16:05 That's it from a great afternoons racing at Kempton where we had a really good size crowd.
Tomorrow we ar at Newbury until then good evening.
15:53 As is oft the case this time of year the final race was run in the gathering gloom, all the more difficult when it is an 18 runner handicap. So a very difficult race to read and full marks to John Hunt for a good call.
It was one of those races where it was impossible to call the winner, even approaching the last where there were several in with chances.
In a driving finish Kilmeena Magic got the better of Doctor Robert and Max Bygraves with judge Felix Wheeler giving fourth place to Kashmina.
The favourite Huguenot was fifth.
15:28 A familiar story in our final chase of the afternoon where we saw a brave front running performance thwarted it the final stages.
This time it was Sir Bathwick under Noel Fehily who attempted to make it a pillar to post run, although it must be said his lead was always contested. In particular the favourite Boomshakalaka who followed on his quarters for most of the race
However it was Laskari, trained by Paul Webber and ridden by this afternoons start rider Dominic Elsworth, who ran the perfect tactical race. Held up towards the rear for most of the race it was only down the back straight he started making progress and only challenging for the lead two out.
Approaching the last it was a two horse race with Sir Bathwick refusing to go down without a fight. However Laskari put in a perfect jump and along the short run-in ran on well to claim a nine length victory from the long time leader, with the favourite back in third.
14:53 Another long distance hurdle and a strange race in which quite a few of the runners flattered to deceive by coming with what seemed to be good runs only to fade quickly.
The most marked being Regal Quote who was making eye catching progress down the back straight the as they turned for home, to quote course commentator John Hunt, seemed to fall into a hole.
A similar story related to the favourite Nostringsattached given a patient ride by AP McCoy, progressing well down the back straight. Sharing the lead at the second last then dropping out to finish a very tired sixth.
No such stamina problems for the winner though with Paddy Brennan holding up Midas Way near the rear in the early stages before, like the others, running on down the back straight for the final time.
One of those sharing the lead at the second last by the time they approached the last it was only the front running Tide Slider who was any danger but on the run in Brennan had the measure of his rival, winning by two lengths.
Another running on contender, Double Obsession, was ten lengths back in third.
14:16 Well I am pleased to report that our second chase of the afternoon was not as eventful as the first.
Although there were eight runners the top four in the betting were separated by only half a point.
This time we did see a near pillar to post victory in the form of Aimigayle. Just tracking the initial leader Lord Appellare she jumped into the lead at the fourth and was never headed thereafter, despite some minor jumping mistakes in the closing satges.
The first three places went to three of the top four in the betting, although the favourite Treasury Counsel was not one of them.
Runners-up spot went to Nom De Guerre who was settled near the rear for the first circuit and only coming with a challenge as they left the back straight for the final time. Indeed as they turned for home there were only three in with a chance, the other being Georgian King and he was under pressure.
They were followed by another trio, including the favourite, who never looked to be happy. The other pair with him being the early leader Lord Appellare and Tarsus.
Of the other pair Boomerang fell at the 10th and Brasilia Prince pulled up shortly afterwards.
13:44 Our longest race of the afternoon and another small field for an extended three mile hurdle.
It was a race where Strawberry attempted to make it a pillar to post run but as they approached the last her rivals were queuing up and she eventually came home sixth of seven.
One Gulp tracked the leader throughout and when they came to the second last she was one of two who jumped into the lead, the other being Amber Brook who had been happily settled in fourth throughout.
These two jumped the last together but One Gulp under Dominic Elsworth had the greater speed and came home 3½ lengths in front of Amber Brook.
The favourite Hora put in some sketchy jumping and although third most of the way round she started dropping back as they turned for home, although she did run on again in the final furl;ong.
13:09 I know I have said this before but you don’t need a big field to have an exciting race and our second race this afternoon is a case in point.
A five runner novices chase with an odd-son favourite in the shape of French Opera, who was sweating freely on what is a somewhat chilly day.
Add to that some shenanigans before the race as Doctor David was none too keen to go down and then was very reluctant to line up at the start.
Well they did all set off and Beharayn was taking a strong hold in front pursued by the favourite.
