17:04 That’s it from Huntingdon, a good midweek crowd despite the gloomy weather.

Our next coverage will be on Saturday, although not too sure where yet. It was going to be Leopardstown but with an 18 hour day trip to Carlisle yesterday I cannot really face a 20 hour day trip to Dublin on Saturday.

Coverage will be from either Warwick or Newbury, we shall see how the fields pan out tomorrow.

16:57 Well no 2,000th winner for Nicky Henderson this afternoon as Heather Royal comes home unplaced.

She was in a decent position at the rear of the leading group coming down the back straight and had every chance if good enough. Barry Geraghty had to give her reminders turning for home and it was then evident she was not going win.

We had another bizarre start as Zahirah Moon, who had taken the wrong course to the start, she then got a flyer as the others walked in she flew on the blind side of the starter to steal a huge lead.

Going out onto the far side she came back to the field and it looked as though it would be the classic bat out of hell getting tired. However once headed, she did not throw in the towel but stuck with the new leader Baby Shine.

By the time they turned for home Baby Shine was still in front but could not shake off either Zahirah Moon, Miss Milborne and the running on Tempest River.       

Baby Shine had enough in hand to take the contest by 2¼ lengths.

There was a battle for second spot with Miss Milborne just getting the better of Tempest River with Zahirah Moon holding on for fourth.

Ballyquin Queen finished fifth with Heather Royal sixth.

16:40 This could be a significant bumper (EBF/DBS Mares’ Standard National Hunt Open) as if the favourite, Heather Royal, wins it will be trainer Nicky Henderson’s 2,000th career winner.

She was keen going to posy, having been off the track since May last year. Also taking a keen hold to post were Finmerello and Reveal The Light.

16:32 It isn’t everyday a Cheltenham Festival winner turns up and wins a Hunters’ Chase at Huntingdon but that is exactly what Cork All Star did in this afternoons Hunters’ Chase.

It was not without palpitations for backers as despite coming home 3½ lengths clear he was heavily eased and the runner-up Mount Benger was closing fast. I’m not sure if it was complacency or cockiness on the part of Jack Quinlan but had he got it wrong it could have been very embarrassing.

Preacher Boy was a possible contender when running out two out giving his rider Philip Prince a crashing fall and he was very still on the ground for a while afterwards, however it wasn’t long before he was back on his feet and after a lift back to the start he walked back into the weighing room.      

16:03 The Huntingdon Audi A7 Open Hunters’ Chase over three miles is next up.

15:57 The handicapper in attendance here this afternoon is senior handicapper Phil Smith and I suspect he will not be smiling as Tricky Tree wins the contest by an easy ten lengths from Chilli Rose with Knight Legend a further eight back in third.

The field were tightly bunched for most of the contest with Special Day, Haarth Sovereign and Superius all prominent, with the eventual winner settled behind the trio.

By the time they were spinning for home the going had taken its toll and the field begun to string out.

Haarth Sovereign still had the advantage two out but Tricky Tree was poised to strike and as he git the front after two out it was race over.

Chilli Rose tried to respond but looked as though he was treading through treacle to finish second.

15:38 Our second biggest field of the afternoon sees 14 go to post for the TurfTV Handicap Hurdle over the extended 2½ miles.

15:26 Something of a facile contest as odds-on favourite A Media Luz shows no ill effects from a fall last time out, taking our feature contest, the Corona And Three Jolly Butchers Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle with plenty in hand.

As is her wont Two Kisses set off in front. Initially allowed an easy lead, A Media Luz then had her in his sights, hitting the front three out.

Once headed  Two kisses seemed to sulk and was passed by Pantxoa, although this seemed to galvanise here again and she picked up slightly but not enough to close in on the runner-up.

A Media Luz came home an easy 18 lengths clear of Pantxoa.

15:01 To anybody who heard the last commentary from Huntingdon, as far as we are aware going is still Good To Soft not Soft.

Squadron is one of todays market movers and we could see why, as he took the 3m chase with relative ease, giving a quick double for Alan King and Choc Thornton.

Settled mid-division on the first circuit Thornton moved into a challenging position as they progressed the final circuit.

