07:14 6.2mm of rain has fallen overnight and it is still raining, although forecast to clear up this afternoon.

The going has eased to Good to Soft, Good in Places

There is currently the one non-runner, although with the going change there may well be more to come, further updates later on.

11:37 Good morning from Hamilton, where the rain has stopped and the sun is doing its best to break through.

The non-runner count is now three, details on the right, and the action gets underway at 14:10.

13:18 It will be interesting to see what the jockeys say after the first – the ground is squelchy underfoot in places although there is a feeling the ground may be good, good to soft in places.

Time, and indeed times, will tell.

13:49 Love him or loath him, you cannot knock Derek Thompson’s enthusiasm.

As well as commentating here this afternoon, he is also serving as the warm-up man and he has the crowd eating out of his hands – not sure how he does it!!!

13:55 They are in the parade ring for our opener, the Toteplacepot Nursery, with eleven lining up for the 6f contest.

14:25 Two things from the opening race, the pace appears to be in the centre of the course and running on horses look to be favoured.

The fired-up Rocky Coast set the early pace but was destined to fade in the closing stages.

Fellow front runner Saxonette lasted a little longer before fading two out. As she faded Ian Brennan produced  Reason To Believe to take up the running, a move which proved to be decisive and his rivals were unable to catch him.

Most impressive of the rest was Eilean Mor who came with a lively turn of foot to get to within ¾ of a length of the winner.

14:32 Race two is another 6f contest, the totepool.com EBF Flower Of Scotland Fillies’ Handicap, with eight contesting the race.

Ming Meng is getting a little worked up in the parade ring and Ursula is pulling quite hard, Eternal Instinct is slightly on her toes.

Little Scotland looks nice and would be an appropriately named winner.  

14:52 Well it is dangerous to generalise after one race … yes they stayed in the centre of the course in this contest, however it was the two front runners who filled the first two places.

La Zamora and Waveband vied for the lead early on before La Zamora took up the running, with the favourite Little Scotland also in contention.

Two out however favourite backers were getting worried as she came under pressure and failed to respond to Paul Hanagan’s urgings and she ended up beating only one home.

La Zamora was still clear but Waveband was fighting back but more of a danger was Ming Meng, running on in the closing stages and closing on the front pair.

In the end it was very close with La Zamora holding on by a neck with Waveband holding off the fast finishing Ming Meng by a nose.   

14:59 Another two-year-old contest with the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes which sees eight competing over a mile.

15:22 More often than not Mark Johnston’s debutants need their first run, but occasionally they send out something special and this race is a case in point.

State Opera set out to make all and not only did he make all, he had his rivals strung out, coming home an impressive 3¼ lengths clear.

Paul Hanagan did very little wrong on runner-up Spey Song, who on any other day would have won this contest.

The favourite Galloping Queen could only finish third, five lengths behind the runner-up, having seemingly hit a flat spot half way.

Tarantella Lady was well supported in the betting and was in contention before coming under pressure three out.

15:28 Race four is the 1m 1f Toteexacta Flexi Betting Claiming Stakes with just five going to post.

15:52 The 2010 jockey’s title looks like a two horse race with Paul Hanagan leading but with Richard Hughes in striking distance.

In this contest Hughes narrowed the lead by one as the pair battled the finish with Hughes riding the perfect tactical contest on Fujin Dancer. Settled in last Hughes did not move a muscle until they were inside the final furlong, by which point he had eased to be on the quarters of Hanagan’s mount, the favourite Bullet Man.

Bullet Man had taken up the running approaching the furlong marker after the front runner, the well supported Templetuohy Max, began to fade.

17:00 Back to 6f for our final contest, the Totetrifecta Flexi Betting Handicap, with a dozen going to post.

17:14 Red Raw withdrawn at the start - vets advice

17:25 Well it is back to as we were with Paul Hanagan winning the final contest on the odds-on favourite Ritual, although it has to be said Hanagan had to work hard for the victory as the jolly pulled very hard early doors before settling.

The field were reasonably well bunched for most of the contest. Sumay Boy was the narrow leader but Transmit, Sir Louis and Spinning Spirit were all thereabouts.

17:28 Well that’s it from family day at Hamilton Park, a reasonable family crowd.

Highlight of the afternoon must be State Opera, plus Mark Johnston reaching the 200 winners in a season yet again.

Hopefully we shall be at Leicester tomorrow, as long as there are no problems with the flight south tonight.

From Hamilton a very good evening.

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

14:40
1 Vitoria (going -09:58)
3 Coolmix (not eaten up - 10:17 Sat)

17:10
5 Dies Solis (going - 09:39)

Results

14:10 Nursery 6f 5yds

14:40 Handicap 6f 5yds

15:10 Maiden Stakes 1m 65yds

15:40 Claiming Stakes 1m 1f 36yds

16:10 Handicap 1m 5f 9yds

16:40 Handicap 1m 3f 16yds

17:10 Handicap 6f 5yds