18:05 That's it from a lovely afternoon here at Haydock, their finak NH meeting of the season.

Our next coverage will be from Newmarket on Wednesday, until then good evening.

17:59 A bumper to close proceedings on this sunny Saturday afternoon.

The betting said it was a one horse race with Nicky Henderson’s Peveril sent off the 11/10 favourite with the remainder going 9/1 and greater.

However favourite backers must have been sweating heavily and it would have nothing to do with the warm weather or number of low cut dresses on display. Although winning Peveril had to work really hard for victory and only really sealed victory in the dying strides to come home by half a length. The potential party pooper was Cool Mission.

Cool Mission had tracked the early leader Solway Sam, before taking up the running as they went out on the final circuit.The favourite, by contrast, was settled mid-division by Barry Geraghty.
Solway Sam dropped right out as they turned for home, eventually coming home a tailed off last.

Peveril ran on but was soon under pressure as Cool Mission was extending his lead. It took all of Geraghty’s   strength to bring the favourite in contention but by a furlong out the front pair were well clear of their rivals.

They battled inside the final furlong and Geraghty just managed to get in front, giving him a personal hat trick on the afternoon.

17:41 An update from the 4:05, Lucy Horner the rider of runner-up Tom’s Toybox picked up a nine day ban for excessive use of the whip.

17:32 Our final chase, this time over 3m and although not quite as incident packed as the last contest, it was not without incident.

Andrew Nick and Freeze The Flame set off in front, tracked by Present Glory, Sovereign Jing, Quarry Town and Temoin.

The first incident came at the fourth, the first ditch, where Quarry Town made a hash of the fence and although the combination remained in tact, Timmy Murphy pulled him up before the next and dismounted.

The front pair remained in position as they set out on their second and final circuit. The next incident came at the tenth, the second  down the far side, when the front running Freeze The Flame fell almost bringing down Temoin.

This left Andrew Nick in front, although two fences later he made a slight mistake and was joined by Present Glory.

It then became a battle between the pair with the possibility of it going either way until Present Glory took up the running at the second last, staying on and coming home six lengths clear of Andrew Nick.

17:05 Our longest race of the afternoon, a 3m 4f chase, also turned out to be the most eventful contest of the afternoon with the Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Florida Dream being at the centre of all the controversy.

BallyGalley Bob set off in front and led at the first but it was at that fence that Florida Dream unseated Paddy Brennan.

As they passed the post for the first time BallyGalley Bob had been joined in the lead by first time blinkered Tomillielou, although they also had the loose Florida Dream for company.

As they approached the second fence on the far side Florida Dream was leading the field against the nearside rail with BallyGalley Bob the leader of those with riders. It was at this fence that Florida Dream decided he had finished with jumping so decided to run across the front of the fence. This stopped BallyGally Bob in his tracks resulting in the horse stopping but jockey Dominic Elsworth flying over the fence. I suppose the only surprise, and it is a positive one, that Florida Dream only took one of his rivals out of the contest.

This left Tomillielou in front with Peut Etre Sivola battling out the lead.

As they passed the post to begin the final circuit these two still shared the lead. However Florida Dream still wanted to be the centre of attention and crashed through the rail (thank goodness they are plastic nowadays) and was last seen heading back to the stables.

Down the far side it was all change in the order with the favourite Garleton and Stagecoach Diamond both running on to battle for the lead, along with Minella Four Star.

Four out it was between these three, with Minella Four Star looking the better under Robert Thornton and soon taking a good lead on his rivals – his only threats being the three final fences, which he jumped fluently – coming home 20 lengths clear of his rivals.

The battle for second was also soon over, although less convincingly, with Stagecoach Diamond coming home 3¼ lengths ahead of the favourite.    

16:32 The chocolate cake is finally being cut - I have to admit from where I am sitting it looks a bit dry, so I think I will pass, anyway I have just had a very nice cherry scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

16:19 A two horse race according to the betting with Dominican Monk opening as favourite with the grey Gershwin as second favourite. Just before the off they flip-flopped with Gershwin sent off the 5/2 favourite.

Coach Lane set off in front but Beggars Cap was soon with him and the two shared the lead for almost all the contest. Tom’s Toybox and Dominican Monk vied for third and fourth with Gershwin last.

Indeed by the end of the back straight Gershwin was well adrift and it was no surprise when he was pulled up – seemingly lame – three out. I’m not sure if the stewards will be asking jockey Tom O’Brien why he did not dismount from the horse as soon as he pulled up.

15:58 Only five going to post for our first chase. They all look reasonable in the parade ring, although Coach Lane and Dominican Monk are both a touch on the small side.

15:44 Onto the traditional hurdles for our third contest, giving officials time to swap the brush hurdles for the chase fences.

A 2m handicap saw ten go to post.

Sonic Anthem took a strong hold to make the early running, a position he held until halfway down the back straight., when Izita Star, who had been to the fore, took up the running. At which point
Sonic Anthem had enough and soon dropped through the field.

Acambo became the main challenger, whilst at the same time Well Disguisede, who had been settled last throughout made eye catching progress to soon be in third place.

By the second last Izita Star had a good lead but there was a good battle for the minors between Norman The Great, Well Disguised and Clova Island all in contention.

15:09 I suppose if you are going lose your maiden tag then it is best to do it in the feature race of the day and that is exactly what Quinz did in the Blue Square Novices’ Hurdle Final.

Broken Beau, one of the two Hemmings runners set the early pace, however by the third flight joint top weight Fiendish Flame had taken up the running.

