21:30 Sadly it was a disappointing evenings racing at Huntingdon. The fields were already small at the overnight declaration stage, however a number of withdrawals decimated some of the fields.

The evening opened with a 3m Hunters’ Chase in which Took My Eye was a deserving winner.

Taking up the running after the fifth fence he held off a late challenge from Ballynonty, giving trainer David Kemp the winner of this contest for the second year running.

Dissapointment of the contest was the favourite Mid Div And Creep. The jolly tracked the leader throughout but faded badly as they turned for home, eventually trailing home last. Somewhat mystifying as he is a distance winner.

The second contest was an extended 2 mile Novices’ Hurdle which saw five go to post. Know The Law was sent off the odds-on favourite and eventually won as an odds-on shot should. Pam Sly’s Viable set the pace but was a sitting target as the top two in the betting  ran differing races. Second favourite Sam Lord tracked the leader, whilst Know The Law was happy to hack around near the rear.

Turning for home the top two were on the quarters of the long time leader. A mistake two out effectively ended Sam Lord’s challenge as Know The Law recorded an easy six length victory.

Race three saw our biggest field of the evening with nine going to post for the 3m 2f handicap hurdle. In the end it produced a decent finish with the top two in the betting Island Arrow and Portside both in with a chance at the last. However the favourite Island Arrow had enough in reserve to hold off the late last challenge from the well backed Portside, to record a ¾ length victory.   

Cortesia, the only filly in the field, came home a creditable third.

The fourth contest, a 2m 110yd beginners’ chase, had only three declared runners. It was a tactical affair with the odds-on favourite Just Amazing and the outsider Light Yield battling it out in front and the second favourite, I Have Dreamed, happy to hack round in his own time.

The action began as they turned for home, with all three runners line abreast as I Have Dreamed ran on to join the front pair. They approached two out together but Just Amazing blundered, whist I Have Dreamed put in a perfect leap. That determined the race with I Have Dreamed spring heeling the last. Just Amazing did rally in the closing stages but his rival had flown, coming home an eight length winner.

Three non-runners meant we had another three runner contest for our penultimate contest, a 2m 4f Handicap Chase.  Michael Scudamore’s The Wicketkeeper was sent off the odds-on favourite and was in with every chance until blundering three out and pulling up and being dismounted soon after. At the same fence King De Lune also made a lesser mistake – arguably it was this mistake that caused the favourites problems. American World was left the clear leader, recording a facile nine length victory.

An extended 2m 5f handicap hurdle ended proceedings. Tootsie Too made a brave attempt to make it an all the way victory, a lead she held until jumping two out after which she quickly faded.  This came the same time as the other filly, Novarra, mounted a challenge and the complexion of the race changed completely. Chases by the held up Massini Moon she came home five lengths clear.

The betting had the contest as a two runner affair between Patton and Petrus De Sormain. Patton was very disappointing and eventually trailed home a distance last. Petrus De Sormain was in contention until approaching two out.         

14:52 the number of non-runners is increasing, we now have eight defectors. Also with drying weather we have a going change, where it is now Good To Firm.

12:30 Three more non-runners and some of the races are now really uncompetitive

10:22 We have three non-runners so far.

08:44 After a dry night the early morning going report is Good.

Small fields this evening and our selections are as follows:-

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

6:10
4 L'Homme de Nuit (not eaten up - SC 12:00)
5 Sir Liam (Travel - 15:17)
6 Topping The Bill (lame - VC 13:35)

6:40
7 Zelos (cast in box - SC 09:13)
8 Bob 'n' You (temperature - VC 12:10)
12 Ticket To Ride (knocked joint - VC 13:21)

7:40
2 Irish Guard (going - 09:34)
3 Max Bygraves (going - 10:09)
4 Dead Or Alive (other - VC 12:04)

Results

5:35 Hunters' Chase 3m

1st 3 Took My Eye 4/1
2nd 1 Ballynonty 4/1
6 Ran
Distances 1 3/4
Fav 4 Mid Div And Creep 7/4 (last)
Tote
Win £6.40
Places £3.90 £2.70
Exacta £18.20
CSF £18.49
Time 6' 11.09"

6:10 Novices' Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 1 Know The Law 4/5 fav
2nd 2 Sam Lord 15/8
6 Ran Nr's 4 & 6
Distances 6
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Places £1.02 £2.00
Exacta £2.50
CSF £2.62
Time 3' 56.25"

6:40 Handicap Hurdle 3m 2f

1st 2 Island Arrow 7/2 fav
2nd 4 Portside 4/1
3rd 10 Cortesia 8/1
9 Ran Nr 7 , 8 & 12
Distances 3/4 & 11
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.30
Places £1.90 £1.20 £2.60
Exacta £18.30
CSF £17.43
Tricast £100.02
Time 6' 12.10"

7:10 Beginners Chase 2m 110yds

1st 1 I Have Dreamed 7/4
2nd 2 Just Amazing 8/11 fav
3 Ran
Distance 8
Fav second
Tote
Win £2.30
Exacta £2.50
CSF £3.43
Time

7:40 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 5 American World 11/4
2nd 6 King De Lune 11/4
3 Ran Nr's 2 , 3 & 4
Distances 9
Fav 1 The Wicketkeeper 5/6 (PU)
Tote
Win £3.10
Exacta £11.90
CSF £8.79
Time 5' 02.62"

8:10 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 110yds

1st 5 Novarra 8/1
2nd 6 Massini Moon 11/2
6 Ran
Distance 5
Fav 2 Patton 6/4 (last)
Tote
Win £10.10
Places £3.20 £2.60
Exacta £44.00
CSF £50.14
Time 4' 59.06"