13:00

Celestial Gold's long awaited return to the course turned out to be something of a disappointment at Hereford on Thursday.

Making his first racecourse appearance in 644 days the former Hennessey winner was making his comback over hurdles.

Sent off the 8/11 favourite he failed to complete when pulled up on the final circuit.

Trainer David Pipe was clearly disappointed and will have an anxious night.

"I just hope that he is okay in the morning and the main thing is that he is in one piece.”

The Venetia William’s trained second favourite, Super Nick at 2/1 ran out the comfortable winner.

13:30

In the following race there was a further shock for punters when the Jonjo O’Neill trained Crocodiles Rock, at 2/5f, was beaten by 12/1 shot Pettifour. The odds-on shot had every chance but did not seem to have the will to battle when challenged by the winner.

Speaking after the race jockey Tony McCoy, who clearly wasn't happy to have lost, would not blame the horse and said the heavy going was more of a contributory factor and that he was “beaten by a better horse”.

1st	8 Pettifour (IRE)	12-1
2nd	1 Crocodiles Rock (IRE)	2-5 F
3rd	13 Tisfreetdream (IRE)	16-1
Tote Win £13.30 Place £2.40, £1.10, £3.10 Exacta £25.70 Distances 1l, 7l 16 ran

14:00

The bookies have huge smiles on their faces now, three races and three beaten odds on favourites. The latest to go down was the 4/7 shot Spare Cash, beaten by the good bumper winner and hurdling debutant Hold Em. However the bookies my be smiling through slightly gritted teeth as the winner had been backed from 5/1 to 7/2.

14:30

Finally a winning odds-on favourite, as Missis Potts easily wins the Novice Chase at 10/11. Always in the van he first of all beat off the challenge of ex-French raider, Robin De Sherwood, then the late challenge of Battlecry.

1st	7 Missis Potts	10-11 F
2nd	1 Battlecry	4-1
Tote Win £1.80 Place  £1.30, £2.00 Exacta £4.60 Distances 1 3/4l 6 ran  Non runners 4

15:00

Another losing favourite, although not odds-on this time. Irish Legend was the well backed 11/8 favourite but was beaten three lengths by the 7/1 shot Joe Brown who made all, with the 14/1 Heart Springs a further half length back in third. Irish Legend was held up and, although challenging late he never really challenged the winner.

1st	12 Joe Brown	7-1
2nd	1 Irish Legend (IRE)	11-8 F
3rd	18 Heart Springs	14-1
4th	5 Mendosino (GER)	6-1
Tote Win £10.90 Places £3.30, £1.10, £2.60, £1.30  Exacta £43.30 Distances 3l, 1/2l, 3 1/2l 16 ran Non runners 8, 14

15:30

Another eventful race with Gray Shark running through the wings of the first. Only four of the eleven runners completed with the 5/1 joint second favourite running out a convincing 17 length winner. The favourite Norseman Cateline was in touch with the winner, until blundering three out.

1st	6 Atacama Star	5-1
2nd	10 Norseman Cateline (FR)	7-2 F
3rd	3 Greenwood Maxi (IRE)	40-1
Tote Win £6.30 Place £1.90, £1.70, £11.80 Exacta £26.90 Distances 17l, 1 1/2l 11 ran

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