18:12 That’s it from an almost dark Hexham where it has been a long afternoon, not helped by the long delay between races five and six.

The meeting was overshadowed by the loss of two horses.

18:10 An incident packed bumper run in the gathering gloom.

Vintage Rally set the pace along with Papa Caruso and the favourite Montoya’s Son.

Just after they passed the post on the first occasion Catching Pigeons broke down fatally.

The leading group held the advantage throughout. As they turned for home Jamaica Man was pulled up.

Papa Caruso took up the running turning for home, with the running-on Green Grenello the only challenger.

The pair battled on up the run-in but Papa Caruso had enough in hand to hold off the challenge by three parts of a length.

17:46 Finally a change of sponsor for the Barry Turnbull “Out To Stud” Retirement Intermediate NH Flat Race.

17:44 We eventually got underway half an hour late, the Eldon Square Transformation Classified Chase over 3m 1f, our longest contest of the afternoon.

A well backed favourite in the shape of Thenameescapesme.

Jballingall, Ben Tirran and Onthegoagain set the pace and led throughout.

Onthegoagain went clear down the back straight on the final lap but Jballingall would not let him have a clear lead.

Thenameescapes me was settled nearer rear before making progress down the back straight and looking a lively threat, along with Reckless Venture who had been tracking the leaders.

Turning for home there were actually five in with a chance. Onthegoagain still had the advantage but Jballingall, Reckless Venture, Sierra Victor and Thenameescapesme.

First to come under pressure was the favourite and he never looked the winner as they headed to the last.

Onthegoagain put in the best jump and despite being harried by Jballingall he held on for  a deserved win by a length. The running on Sierra Victor just failed to grab the runners-up spot by a neck.

17:10 We have a full quota of ambulances, the sixth race will no go off at 5:25 and the final race will be at 5:55.

16:57 There is going to be at least a 20 minute delay before our next race, and the runners have been taken out of the parade ring.

16:48 There may be a delay before our next contest as we wait for a replacement ambulance.

16:45 Well an eventful contest in this fifth contest and at the same fence that caused the problems last time, the first in the home straight.

The Quiet King fell bringing down Also Jo and Annoy The Saints, the horses were OK but injuries to jockeys resulted in the flight being omitted on the final circuit.

Having been taken out of the contest Also Jo seemed determined to spoil the race for his rivals, in particular the favourite Wave Power whom he attempted to carry out on more than one occasion.

Witherspoon in front managed to avoid the mayhem but one particular bout of interference at the fifth resulted in Wave Power being knocked back from second to sixth.

By the final flight on the far side Wave Power and Witherspoon were in front and looked cosy.

However on the now very long run-n the complexion of the race was about to change.

I’ll Be Frank came from nowhere to take up the running making the front pair look like trees.

He wasn’t the only late runner as Qbuster and, best of all, Global Flyer were also running on like bats out of hell.

Global Flyer was eating up the ground but had left it too late and I’ll Be Frank took the honours.

16:18 Race five is the Metrocentre Always A Winner Maiden Hurdle (no prizes for guessing who is sponsoring the next) over 2m 4f 110yds.

Three non-runners in this one, Sygones Of Brid, Golden Globe and Steel Giant but thirteen still run in this our biggest field of the afternoon.

16:12 The betting managed to get this race totally wrong. Zaffarella opened the 4/1 favourite drifting out to 5/1, whilst Peters Star went the other way from 5/1 into 7/2.

However it was Zaffarella who came out the 1¾ winner after battling with the front running Amalfi Coast from the end of the back straight.

Amalfi Coast had shared the early pace with Doris’s Gift, but she tired mid-race before rallying against beaten horses in the closing stages.

Zaffarella was settled towards the rear by Tom Scudamore before making progress as they came down the back straight for the final time.

By the last flight in the back, which turned out to be the final fence following the fatal fall of Cartmel stalwart Michaels Dream on the first circuit, Amalfi Coast and Zaffarella had the race between them.

