16:22 Well at least we had racing here at Huntingdon this afternoon although it cannot be described as competitive with conditions making it easy for front runners.
However we did not flood, which is important.
A small crowd of just under 800 but, in the circumstances – with racing not getting the go-ahead until 10:00 and with the fixture going off 24 hours later than scheduled – not that bad.
From a now pretty dark Huntingdon a very good afternoon.
16:19 Back to normal service in the bumper as the well backed Kings Grey (10/3 into 2/1) made all to give the Reveley family a double on the afternoon.
It was an impressive debut for the grey who never looked to be in any danger.
The favourite Mister Chancer was held up early on and made good late progress but never threatened the leader.
Seren Rouge was another who caught the eye coming home third.
Landenstown Star, very weak in the market, did not look at all resolute – had to be worked at to take second place but dropped out badly in the closing stages.
15:58 Our final contest is the bumper, to give it its official name Totepool Racing’s Biggest Supporter Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race in which seven will go off in the gathering gloom.
15:56 At last a competitive contest.
Home She Goes and Little Firecracker were the two to set the pace in our final contest over obstacles.
However coming out of the back straight Little Firecracker was well behind and Romney Marsh had swept past Home She Goes to take up the running.
Knar Mardy and Sophisticated Lady had also run into contention.
However it seems as though Home She Goes was just having a breather as she ran on again and was back in front jumping two out.
At the last she was still in front with Sophisticated Lady just behind and Knar Mardy running on well.
A good battle up the run-in and Home She Goes had enough in the locker to record a 1¼ length victory with Knar Mardy taking the runners-up spot from Sophisticated Lady.
Both the joint favourites, Sawpit Supreme and Gunnasayso were disappointing. The former weakening and pulling up before three out and the latter losing any chance after blundering at the fourth.
15:30 Our final race over obstacles is the extended 2 mile Bet Totepool On 0800 221 221 Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Three non-runners leave us with ten facing the starter.
15:20 The "crowd" today is a shade under 800
15:19 I am going to sound like a record* stuck in the groove here but yet another winner who made all.
She’s Humble set off in front pursued by serial loser King Diamond and Normandy Landings, with the favourite Laharna and Safe Investment (who wasn’t) in rear.
As they came down the back straight for the final time King Diamond was in reverse and Laharna made progress to become the challenger.
As they turned for home it looked as though we would finally have a running-on winner but She’s Humble had plenty in hand coming to the last.
With the omitted fences we had a long ¼ mile run-in and She’s Humble was beginning to tire in front.
Laharna and Normandy Landings were closing the gap but the filly had enough in hand to win by 1¼ lengths. Laharna was tiring worse of all and Normandy Landings almost did the joly for second.
* For our younger readers a record is a grooved vinyl disc which used to be our source of music. Well played records sometimes used to have the needle get stuck in the groove playing the same line again and again.
14:48 Another chase for our next, this time the extended 2m Bet Totepool At Totesport.com Handicap Chase.
One non-runner means five will line up.
14:43 Once again the two runners who made the pace took the first two paces.
Favourite Celian was the early leader with Prince Louis on his quarters.
By the fourth they had swapped places but the two were always clear of their rivals.
Prince Louis had a tendency to jump left throughout.
By two out the front pair were upsides and jumping together, at the same time pulling clear of their rivals.
Alex Merriam kicked Celian on turning for home and by the last was well clear. Prince Louis briefly tried to rally but soon faded and could only look on as the favourite ran on to a five length victory.
Nautical Approach was looking booked for third spot but tired and was passed by the running-on Starbougg, one of the few runners to run on well today.
Mr Presley ran a strange race, with the pace early on but was soon all shook up and tailed off.
Killfinnan Castle who had tracked the leaders before dropping back took a tired fall at the last but walked away afterwards.
14:20 Back to the larger obstacles in our next the extended 2m 4f Totescoop6 Beats The Freeze Handicap Chase.
Only seven go to post as we have two non-runners.
14:15 One of those races where very little changed in the race.
Rollwiththepunches set off in front and was never headed, Rackham Lerouge set off in second place and was always second.
Bangkok Pete was third or fourth throughout, eventually finishing third.
Have you spotted the trend yet?
Certainly in the hurdles those with the pace are maintaining their lead and those running on are tiring.
13:45 15 face the starter in the extended 2 mile EBF Totepool Our Profits Stay In Racing “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) – pause for breath.
No real positives in the parade ring. Bangkok Pete was pulling a bit in the parade ring but not as hard as Very Stylish was. Secret Cash had two handlers.
13:35 Not much of a contest to be honest in a race where Grenoli set the pace and James Reveley kept the odds-on favourite behind his rivals for most of the contest.
Indeed in the very early stages all four had a go in front before the pace settled down.
Approaching the last in the back straight the field were virtually four abreast but at the fence Tazbar leapt into the lead and was soon clear of his rivals.
Turning for home and the one remaining fence in the home straight he was well clear with Midnight Chase putting up a fruitless chase.
Tazbar got in close to the final fence but his progress was not impeded and he came home a very comfortable 14 length winner.
Midnight Chase took second with Ginolad third and the long time leader Grenoli coming home in his own time.
