17:44 That's it from Kempton Park, not the most inspirational afternoons racing.

No real eyecatchers today.

Our next coverage will be from Towcester on Wednesday, until than good evening.

17:41 A good day for favourite backers and also a good day for Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson, as they scored a treble on the day, with Finean’s Rainbow taking the bumper in good style.
 
Viking Affair took the field along but was tracked by the favourite. The well backed Nice One Eric was settled in rear.

As they turned for home it was all change with Nice One Eric making eye catching progress as Finian’s Rainbow took up the running.

Two furlongs out there were four in with a chance. The favourite, Stoney’s Treasure, Representingceltic and Nice One Eric.

Nice One Eric’s running on attempt came to a halt a furlong out when he was unable to find any more.

Meanwhile up front Geraghty eased the favourite as he came home six lengths ahead of his rivals with Stoney’s Treasure taking second and Representingceltic third.

17:28 Flirtatious is a bad drifter in the market, 12/1 from 7/1. Nice One Eric is attracting some support, 5/2 into 7/4.

17:25 Champion jockey AP McCoy is here for just the one ride, on Flirtatious in our finale. I wonder if he has ever seen the horse before because quite frankly he is being  a real handful in the parade ring.

17:17 The sun is shining again

17:14 Only five went to post for our longest contest of the afternoon, a 3m handicap chase.

By the time they jumped the first it was a four horse race as Sesame Rambler fell when in front.

This left easy favourite Power King  and Jacarado vying for the lead. By the fourth Power King was in front, a position he held until headed by Jacarado at the 11th.

Turning into the back straight Jacarado had a three length lead on the favourite, with Super lord a further three behind and Syncopated Rhythm beginning to tail off.

Backers of the favourite need not have worried as it seems Scudamore was only taking a breather and by four out he was back in front.

Jacarado was not going to go down without a fight and he niggled at the heels of the favourite half way down the home straight.

16:25 Another gamble in our fifth contest, a 2m 5f handicap hurdle, although this time the gamble did not come of.

The runner that attracted support was David Pipe’s Laustra Bad, backs from 6’s into 3/1.

He was with the long time leader, Absolut Power for most of the contest, but dropped away in the closing stages, as indeed did the long time leader.

At the second last it was a fairly open contest with Or Sing About and Smuglin battling it out with the favourite Patsy Finnegan poised behind them ready to make a strike.

Coming to the last Or Sing About still looked to be in with every chance but managed to fall.
Patsy Finnegan, on the other hand, put in a bold jump, soon had the lead and was never challenged. Smuglin was a plodding on runner-up with Cavallini running on well to take third.

16:14 After the rain the going has changed back to Good

16:05 Gamble landed as Kew Jumper took the 2m 4f Handicap Chase by 1¼ lengths from the drifting favourite Pepsyrock.     

There may not be a big crown and it may be pouring with rain but the modest crowd certainly cheered the winner home.

Lord Jay Jay set the pace and led until the end of the back straight when Pepsyrock quickly challenged but his lead was short lived as Kew Jumper tracked his every move and took up the running at the third last.

The pair jumped the second last together but Kew Jumper was the better horse on the level and a slight mistake at the last put paid to the favourites chances.

Black Hills was running on well in the final stages and only just failed to grab the runners-up spot.

Randwick Roar was pulled up lame after the 9th and had to be put down.

15:48 The money still coming in for Kew Jumper, now 4/1.

15:45 Kew Jumper is attracting support in our next, backed from 15/2 into 5/1. The favourite Pepsyrock is a big drifter 10/11 out to 13/8.

15:28 It has just started raining.

15:26 With just the four runners this became a tactical affair, although for the final mile it was only a three runner race as Cave Of The Giant fell at the 11th fence, both horse and rider up OK afterwards.

Soixante set off in front, as is his wont, although Tarotino made sure he never had things his own way, whilst the other pair tracked the front two.

Coming to the second last on the far side the three remaining runners were three abreast and even turning for home any one of the three could have won if good enough.

However it was Alan King’s Tarotino who held the advantage and jockey Robert Thornton was determined not to be headed.

Supreme Duke tried to cut his lead down but was unable to make any inroads.

15:12 Soixante is really walking in the market 11/4 from an opening 2/1. Supreme Duke is the one shortening 11/8 from 15/8, whist Tarotino is steady at 15/8.

15:05 In our third contest, which has only attracted four runners, Soixante is a real handful in the parade ring, attempting to pull his lasses arms out and this is being reflected in the betting where he is a drifter.

14:54 A well backed favourite and a quickfire double for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty as Dreamy Sweeny took the second race in the gathering gloom (and we still have five races left).

It was one of those strange contests where there was no early pace.

What pace there was came from Bankstair and the grey Argentato.