Passing what would have been the last Zaffarella hit the front and although Amalfi Coast battled on it was race over.

15:42 The Eldon Square Always There Handicap Hurdle, over three miles is our next contest – by the way have you noticed the theme with our race names this afternoon?

15:36 Well the white horse may have won the best turned out award but whoever made the choice must have a good eye for a horse as I’m Your Man virtually made all and managed to hold off a brave challenge from last years winner Silly Wupple, the 19lb weight difference ultimately deciding the race.

The two joint favourites, the aforementioned Silly Wupple and Fred Bojangles were both harrying the leader, indeed Silly Wupple briefly headed the grey on a couple of occasions.

Turning out of the home straight it was Silly Wupple and I’m Your Man alone in front and Silly Wupple looked to be running the better.

By the last I’m Your Man was had a marginal lead, which he managed to retain in the long run-in, despite Silly Wupple battling back, the winning distance being a neck.

Categorical was doing his best work in the closing stages to come home third, ten lengths behind the front pair.

Fred Bojangles was a long way back in fourth.

15:14 Each way money for Some Magic 16/1 into 11/1

15:09 Four non-runners in the third, the Metrocentre Hot Favourite Handicap Chase over the extended two-and-a-half miles.

They are Livingonaknifeedge, Adare Prince, Etxlar and Wise Choice, leaving ten going to post.

Silly Wupple is teh 7/2 favourite to win this contest for the second year running.

14:59 A good afternoon for favourite backers so far with Quivvy Bridge obliging at 6/4, although Give A Little was battling for the favourites spot with the pair flip-flopping before the off.

Give A Little became embroiled in a battle for the lead with Josephine Malines, a battle the latter eventually won as Give A Little tamely dropped out of contention two out. The pace up front was not particularly suicidal so that is not an excuse for the poor performance.

Quivvy Bridge, a raider from Jim Lambes Irish yard, tracked the leaders until making progress as they turned for home and taking up the running as they broached the final flight.

Unlike in the opener the favourite did not have her own way on the run-in as Josephine Malines battled back making Quivvy Bridge earn the spoils, the eventual winning distance being 1½ lengths.

14:34 Race two is the Eldon Square Heart Of The City Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, like the opener over an extended two miles.

Seven face the starter with Stuff Of Dreams being the non-runner.

Being a fillies contest one or two were a bit feisty in the parade ring, most notably Kinharvie, Can’t Remember and, to a lesser extent, Honeygrove.

14:23 A case of job done in the opener with the first two in the betting dominating the closing stages of the race and the odds-on favourite, Noble Alan, winning as an odds-on favourite should.

Fly To Dubai and Knockavilla vied for the lead, whilst Brian Harding was happy to settle the favourite nearer last than first.

Below The Deck, the only filly in the contest, was with the pace before tiring in the early stages.
As the field came down the far side Harding bought the favourite up to track the leaders.

Approaching the final ditch, three from home, Denis O’Regan took Knockavilla into a clear lead, taking several lengths over his rivals.

Harding did not panic and slowly closed the gap and by the last was in a position to jump into the lead.

Once in front the race was over with Noble Alan, pulling away to win by eight lengths on his debut over the larger obstacles.

Knockavilla was unchallenged for the runners-up spot, with Description 4½ lengths back in third.

Connections were pleased, with trainer Nicky Richards stating the obvious saying the winner jumped well.

14:07 Second favourite Knockavilla is attracting good support 11/4 froom 7/2

14:06 The opening Metrocentre Always A Winner Beginners Chase over an extended 2 miles gets us under way with seven going to post. The non-runner is yesterdays Carlisle runner Yachvili.

It is notoriously difficult to assess greys in the parade ring, however Noble Alan looks head and shoulders above his rivals.

13:46 Two more non-runners, full details on the right

13:44 This is my fourth visit to Hexham and it is a beautiful setting, especially when the sun is shining as it is now.

13:26 The middle fence on the far side is being omitted in all chases.

13:15 An hour until our opener and already a good size crowd here.

