Wednesday 20:44

The advance report is:-

Going

Soft (GoingStick: 6.2 on Tuesday at 06:30)

Forecast: Wednesday - Not so cold, max temp of 7c, odd rain shower possible.
Thursday - Overnight low of 3. Then a windy day with rain not now due till after racing.

07:49 Just 1mm of rain overnight and a dry day forecast. The official going is Soft, Good to Soft in Places.

Our selections are:-

09:31 We have a couple of non-runners at the moment, details on the right.

09:40 Another brace come out and the 16:40 is now down to 16 runners - odds-on another comes out of that one?

10:59 ... and our fifth non-runner.

11:15 .... and then there were six!!

13:00 Good afternoon from Huntingdon where, at first glance, it looks as though the going is going to be on the testing side and there seem to be more jockeys and trainers than usual walking the course.

The weather is overcast.

13:32 In this afternoon's chases the fence after the (artificial) water is being omitted.

13:50 The runners are parading for the opener, the extended 2m 5f TurfTV Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Despite the temperatures being on the cool side Strike Three is getting warm in the parade ring.

14:22 There was, apparently, some decent money for Queen Poline in the opener here at Huntingdon and, in truth, her backers had nothing at all to worry about as she made all, to take the contest in testing conditions.  

Good Faloue did keep her company for the early part of the contest but by the time the field came out of the back straight Lucy Wadham’s mare was in front on her own.

The only danger looked to be Lady Rhinestone and with McCoy on board she must have been a danger, however no matter how good the rider is if the horse ain’t good enough it will not win.

Coming out of the back straight the favourite Chilli Rose was still in third, where she had been throughout. However when asked for an effort by Robert Thornton instead of progressing she went in reverse – eventually coming home last. Trainer Alan King has been invited to have a chat with the Stewards.

14:28 Another hurdle for race two, the extended 2m Racing UK Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, with 11 facing the starter, following the defections of Sagunt, Blue Jet and Richard The Third.

14:47 Another front running winner as Zen Factor makes all, looking to be the only runner happy in the conditions, although he did have a worrying tendency to lump left throughout.

The remainder of the field were relatively well bunched, swapping places, for most of the contest.

The favourite Carrig An Uisce was settled towards the rear and although making some late progress never looked to be a serious danger.

Even though two front runners have dominated the opening two races it will be dangerous to write off late running contenders as both Apache Chant and Gunslinger had come from well off the pace to battle it out for second spot. Indeed Gunslinger had been in last place for most of the contest.

14:48 No suprise it is now Soft all round

14:59 Only four go to post in our opening chase, the extended 2m Weatherbys Cheltenham festival Betting Guide 2010 Novices’ Chase in which Nicky Henderson saddles half the field!!!

His two also top the betting, 10/1 and 100/1 the other pair.

15:01 The favourite You're The Top was pulling hard going down.

15:22 The race was effectively a match between the two Nicky Henderson runners Tanks For That and You’re The Top.

The former set the running under AP McCoy, followed around by You’re The Top under Barry Geraghty.

Rockiteer raced in third, whilst the 100/1 shot Harellie’s race ended when blundering at the first.

Turning for home the two Henderson horses were well clear of Rokiteer and having a good battle.

Tanks For That still had a lead of about three parts of a length coming to the last but brushed through the top of the fence. Having said that he did not lose that much momentum and soon had his head in front again.

The pair battled up the run in but by half way Geraghty had eased the odds-on You’re The Top into the lead, coming home the 2¼ length winner.

Did the blunder cost Tanks For That the race – well we will never know but, for what it’s worth, I don’t think it did.

Rockiteer came home in his own time, 38 lengths behind the runner-up.     

15:24 Well it took longer than I thought but the 4:40 is now down to 15 runners as Sparkling Montjeu comes out.

15:29 Our feature contest next, the freebets.co.uk Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle over the extended 2½ miles.

15:54 Well most expected this to be a Henderson / Nicholls match as Master Of The Hall and The Minack came head to head.

Of course being racing just because something is expected it does not mean it will actually happen.

Paul Nicholls The Minack, with Nick Schofield on board as Ruby Walsh is in Ireland, was to the fore throughout and it has to be said he put in some spectacular jumps.

Odds-on shot Master Of The Hall, by contrast, was settled in rear by Barry Geraghty.

Turning for home there were two runners battling it out in front with The Minack fighting, not with Master Of the Hall but with Paul Webber’s Sarando, under Liam Treadwell.

Coming to the last it looked as though Sarando had the advantage but coming over the last his hind legs slipped and although he did not fall he did lose some momentum.

This left the race to The Minack and although Sarando did attempt to rally Paul Nicholls runner had enough in hand to record a length victory.

Master Of The Hall came home third, 14 lengths behind the runner-up, seemingly unhappy in the very testing conditions.    

16:03 Race five is the John Bigg Oxo Handicap Chase a 3m contest with a dozen going to post.

16:34 Another gutsy front running performance, this time over three miles as Noakarad De Verzee made all under his owner David Maxwell.

The performance is all the more noteworthy considering he won a race in testing conditions just five days ago.

Top weight Pipo De re battled to make a race of it but went down by 3¼ lengths.

The favourite Costa Courta was making eye-catching progress before being too bold and coming down three out.

