18:04 That’s it from the opening day of Huntingdon’s 2009-2010 season. True enough I don’t think we have seen any future Cheltenham Festival winners here, but it was good fare for a family afternoon – and all the runners came back in one piece as well.

The next meeting here is on October 4th, Arc Day, and it features the Mascot Grand National before racing – a fun event if you have never seen it before – with plenty of ringers and skulduggery.

18:01 Our final race of the day was the longest, a 3m 2f handicap hurdle and the biggest field, 17 runners.

We saw a clear favourite with Thirtythreeblack sent off the 5/2 jolly, a somewhat short price considering the competitiveness of the race.

The race followed the pattern of the earlier races with a front runner, Restart, trying to make all before dropping out quickly and eventually pulling up.

This turned out to be another contest in which the late running horses took the honours.

Orchard King had been settled, almost out of sight, before coming on the scene two out and hitting the front, running away at the last. By rights it should have been race over but Amazing Valour had also sprouted wings and the 28/1 shot was closing the gap on the leader, eventually only going down by half a length.

Nigwell Forbees was another putting in the best effort in the closing stages, although five lengths behind the runner-up.

Thirtythreeblack was ridden with exaggerated waiting tactics and was another doing his best work in the closing stages but it was too little too late, taking the final place.

17:05 A massive gamble in sixth contest, another extended two mile hurdle, this time a handicap.

Esteem was backed into 7/2, having opened at 6/1 although post race the question needs to be asked why as the horse was never in contention at any stage.

The pace was set by Kingscourt Lad, accompanied by Yossie, a big drifter in the market. Tony McCoy settled Grand Bay in third spot.   

There was little change in the order until the runners turned for home, then it was all change as a number of late runners suddenly became involved.

Most notably Tora Petcha and Weather Front, both of whom appeared from absolutely nowhere to jump the final flight together, with the latter doing better on the long run-in to record a 2¾ length victory.

Another late finisher Dark Energy ran on to take third spot.

16:49 Our smallest field of the afternoon, for our second and final chase – an extended 2m 4f novices’ contest.

Tony McCoy on the favourite Robert The Brave tried different tactics in this contest, setting out to make all. He was joined by Unforgettable and the pair soon had a commanding lead, although both were prone to jumping errors.

Red Admiral and Denny Mac were happy to follow in third and fourth spot whilst Come Out Firing and Mickmacmagoole were happy to hack around in their own good time – the latter clearly wanting to be spending the Bank Holiday afternoon anywhere other than Huntingdon.

There was little change in the order until approaching three out at which point Noel Fehily asked Red Admiral for an effort and soon it was three up front.

By two out Unforgettable was just that and it was a two horse contest with Robert The Brave and Red Admiral teeing up to fight the finish.

Robert The Brave lived up to his name putting in better jumps at the final two fences but on the flat Red Admiral looked to have more in hand.

Robert The Brave jumped the last marginally in front but when McCoy asked for a final effort on the run-in the petrol gauge was well into the red and the favourite was not able to respond.

16:14 Division Two of the extended maiden hurdle turned out to be a very interesting betting contest.

Tony McCoy’s mount Another Trump opened up favourite but was soon deposed from that spot by the Evan Williams trained Agente Romano who attracted steady money at all prices in from 5/2 eventually being sent off the 13/8 favourite.

Division One was one at a steady pace and this contest was even slower with the pace, as it was, being set by Shavoulin and Campfire Tales.

Another Trump and Papradon were settled in the second rank with Agente Romano mid-division.

Three out McCoy hit the front, taking up the running from the long time leader Shavoulin.

Paul Moloney on Agente Romano made sure McCoy did not take too big a lead and went with him.
Two out both were running on but McCoy seemed to have more in hand.

So it turned out to be as McCoy rode a typical race doing enough to win and eventually bringing Another Trump home the five length winner. Agente Romano was made to look one paced in second spot  whilst Penyfan Dawn held on for third.   

15:37 Who would be a bookmaker at Huntingdon this afternoon as the third favourite in three races obliges and this time there were no palpitations for favourite backers.

Press The Button was quietly tucked away mid-division for most of this extended two mile maiden hurdle, happy to let Seader set a somewhat sedate pace.

Wester Ross and Director’s Chair were the pursuers along with Shannon Weir whose bid for some form of glory quickly evaporated.

It was as they began the turn for home that Stephen Craine made his move on the favourite, joining Wester Rose and Seader in the front.

Duty Free, Tony McCoy’s first mount of the afternoon, who was sent off second favourite, made some progress at the same stage but never mounted a serious challenge, soon coming under pressure.

Coming to the last, Wester Ross just had the advantage but all observers had the impression Press The Button was just teasing his rival like an angler reeling in his catch.

Needless to say once clear of the last the favourite duly kicked on, coming home an easy and eased six length winner.

Wester Ross held on for second with the front running Seader a tired third.

Mid Valley ran on to take fourth with Duty Free a one paced and disappointing fifth.

15:00 Another winning favourite in our second contest, an extended two mile handicap chase and another contest where the jolly had to work hard to take the race.

Bisley set off a very keen front runner, with Ravenscar and Majy D’Auteuil following behind.

Tanmeya, who opened up favourite but ended up a big drifter in the market was settled around fourth spot in the early stages, along with the eventual favourite Joshua.

Bisley attempted to make it an all the way run for glory and was still in front approaching the last, although Joshua was close on the leaders quarters.