The action happened at the third fence, right in front of the stands as first of all Beheryan made a mistake then French Opera made an even greater blunder, sprawling on landing and giving Marcus Foley no chance of keeping the partnership intact.
There was even more excitement at the fourth where Beherayn, six lengths in front, appeared to want to run out but ended up jumping severely to the left and finishing up in last place having lost all momentum.
This left Doctor David, who you recall was none too keen to race, in front and I have to say it seemed to be a position he relished.
Ameeq and Sea The Light followed behind having a private battle which Sea The Light was starting to win but then went on to make some silly jumping mistakes.
In the end Doctor David came home a convincing 17 length winner spring heeling the last. Ameeq retained second place whilst Beheryan ran past the tired Sea The Light to take third.
All in all a very eventful contest.
12:48 A “simple” little 17 runner novices hurdle to get us underway this afternoon and although it looked to be a difficult race on paper it was a good result for favourite backers as Somersby came with a well timed run under Dominic Elsworth to continue Hen Knight’s good run this week.
Settled nearer the rear in the early stages it wasn’t until they turned for home that Somersby began to run on and by the second last he was a serious contended. At this point the second favourite Lord Ragnar also looked to be in with a chance but he faded dramatically in the final stages.
Come the last it was a three way go between the jolly, Clova Island who had tracked the leaders throughout and Master Charm, who had led early, took a breather and then ran on again in the latter stages.
The first three finished well clear of the remainder, of whom none caught the eye.
11:45 Good morning from Kempton where the weather is overcast and there is a touch of drizzle in the air. Here today for an all to rare jump meeting.
The official going is Good, Good to soft in places on the hurdle course.
Only one non-runner so far, in our first.
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Non-Runners
12:30
14 Supreme Keano (not eaten up)
Results
12:30
1st 13 Somersby 5/2 fav
2nd 1 Clova Island 25/1
3rd 9 Master Charm 9/1
17 Ran NR 14
Distances 2 3/4 & 1 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.30
Place £1.70 £6.20 £3.50
Exacta £84.10
CSF £68.89
Time 4' 04.2"
1:00
1st 3 Doctor David 7/2
2nd 1 Ameeq 25/1
5 Ran
Distances 17l
Fav 4 French Opera 4/6 (Fell)
Tote
Win £3.30
Place £1.80 £6.30
Exacta £47.80
CSF £46.23
Time 3'59.9"
1:30
1st 1 One Gulp 15/2
2nd 2 Amber Brook 7/1
7 Ran
Distances 3 1/2
Fav 5 Hora 15/8 (4th)
Tote
Win £10.10
Place £4.40 £1.60
Exacta £26.10
CSF £25.48
Time 6' 14.7"
2:05
1st 8 Aimigayle 7/2
2nd 5 Non De Guerre 10/3
3rd 3 Georgian King 7/2
8 Ran
Distances 4 & 19
Fav 7 Treasury Counsel 3/1 (5th)
Tote
Win £4.30
Place £1.70 £1.10 £1.60
Exacta £15.70
CSF £15.67
Time 6' 17.0"
2:40
1st 3 Midas Way 8/1
2nd 10 Tide Slider 9/2
3rd 6 Double Obsession 20/1
10 Ran
Distances 2 & 10
Fav 4 Nostringsattached 4/1 (6th)
Tote
Win £12.40
Place £3.90 1.40£ £6.40
Exacta £58.50
CSF £45.78
Tricast £697.31
Time 6' 17.9"
3:15
1st 6 Laskari 12/1
2nd 4 Sir Bathwick 12/1
3rd 3 Boomshakalaka 13/8 fav
10 Ran
Distances 9 & 2 1/2
Fav third
Tote
Win £19.40
Place £4.40 £3.30 £1.3
Exacta £100.10
CSF £138.41
Tricast £361.05
Time 5' 17.6"
3:45
1st 13 Kilmeena Magic 14/1
2nd 17 Doctor Robert 8/1
3rd 5 Max Bygraves 16/1
4th 16 Kashmina 7/1
18 Ran
Distances neck , 2 1/3 & 1 1/4
Fav 7 Huganot 7/2 (5th)
Tote
Win £21.30
Place £2.40 £1.90 £4.90 £2.00
Exacta £82.50
CSF £122.79
Tricast £1,860.96
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