into fourth place Captain Jacksparra did nothing wrong he was just beaten by better horses.
19:50 The first two races are now, thankfully, a distant memory as we have another cracking six furlong sprint.
This evening’s feature race was a class event on paper and it turned out to be quite competitive.
The race even saw an Essex debut for the public’s favourite Franke Dettori who was here for just the one ride on Greek Renaissance.
Seb Sanders on Starlit Sands made his intentions clear from the start. Having been off the course for just over 300 days he set a very strong pace, a lead he held until the final furlong.
There was a mad rush at the finish with Greek Renaissance, Ceremonial Jade and Viking Spirit all running on strongly.
Greek Renaissance never looked like challenging the leader despite strong urging from Dettori.
Ceremonial Jade, who was the well supported second favourite, easily swept into the lead under John Egan and was an impressive winner.
The brave Starlit Sands managed to just hold on to claim a well deserved third place, with Viking Spirit in fourth.
All the first four, apart from Greek Renaissance, caught the eye.
19:20 Third time lucky and we finally get a race worthy of the name.
This was one of those six furlong sprints where if you ran it three times you would get three totally different results.
Having said that should you have backed Muktasb you would have known your fate from the start as he reared and lost all chance – needless to say he finished last.
Whitbarrow set the pace and looked primed for a pillar to post victory, however Diriculous had other ideas and Jim Crowley, after lurking coming round the home turn, made his move inside the final furlong to win comfortably from the long time winner.
Carcinetto was a running on third.
Another eye catcher was the running on fourth Cativo Cavallino.
18:48 I’m not sure if the sun has got to me but there is some very strange racing here at Great Leighs this evening.
Our second event was a one mile six furlong event. Seven went to post but only six started as Renege The Joker was withdrawn on veterinary advice.
The race itself was even stranger. Unusually for a flat race there were two of the six pulled up.
Solas Alainn was pulled up as they went into the back straight for the final time and Kaichou, who had been the early pacesetter was pulled up as they turned for home after tailing off four furlongs out.
This left four to contest the finish, well three really as Sponge was virtually pulled up.
Don’t Stop Me Now had taken the lead a mile from home and grimly held on under pressure. The favourite Kritzia made a challenge two out but despite strong driving from Ted Durcan made no impression on the leader and after taking a glance over his shoulder Durcan decided to accept defeat. Foresight took third.
In all a very unimpressive race.
18:15 A six furlong claimer kicked off proceedings this evening and we had an odds-on favourite in the shape of Simon Callaghan’s Billion Dollar Kid.
From an excitement perspective it was something of a boring race with the first three being in that position throughout the race.
The pace was set by the well backed second favourite Bazguy (backed from 11/4 into 7/4 at one point before drifting back out to 9/4).
The favourite was happy to track the leader with Wreningham in third.
Turning for home the favourite took the lead and never looked to be in any danger. Wreningham looked to be making a challenge but flattered to deceive, running into second although that is probably more the result of Bazguy reaching the end of his tether.
An interesting tactic at the end where Jimmy Quinn dramatically eased Azzaamm in the final 50 yards – there was nothing obviously wrong with the horse and he was clearly well beaten at the time – he is probably worth a few more lengths in the final analysis.
I have to say this wasn’t a convincing race. The winner was a handful in the parade ring and was very warm at the start. Also the proximity of a 20/1 shot does undermine the form.
17:20 Good afternoon from Great Leighs where the sun is shining and it is very warm - could it be summer is here at last?
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Non-Runners
6:10
1 Glenveagh (lame)
10 New Balls Please (not eaten up)
7:10
1 Halsion Chancer (travel)
11 Ruman (lame)
7:40
7 Nacho Libre (bad scope)
8:40
9 Hucking Harkness
11 Lady Amberlini
15 Rowan Dancer (coughing)
16 Halsion Challenge
Results
6:10
1st 7 Billion Dollar Kid 10/11 fav
2nd 6 Wreningham 20/1
3rd 2 Bazguy 9/4
8 Ran NR;s 1 & 10
Distances 1 1/4L & 2 1/2L
Tote
Win £2.40
Place £1.10 £3.60 £1.10
Exacta £22.20
6:40
1st 6 Don't Stop Me Now 5/2
2nd 7 Kritzia 15/8 fav
7 Ran
Distances 4L
Tote
Win £3.20
Place £1.20 £1.70
Exacta £9.80
7:10
1st 4 Diriculous 11/2
2nd 9 Whitbarrow 16/1
3rd 2 Carcinetto 11/1
10 Ran NR's 1 & 11
Distances 3L & 1 1/2L
Tote
Win £7.40
Place £2.60 £3.90 £4.00
Exacta £158.60
7:40
1st 4 Ceremonial Jade 4/1
2nd 5 Greek Renaissance 7/4 fav
3rd 9 Starlit Sands 10/1
8 Ran NR 7
Distances 1/2L & head
Tote
Win £4.00
Place £1.70 £1,50 £2.10
Exacta £10.60
8:10
1st 5 Bomber Command 14/1
2nd 8 High Standing 11/8 fav
3rd 4 Prince Of Light 9/2
8 Ran
Distances 3 3/4L & Head
Tote
Win £19.20
Place £4.20 £1.20 £1.70
Exacta £158.60
8:40
1st 5 Thumbs Up 5/6 fav
2nd 3 Speyside 20/1
3rd 1 Suzi Spends 16/1
12 Ran NR's 9 , 11 , 15 & 16
Distances head & 1 3/4L
Tote
Win £1.90
Place £1.40 £5.90 £3.00
Exacta £36.80
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