Broken Beau tracked the leader until fading three out. Quinz was happy to track the front pair, with the other Hemmings runner, the favourite Burton Port, settled in fourth.

At the three out stage there were only three in with any chance, the leader Fiendish Flame , Burton Port  and Quinz, with Riddleofthesands heading the remainder.

Two out Fiendish Flame was beginning to show signs of tiredness as Quinz ran on to take up the running and by the last flight had a three length lead.

Burton Point ran on into second place but was never in a position to mount a challenge to the leader.

Danny Zuko was in rear and clipped heels in the general bunching as they turned out for the final circuit and was eventually pulled up.

14:53 Unusually our second contest is the feature race of the afternoon – something to do with the Channel Four coverage I think.

Blue Square are desperately trying to get their  balloon inflated before their race.

14:39 A 2m 4f hurdle over the fixed brush obstacles got us underway.

Flake was favourite in the early exchanges but was a drifter in market, leaving Young Albert as the favourite.

Flake was the early pacesetter, leading until the start of the final circuit when Tom Scudamore bought Laustra Bad to take up the running.

It then became pretty tight behind with Flake, Mujamead and Chance De Roy battling for second place with Young Albert tracking the front four.

Laustra Bad held the lead until being joined by Chance De Roy three out, however the latters chances were somewhat spoilt by a mistake two out.

Laustra Bad still had the lead at the last with Chance De Roy looking to be his main challenger, until that is Barry Geraghty launched Young Albert with a final attack along the inside rail, taking the lead in the final 50 yards to come home the 1¼ length winner, with Laustra Bid coming home second and with Chance De Roy three parts of a length back in third.

Flake came home fourth in a bob finish with Currahee.    

14:25 The runners for the first are in the paddock. A couple are sweating – The Hairy Lamon behind the saddle and Currahee is foaming at the mouth.

Singhalongtasveer was very relaxed – so relaxed he looked as though he was about to fall asleep.

Star Beat looked good in his coat and Young Albert looks more a chaser.

An update on the balloon – it has deflated.

12:40 Still 45 mins until our opening contest and it looks like we are going to have agood crowd - looks like quite a few outfits are getting post-Aintree outing.

There is a giant Blue Square hot air baloon being inflated at the far side of the course - let's hope it does not frighten the horses?

There is a lady just arrived in the stands in front of the press box with a huge Tuppaware box, containing what looks like a huge chocolate cake - I wonder if she will be sharing it later on. Would I be cruel in suggesting that she does look like a lady who enjoys the odd slice or two of chocolate cake?

12:55 Good afternoon from a sunny Haydock Park. We currently have six non-runners, details on the right.

08:00 After 2mm of rain overnight the official going is on the Chase & Brush Hurdle Course: Good, Good to Firm in Places and on the Traditional Hurdle & Bumper Course: Good to Firm

Our selections this afternoon are:-

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Non-Runners

2:25
6 Bobby Gee (going)
11 Mud Monkey (knocked joint - VC)
15 Pelo Du Bief (abcess - SC)

2:55
10 Rouge Et Blanc (not eaten up - SC)

4:40
2 Hucka Lodge (Other - SC)
10 Finzi (going)

Results

2:25 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
1st 12 Yound Albert 5/1 fav
2nd 1 Laustra Bad 15/2
3rd 2 Chance du Roy 15/2
13 Ran Nr's 6, 11 & 15
Distances 1¼ & ¾
Fav winner
Tote
Win £7.50
Places £2.10 £3.20 £3.60
Exacta £49.50
CSF £40.91
Tricast £282.83
Time 4' 51.72"

2:55 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 11 Quinz 12/1
2nd 2 Burton Port 7/2 fav
3rd 1 Fiendish Flame 8/1
11 Ran Nr 10
Distances 2¾  & 3½
Fav second
Tote
Win £13.70
Places £3.30 £1.40 £3.40
Exacta £91.60
CSF £55.67
Time 4' 48.63"

3:30 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 5 Izita Star 11/2
2nd 8 Well Disguised 9/1
3rd 3 Norman The Great 7/1
10 Ran
Distances 9 & neck
Fav 4 Clova Island 7/2 (4th)
Tote
Win £7.00
Places £2.20 £2.30 £2.20
Exacta £38.50
CSF £54.01
Tricast £352.96
Time 3' 58.1"

4:05 Handicap Chase 2m

1st 4 Dominican Monk 3/1
2nd 1 Tom's Toybox 13/2
5 Ran
Distances 1½
Fav 5 Gershwin 5/1 (PU)
Tote
Win £2.90
Places £2.00 £2.90
Exacta £19.80
CSF £20.37
Time 4' 03.8"

4:40 Handicap Chase 3m 4f

1st 3 Milella Four Star 12/1
2nd 4 Stagecoach Diamond 12/1
3rd 8 Garleton 7/2 fav
9 Ran Nr's 2 & 10
Distances 20 & 3¼
Fav third
Tote
Win £6.20
Places £2.30 £2.20 £1.60
Exacta £29.80
CSF £30.85
Tricast £98.70
Time 7' 20.3"

5:15 Novices' Chase 3m

1st 3 Present Glory 15/8 fav
2nd Andrew Nick 9/2
6 Ran
Distances 6
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Places £1.50 £2.70
Exacta £10.90
CSF £10.05
Time 6' 09.5"

5:45 Open NH Flat 2m 110yds

1st 7 Peveril 11/10 fav
2nd 3 Cool Mission 9/1
3rd 5 Good For Blue 40/1
16 Ran
Distances ½ & 9
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.10
Places £1.20 £2.90 £12.00
Exacta £14.00
CSF £11.04
Time 3' 52.7"