The grey Zanzibar Boy, prominent throughout, looked booked for third spot but late charges from Nagam and Quazy de Joire relegated him to 5th spot.

The former won the battle for third spot.

16:37 Our final hurdle of the afternoon, now only 15 runners. An extended 2½ mile handicap, sponsored by Racing UK.

16:56 Another front running winner, this time Another Miracle, making its handicap debut.

Although it looked as though he was going to be beaten when headed by Fleur De Vassy two out.

However he rallied and was in front again by the last, eventually coming home nine clear.

Fleur De Vassy not only had to contend with the winner rallying but she was denied the runners-up spot by Another Storm .

Backers of Bring It On Home must be feeling aggrieved as he ran on well to finish fourth but with the non-runners they lost out on a pay-out.

Favourite  Old Brigade was never really in contention and eventually came home ninth.

17:02 Our final contest is the 3m Wetherbys Bloodstock Insurance Hunters’ Chase in which, following the absence of Andsosayallofus, six go to post.

17:06 An update from the opener, it was reported the favourite Chilli Rose finished distressed

17:30 Former Paul Nicholls inmate Ofarel D’Airy was sent off the odds-on favourite for our Hunters’ Chase, however his race went no further than the second, the open ditch in front of the stands, where he slipped on landing giving Oliver Greenall no chance of remaining on board.

Up front there was a battle between Gentle George and Blaze Ahead, with the former the clear leader as they went out on their final circuit.

By the time they reached the last in the back straight Blaze Ahead was in third spot, looking beaten, whilst Burnoakboy had run on to take up the running with Gentle George in second.

However at the last down the back Burtoakboy blundered through the top of the fence and his rider did well to stay on board.

This allowed Gentle George to regain the advantage and this time, despite Burntoakboy trying to fight back, he was not to be headed again, eventually coming home 4½ lengths clear.

Blaze Ahead did show some late progress to come within a length of Burnoakboy with the others finishing in their own time.

17:33 Well that’s it from Huntingdon where the racing was run in very testing conditions.

The weather has already taken its toll on tomorrows racing with waterlogged Sandown already called off.

Warwick are to inspect at 7:30 tomorrow morning and, if racing gets the go ahead, we shall be there tomorrow afternoon.

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

14:30
5 Sagunt (off colour - SC 09:03)
9 Blue Jet (colic - SC 09:32)
11 Richard The Third (lame - SC 11:02)

16:40
2 Sparkling Montjeu (going - 15:13)
8 Command Marshal (Lame - VC 09:35)
9 Ban Uisce (not eaten up - SC 09:09)

17:10
4 Andsosayallofus (lame - SC 10:45)

Results

14:00 Novices' Hurdle 2m

1st 1 Queen Poline 11/4
2nd 2 Ryde Back 9/4
3rd 8 Rhinestone Cowboy 12/1
12 Ran
Distances 3¾ & 2¼
Fav 6 Chilli Rose 7/4 (last)
Tote
Win £3.80
Places £1.30 £1.90 £3.90
Exacta £11.80
CSF £9.58
Time 5' 31.5"

14:30 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 7 Zen Factor 13/2
2nd 2 Apache Cnant 9/2
3rd 1 Gunslinger 12/1
11 Ran Nr's 5 , 9 & 11
Distances 4 & 2½
Fav 13 Carrig An Uisce 7/2 (5th)
Tote
Win £8.40
Places £3.60 £2.40 £3.70
Exacta £36.80
CSF £36.46
Tricast £350.23
Time 4' 10.9"

15:05 Novices' Chase 2m 110yds

1st 2 You're The Top 4/5 fav
2nd Tanks For That 11/8
4 Ran
Distance 2¼
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Exacta £2.20
CSF £2.33
Time 4' 28.7"

15:35 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

1st 2 Master Of The Hall 5/2
2nd 4 Sarando 7/1
5 Ran
Distance 1
Fav 1 Master Of The Hall 8/13 (3rd)
Tote
Win £2.70
Places £1.10 £1.90
Exacta £10.30
CSF £18.15
Time 5' 10.6"

16:10 Handicap Chase 3m

1st 2 Noakarad De Verzee 15/2
2nd 1 Pipo De Re 15/2
3rd 7 Nagam 17/2
12 Ran
Distances 3¼ & 11
Fav 5 Costa Courta 5/1 (Fell)
Tote
Win £7.60
Places £2.70 £3.60 £3.60
Exacta £88.30
CSF £63.46
Tricast £494.45
Time 6' 31.0"

16:40 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

1st 12 Another Miracle 25/1
2nd 3 Another Storm 7/1
3rd 15 Fleur De Vassy 9/1
15 Ran Nr's 2, 8 & 9
Distances 9 & 1/2
Fav 10 Old Brigade 2/1 (9th)
Tote
Win £37.20
Places £10.90 £2.10 £4.20
Exacta £236.00
CSF £180.76
Tricast £1,731.07
Time 5' 16.1"

17:10 Hunters' Chase 3m

1st 7 Gentle George 3/1
2nd 6 Burntoakboy 10/3
6 Ran Nr 4
Distances 4½
Fav 1 Ofarel D'Airy 10/11 (fell)
Tote
Win £3.70
Places £3.90 £1.40
Exacta £9.00
CSF £13.21
Time 6' 41.7"