13:09 Just the four line up for our second contest, the Bet Totepool To Support Your Sport Novices’ Chase, an extended 2½ mile contest.
No positives or negatives from the parade ring.
The later races will be interesting - the ground has really opened up after the opener.
13:04 No surprise the runners were well strung out in the opener.
However the ground proved to be no problem for Meet Me At Dawn who hit the front approaching the first fence and, once in front, was never headed.
Monsieur Georges and the free running Mycenean Prince tracked, with Saddlers Mot also in the mix.
Turning for home it looked to be a three horse contest, with Meet Me At Dawn still leading and Saddlers Mot the challenger and the favourite Hampton Court making progress.
The favourites challenge did not last long as he came under pressure turning for home.
Meet Me At Dawn made a slight mistake two out allowing Saddlers Mot to make a serious challenge.
Coming to the last Saddlers Mot looked a serious challenger but Meet Me At Dawn had enough in the locker to record a two length victory.
Saddlers Mot came home second whilst the running on Sir Punjabi took third spot from the jolly.
12:36 Weight notices in the opener Sir Punjabi is plus 1lb and Nightboat To Cairo is +6lbs
12:34 Our opening contest is the Totepool Welcomes Back Jump Racing Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle over the extended 2m 5f.
With one non-runner we have 13 facing the starter.
Nothing special in the parade ring. Kilshannig was slightly on his toes and Sir Punjabi was pulling a bit.
12:05 Very quiet here - so quiet some bookmakers have already packed up and gone home.
Car park is a quagmire.
11:46 We have seven non-runners, details on the right.
11:21 The final fence and the open ditch in front of the stands will be omitted in all chases this afternoon.
11:11 Good morning from Huntingdon where racing goes ahead but it is not going to be pretty - the ground is going to be very testing.
Our selections are:-
12:45 |
4 |
Milton Des Bieffes |
13:20 |
2 |
Tazbar |
13:55 |
7 |
Prince Buster |
14:25 |
4 |
Celian |
15:00 |
6 |
King Diamond |
15:35 |
3 |
Flash Harriet |
16:05 |
4 |
Landerstown Star |
there will be a second, precautionary, inspection at 10:00 due to the risk of flooding.
Return to race archive:
e |
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
12:45
4 Milton Des Bieffes (Bruised Foot - VC 09:05)
13:55
16 Irish Symphony (cast in box - SC 08:02)
14:25
6 Wadswick Ben (going - 11:09)
8 Ortega (swelling - VC 12:24)
15:00
1 Bollitree Bob (going - 09:10)
15:35
6 Kassuta (going - 10:18)
10 Finnish Melody (going - 11:10)
12 Etain (Lame - VC 10:04)
Results
12:45 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 110yds
1st 12 Meet Me At Dawn 8/1
2nd 6 Saddlers Mot 13/2
3rd 11 Sir Punjabi 9/1
13 Ran Nr 1
Distances 2 & ½
Fav 2 Hampton Court 7/2 (4th)
Tote
Win £10.60
Places £2.90 £2.70 £3.40
Exacta £45.50
CSF £59.27
Tricast £484.11
Time 5' 24.8"
13:20 Novices' Chase 2m 4f 110yds
1st 2 Tazbar 8/11 fav
2nd 4 Midnight Chase 10/1
4 Ran
Distances 14
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Exacta £2.70
CSF £3.93
Time 5' 23.0"
13:55 Novices' Hurdle 2m 110yds
1st 12 Rollwiththepunches 16/1
2nd 10 Rackham Lerouge 10/3
3rd 1 Bangkon Pete 13/2
15 Ran Nr 16
Distances 3 & 7
Fav 7 Prince Buster 2/1 (5th)
Tote
Win £19.50
Places £4.60 £1.50 £1.70
Exacta £123.10
CSF £65.54
Time 4' 02.8"
14:25 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds
1st 4 Celian 9/4 fav
2nd 5 Prince Louis 7/1
7 Ran Nr's 6 & 8
Distances 5
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.30
Places £1.60 £3.70
Exacta £22.30
CSF £16.57
Tricast £95.63
Time 5' 25.6"
15:00 Handicap Chase 2m 110yds
1st 5 She's Humble 5/1
2nd 2 Laharna 5/4 fav
5 Ran Nr 1
Distances 1¼
Fav second
Tote
Win £5.90
Places £3.00 £1.20
Exacta £13.40
CSF £11.77
Time 4' 28.3"
15:35 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds
1st 7 Home She Goes 7/1
2nd 9 Knar Mardy 13/2
3rd 13 Sophisticated Lady 33/1
10 Ran Nr's 6, 10 & 12
Distances 1¼ & Head
Fav's 5 & 11 5/1 both PU
Tote
Win £8.80
Places £2.60 £2.30 £5.60
Exacta £65.70
CSF £50.25
Tricast £1,387.11
Time 4' 09.4"
14:05 Open NH Flat 2m 110yds
1st 3 Kings Grey 2/1
2nd 5 Mister Chancer 15/8 fav
7 Ran
Distances 3¼
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.50
Places £1.90 £1.50
Exacta £6.00
CSF £5.86
Time 4' 04.3"
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