Joshua hit the front after the last and looked to be a comfortable winner under Leighton Aspell, however Majy D’Auteuil seemed to discover a second wind and Richard Johnson was eating up the ground in the closing stages.

The line came just in time for Joshua who won by a diminishing head.

Ravenscar gamely held on for third spot with Tarboush running on to come home fouth.

The tiring front runner, Bisley, finished fifth.

Just Like That was vying for favouritism and fell two out.

14:30 A very well backed in our opener with Tim Vaughan’s Hard And Fast being backed from 13/8 into evens.

Favourite backers were able to cash in their tickets but Hard And Fast had to dig deep to claim the victory.

It took three attempts to start the race as General Alarm was most reluctant to join the remaining runners. When they did eventually set off he was soon well behind and it actually a surprise he managed to beat one of his rivals home – then again the one he did beat, Jethro Wheeler, made a terrible blunder at the last and Alan Creighton did well to remain on board.

Two runners set the pace Mycenean Prince and the aforementioned Jethro Wheeler although Karinga King was not far behind.

The favourite was settled in around fifth place, happy to track the leaders. Second favourite Toss
The Caber was settled nearer the rear.

There was little change in the order until they reached the end of the back straight for the final time, at which point three runners went clear, Come West, Mycenean Prince and the favourite Hard And Fast.

Eazyfix, who had run in snatches was a few lengths behind in fourth and Toss The Caber was one paced back in fifth.

Turning for home the front three were line abreast and two out any one could have been called the winner.

The favourite hit the front between the final two but Come West was not going to go down without a fight and these two jumped the last together.

On the run-in Hard And Fast had the better turn of foot opening up a two and a quarter length advantage at the line.

13:05 I have just walked the course and the emphasis must be on the word "firm" there is very little give in the ground at all and there is a relatively short cut of grass - look out for some fast times.

12:40 Good afternoon from Huntingdon, where we look set to have a bumper crowd. It is still 1 1/2 hours until the opener and already traffic is queuing to get into the course.

The promised sunshine has not arrived yet but it is a warm 20 degrees.

We currently have three non-runners.

09:54 The non-runner details are filtering through but without access to the racing admin site I do not have details of the time of withdrawal or the reason.

Just the one non so far and that is Cash For Honours in the 17:05

08:22 After a dry night the official going has changed to Good to Firm, Firm in Places.

A sunny afternoon is forecast with temperatures predicted to reach 25 degrees.

There are no reported non-runners ar present, however there seems to be problems with the BHA non-runners feed so details of the non-runners may be delayed.

The selections are:-

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

14:10
11 Rapide Plaisir (travel)

14:45
8 Mad Professor (going)

15:55
10 Kidlat (withdrawn - going)

17:05
9 Cash For Honours (going)

17:40
3 Old Brigade (going)

Results

14:10 Selling Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

1st 6 Hard And Fast evens fav
2nd 2 Come West 12/1
3rd 10 Mycenean Prince 7/1
11 Ran Nr 11
Distances 2 1/4 & 2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.20
Places £1.10 £2.50 £2.30
Exacta £14.20
CSF £15.12
Time 4' 35.4"

14:45 Handicap Chase 2m 110yds

1st 10 Joshua 4/1 fav
2nd 5 Majy D'Auteuil 11/2
3rd 13 Ravenscar 12/1
12 Ran Nr 8
Distances head & 3
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.80
Places £1.50 £2.50 £4.10
Exacta £36.60
CSF £27.11
Tricast £249.06
Time 4' 00.9"

15:20 Maiden Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 5 Press The Button 15/8 fav
2nd 8 Water Ross 7/1
3rd 11 Seader 17/2
12 Ran
Distances 6 & 4 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.10
Places £1.50 £2.00 £1.70
Exacta £17.40
CSF £14.75
Time 3' 34.1"

15:55 Maiden Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 1 Another Trump 2/1
2nd 8 Agente Romano 13/8 fav
3rd 5 Penyfan Dawn 9/2
11 Ran w/d 10
Distances 5 & 3 1/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £2.50
Places £1.50 £1.10 £1.80
Exacta £8.40
CSF £5.93
Time 3' 35.7"
Rule 4 10p on board prices before 15:26

16:30 Novices' Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 2 Red Admiral 3/1
2nd 3 Robert The Brave 13/8 fav
6 Ran
Distances 2 1/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.60
Places £2.10 £1.80
Exacta £5.60
CSF £9.07
Time 4' 50.72"

17:05 Selling Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

1st 3 Weather Front 7/1
2nd 10 Tora Petcha 8/1
3rd 11 Dark Energy 8/1
14 Ran Nr 9
Distances 2 3/4 & 1
Fav 15 Esteem 7/2 (7th)
Tote
Win £8.30
Places £3.00 £2.70 £2.60
Exacta £63.70
CSF £62.69
Tricast £464.92
Time no time recorded

17:40 Handicap Hurdle 3m 2f

1st 1 Orchard King 7/2
2nd 2 Amazing Valour 28/1
3rd 11 Nigwell Forbees 7/1
4th 9 Thirtythreeblack 5/2 fav
17 Ran Nr 3
Distances 1/2 , 5 & 6
Fav fourth
Tote
Win £4.70
Places £1.50 £6.90 £2.30 £1,60
Exacta £155.20
CSF £110.02
Tricast £693.26
Time 5' 50.16"