Rear Gunner and The Ferbane Man had shared the running and were still in front when joined by Squadron and Marc Of Brilliance as they swung for home.

The Fernane Man was the first to blink and as Rear Gunner maintained his lead two out Squadron and Marc Of Brilliance were neck and neck in second. Topsham Belle, who had been temperamental, unshipped Andrew Tinkler at the same fence.

By the last Rear Gunner had run his race and Squadron had hit the front, chased by Marc Of Brilliance.

14:33 A 3m chase next, the Racing UK Novices’ Handicap Chase with just eight going to post.

None of the runners look that happy in a wet parade ring but otherwise no real negatives.

14:27 Going is now Good to Soft

14:27 I have a feeling the rain is getting into the ground here, as we have another contest where the runners are well strung out.

Midnight Appeal came out on top under Choc Thornton, spending most of the contest tracking the leaders, who were, for most of the second circuit, the two greys Quel Bruere and Manmoon.

Quel Bruere was still leading as they turned for home but both Midnight Appeal and Mister Matt (prominent throughout) were on his quarters  poised to strike if good enough.

It was Midnight Appeal who struck coming level with Quel Bruere at the last and pulling clear on the run-in, coming home 1¼ lengths clear.

Mister Matt held on for third.

Neither of the joint favourites turned out to be serious threats, with Not So Sure Dick and Silver Dollars finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

14:10 Race two is the Clacton Comrades Carlinh Handicap Chase with 12 lining up for the extended 2½ mile contest.

13:50 A well strung out field despite the conditions and a good tactical ride by Jamie Moore on Premier Des Marais.

Fairhaven set the pace and held pole position until exiting the back straight, at which point there were six clear of the field.

Best looking of them all was Divi who took up the running, but his every move was being  tracked by Moore, who had settled his mount for most of the contest.

Lining up for home it was a two horse race with the duo upsides but Premier Des Marais looking much the better. Moore sent him into the lead approaching the last and it was race over.

Empire Builder and Bishophill Jack looked to be battling it out for third but a late charge from Mtpockets saw her just failing to grab third from Empire builder.

13:23 Our opening contest is the Caffreys And Corby Handicap Hurdle, a 3¼ mile contest with 14 due to face the starter.

Divy has been supported and whilst not the biggest horse looks good all the same. Empire Builder also looks nice. Knight Woodsman is jig-jogging around.

13:03 Nearly forgot to mention the going has eased to Good

12:54 Some market movers from Paddy Power. In the 13:40 Divy is 5/1 from 15/2.

In the 14:10 Not So Sure Dick is 5’s from 7’s.

Squadron is flying in from 5/1 into 7/2 in the 14:40.

12:48 The rain getting steadier at Huntingdon. The going is near perfect though, the grass is cut quite short today and there is a much better covering on chase course than the hurdle course, which has quite a few bare patches.

There are quite a few trainers walking the course and prodding the ground with pointed sticks.

12:27 Good afternoon from Huntingdon.

There has been another 1mm of rain this morning and there is still light rain at the moment, however compared with yesterday at Carlisle the ground looks really good.

Will go and have a walk on the track shortly.

07:53 It has been a dry night and the official going is currently Good, Good to Firm in places.

Between two and four millimetres of rain are forecast this morning before drying up this afternoon.

The action gets underway at 13:40 and there is currently one non-runner.

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

14:40
3 Mud Monkey (going - 13:57)
7 The Old Pretender (going - 13:58)

15:10
3 Looks Like Slim (temperature - SC 09:03)

15:40
2 Optimus Maximus (going - 13:58)
3 Behindcloseddoors (going - 14:55)
4 Lindy Lou (other - 14:37)

16:10
6 Joyryder (going - 14:36)

16:40
6 Bollin Tahini (lame - DC 06:46)
16 Irene Kennet (girth gall - SC 08:57)

Results

13:40 Handicap Hurdle 3m 2f

14:10 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

14:40 Handicap Chase 3m

15:10 Juvenile Hurdle 2m 110yds

15:40 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

16:10 Hunters' Chase 3m

16:40 Open NH Flat 2m 110yds