12:22 Good afternoon from Hexham, where is is overcast but the sun is trying to break through, in contrast to yesterday at Carlisle, the wind is very light. The going stick is 8.5

We currently have ten non-runners.

08:09 There is no change to the overnight going, which remains as Good, good to firm places in last two furlongs, there has been 1mm of rain overnight

Our selections are:-

Friday 19:18

The Friday evening update is:-

Going

Good, Good to Firm places in last 2f (GoingStick: 8.6 on Friday at 15:30)

Overcast and dry & breezy all day with rain moving in this afternoon could see at least 2-4mm into early hours of Saturday.

If no rain this pm/eve will water home straight in morning

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

14:10
7 Yachvili (stiff - VC 12:02)

14:45
8 Stuff Of Dreams (going - -8:14)

15:15
3 Livingonaknifeedge (not eaten up - SC not eaten up 13:39)
4 Adare Prince (not eaten up - SC 08:14)
5 Etxalar (going - 13:38)
13 Wise Choice (lame - SC 10:57)

15:50
10 Murphys Beau (lame - SC 09:53)

16:25
5 Bygones Of Brid (going - 10:31)
8 Golden Globe (going - 08:14)
12 Steel Giant (stiff - VC 12:04)

17:00
9 Simply Smashing (knocked joint - SC 08:18)

17:35
1 Bishops Heir (going 15:41)
13 Zero Six Zoo (going - 10:31)

Results

14:10 Beginners Chase 2m 110yds

1st 5 Noble Alan 4/7 fav
2nd 3 Knockavilla 11/4
7 Ran Nr 7
Distances 8
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Places £1.20 £1.70
Exacta £2.30
CSF £2.28
Time 3' 57.1"

14:45 Novices' Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 1 Quivvy Bridge 6/4 fav
2nd 4 Josephine Malines 9/2
7 Ran Nr 8
Distances 1 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.20
Places £1.50 £2.60
Exacta £6.10
CSF £8.44
Time 4' 08.15"

15:15 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 10 I'm Your Man 18/1
2nd 2 Silly Wupple 7/2 jf
3rd 6 Categorical 8/1
10 Ran Nr's 3, 4, 5 & 13
Distances neck & 10
Fav second & No 9 (4th)
Tote
Win £27.20
Places £4.20 £2.30 £2.20
Exacta £152.40
CSF £83.90
Tricast £563.09
Time 5' 05.5"

15:50 Handicap Hurdle 3m

1st 4 Zaffarella 5/1
2nd 1 Amalfi Coast 6/1
3rd 3 Peters Star 7/2 fav
10 Ran Nr 10
Distances 1 3/4 & 22
Fav third
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £2.60 £2.30 £1.40
Exacta £44.00
CSF £34.59
Tricast £111.47
Time

16:25 Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

1st 9 I'll Be Frank 66/1
2nd 7 Global Flyer 33/1
3rd 10 Qbuster 12/1
13 Ran Nr's 5, 8 & 12
Distances 2 1/4 & 2
Fav 15 Wave Power evens (5th)
Tote
Win £54.10
Places £6.10 £6.70 £2.10
Exacta £601.20
CSF £1,331.39
Time 5' 08.5"

17:00 Classified Chase 3m 1f

1st 4 Onthegoagain 8/1
2nd 7 Reckless Venture 8/1
3rd 2 Jballingall 33/1
11 Ran Nr 9
Distances 1 & neck
Fav 10 Thenameescapesme 2/1 (6th)
Tote
Win £8.90
Places £2.70 £2.50 £5.30
Exacta £29.90
CSF £68.37
Time no time taken

17:35 NH Flat 2m 110yds

1st 9 Papa Caruso 11/4
2nd 5 Green Grenello 25/1
3rd 6 Highway Nineteen 40/1
11 Ran Nr's 1 & 13
Distances 3/4 & 4 1/2
Fav 8 Montoya's Son 6/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £4.00
Places £1.60 £5.00 £13.30
Exacta £99.80
CSF £78.29
Time no time recorded