As they set off on the final circuit Argentato tried to run out and Geraghty, seemingly under sufferance, ended up leading on the favourite.

Balthazar King and Petito were the only other ones to be in with any chance as they turned for home but the latter pair were soon under pressure, whilst the favourite was able to win as he pleased.
Balthazar King did take second place but he looked irresolute.

The betting was spot on in this race with Balthazar King opening the 6/5 favourite but drifting out to 7/4, with the winner opening at 6/4 and being well backed into 10/11.  

14:35 Seven runners in the parade ring in our second contest. If it is possible for a horse to have a cocky swagger then it is Petito. Our selection Balthazar King did not look that happy - headstrong and sweating from his mouth.

14:22 First blood to the punters as the odd-on You’re The Top came home the comfortable 9 length winner, hardly breaking sweat in the process.

Mr Logistics had his 30 seconds of fame, setting off in the lead then falling at the first. This left Wade Farm Billy to set the pace and, apart from being briefly headed by Honeycombe on the far side, led until two out, where he was joined by the favourite.

Barry Geraghty jumped into the lead at the second last and was never in any danger thereafter, coming home an easy and eased winner.

Wade Farm Billy came home second, 8 lengths ahead of the outsider Playing With Fire, who was doing her best work in the closing stages.

The Jonjo O’Neill runner Tory Hill, in the McManus colours was terribly disappointing tailed off throughout before being pulled up.

The only ones to take out of the race would be the front pair.

14:05 A very short priced favourite in our opener with You’re The Top trading at around 4/9.
 
In the parade ring nothing really stood out and smacked you between the eyes, although Playing With Fire was a bit on her toes.

13:48 Here are this afternoon's selections:-

2:10 5 Wade Fram Billy
2:40 2 Balthazar King
3:15 2 Supreme Duke
3:50 4 Dev
4:25 1 Laustra Bid
5:00 3 Power King
5:30 4 Nice One Eric

13:25 We have a change to the going it is now Good, Good to Firm in places

13:15 Good afternoon from Kempton Park, where the sunshine of the last few days is all but a distant memory. It is overcast and there is a stiff, chilly, breeze blowing.

We currently have two non-runners, details on the right.

9:17 Celticello is out of the 4:25 with a cough.

7:20 Kempton stage an all too rare National Hunt meeting today, although it has to be said the fields are on the small side.

The official going is Good and the course has been watered, 15mm applied to the entire course.

The forecast is cloudy with the chance of a shower during the afternoon.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

3:50
1 Bring Me Sunshine (lame - SC)

4:25
5 Celticello (coughing - SC)

5:30
8 Maraksh (going)

Results

2:10 Maiden Hurdle 2m
1st 6 You're The Top 2/5 fav
2nd 5 Wade Farm Billy 7/2
3rd 11 Playing With Fire 50/1
12 Ran
Distances 9 & 8
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.50
Places £1.02 £1.10 £10.90
Exacta £2.70
CSF £2.46
Time 4' 01.1"

2:40 Maiden Hurdle 2m 5f

1st 5 Dreamy Sweeny 10/11 fav
2nd 2 Balthazar King 7/4
7 Ran
Distances 12l
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Places £1.10 £1.30
Exacta £3.40
CSF £3.11
Time 5' 34.3"

3:15 Novices' Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 3 Tarotino 7/4 jf
2nd 1 Soixante 9/4
4 Ran
Distance 4 1/2l
Fav winner & No 2 (3rd)
Tote
Win £2.60
Exacta £5.10
CSF £6.15
Time 5' 16.3"

3:50 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 8 Kew Jumper 4/1
2nd 5 Pepsyrock 11/8 fav
7 Ran NR 1
Distances 1 1/4 & neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.20
Places £2.70 £1.50
Exacta £12.10
CSF £11.33
Tricast £43.39
Time

4:25 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

1st 2 Patsy Finnegan 7/4 fav
2nd 8 Smuglin 7/1
7 Ran NR 5
Distances 3 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Places £1.90 £1.90
Exacta £11.90
CSF £14.93
Tricast £69.81
Time 5' 24.7"

5:00 Handicap Chase 3m

1st 3 Power King 7/4 fav
2nd 5 Jacarado 7/1
5 Ran
Distances 8l
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.40
Places £1.50 £4.50
Exacta £7.90
CSF £13.25
Time 6' 20.4"

5:30 NH Flat 2m

1st 3 Finian's Rainbow 11/10 fav
2nd 5 Stoney's Treasure 14/1
3rd 10 Representingceltic 16/1
10 Ran NR 8
Distances 6 & 3
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.30
Places £1.10 £2.60 £4.50
Exacta £18.60
CSF £19.75
Time 3' 54.1"