09:39 There have been heavy showers overnight at Sunbury-on-Thames and more showers are forecast during the day.

The official going is Standard and the seven race card begins at 14:05.

Our selections are:

09:57 One non-runner at the moment, Faldal is out of the 15:15 with a pulled muscle.

12:15 Good afternoon from Kempton Park where it is cloudy but bright, if that is not a contradiction.

We now have three non-runners.

12:48 We have a market mover in the 15:50 with Light From Mars being backed in from 20/1 into 11/1 with Sky Bet.

In the opener Bella Swan has attracted some each-way money, 9’s from 12’s.

In the 14:40 Classic Colori is 3/1 from 7/2 and Planet Red 11/2 from 7’s.

In the 15:15 Chantilly Tiffany is 5/2 from 7/2

13:57 A good crowd here this afternoon but, then again, nothing like the size crowds that used to flock to the Easter meeting here at Kempton.

The opening contest is the 32red.com Fillies’ Conditions Stakes in which six line up.

Half the field looked a little bit skittish in the ring, most notably Bint Doyen and Pipette although Clairvoyance wasn’t quite as lively as the other two.

By contrast Myplacelater was very relaxed.

14:02 Bint Doyen is being very skittish going down for the opener.

14:22 Only six runners but it turned out to be a tactical contest with the front pair having been settled in last place for most of the co0ntest.

Clairvoyance and Clarietta set the pace, with Myplacelater and Bint Doyen tracking and Bella Swan and the favourite Pipette behind.

The front pair were still leading as they turned for home and, for a moment, Pipette did not look as though she was going to respond. However she got the message and responded running on to hit the front 1½ furlongs out.

The one making more impressive late progress was Walter Swinburn’s Bella Swan who left her challenge until late and was closing to within 1¼ lengths of the favourite.     

Speaking afterwards the winning trainer Andrew Balding said, “Pipette has plenty of improvement in her but she is a lazy sort at home.

“We may have a shot at the 1,000 Guineas provided the ground is easy, otherwise the Pretty Polly may be an option.”

14:31 Another six runner contest, the Bet At 32.red.com Conditions Stakes (aka the Easter Stakes).

Like the opener a very mixed bunch in the ring.

Negatives for Classic Colori, Gumnd and Navajo Chief. The other three all looked reasonable.

14:35 Navajo Chief is still on his toes going down.

14:56 Well on all known form the William Haggas trained Azizi was going to take this contest at a hack canter and when Richard Hills took him to the front inside the final two furlongs it looked like job done.

However Marco Botti’s newcomer, Aldovrandi, was the unknown quantity and Ryan Moore produced him with a late run to sail past Azizi, making him look very one paced and ordinary in the process.

A good win although it has to be asked if Hills eased Aziz too soon. He did try to respond but the line came too late.

Navajo Chief set off in, front taking a strong hold, and running far too freely.

Marco Botti seemed slightly surprised at the victory saying he is a “good horse” and pointing out he missed the break. The view amongst observers is the horse will come on for the run but the trainer did not really share that view.

15:08 Our third mile contest in a row and this is the 32red.com Casino Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes in which 11 line up following the defection of Faldal.

Please Sing and Seradim were the pair on their toes in the parade ring.

Island Sunset is a very narrow filly.

15:33 More delight for favourite backers and the larger field helped make it a better pace than the opening two races.  

Seradim had first run but after two furlongs Mosqueras Romance had taken up the running, at the same time injecting some more pace into the contest.

The favourite Shamwari Lodge tracked the leader, along with Island Sunset. The second favourite, Chantilly Tiffany, was settled in around sixth place.

Mosqueras Romance was still leading as they turned for home and looked to be in an unassailable position. However Richard Hughes seemed to be biding his time on the favourite and approaching the furlong pole these two were well clear of their rivals.

When Hughes finally asked for an effort Shamwari Lodge swept past the long time leader, recording a 1¼ length victory.

The remainder were 4½ lengths behind, led by Chantilly Point, making late progress but never a threat to the front pair.

Richard Hannon junior, son of the winning trainer, said, “ We will be disappointed if she does not win a Group Race this year. She still progressing.

“We may go to Epsom for the Group 3 on Derby weekend.”

Interestingly she also holds an entry in Turkey.

15:42 Sixteen line up for race four, the 32.red.com Handicap, a 7f contest.

Older and more experienced runners so much better behaved in the parade ring.

Beauchamp Viceroy and Rileyskeepingfaith both had to handlers to steady them and Dunn’o was pulling quite hard.

There were no real outstanding positives to report.

15:54 Drama before the 15:50 as Thebes breaks out of stall 13 and at the same time Capricorn Run went down in stall 4.

Both have been withdrawn.

16:15 Well after all the fun and games before the race, the race itself provided many talking points.

Light From Mars badly missed the start, throwing away five lengths.

There was plenty of scrimmaging as most the field seemed to have lost the ability to run straight with several hard luck stories.

Dunn’o who was pulling hard going down and also took a strong hold in the race itself. Brave Echo was to the fore, attempting to keep the leader in his sights.

The same can be said of top weight Beauchamp Viceroy, although Ryan Moore may have to have a chat with the stewards after his mount hung badly after the start instigating some of the argy bargy.

Dunn’o was still in front as they came down the home straight and Ryan Moore was having to work hard to keep his mount straight …. indeed he adopted a strange knee action looking more like a motor cycle rider than a jockey.

In the closing stages Moore asked Beauchamp Viceroy to run on and he accelerated well hitting the front at just the right time to record a half-length victory.

An even more impressive finisher was Kay Gee Bee, running on late he would pro0bably had won in a few more strides although he had to settled for third spot in the end, asd Dunn’o just held on to take second spot.

Each way backers of Brave Echo will be quietly cursing as the two withdrawn horses will mean no payout.      

16:18 Another seven furlong contest next, the 32redpoker.com Handicap in which 14 line up.

16:36 Frankie Dettori has stated he is going to have a go at regaining the riders title in 2010.

Looking at the way he rode the favourite Duellist in this last race it is clear he is going to have a real go.

Behind runners as they came down the home straight he weaved his way through the field to hit the front and record a 1¾ length victory.

There was a good battle for minor honours, with plenty of running on contenders.

Gallant Eagle put in a good late spurt to take the runners-up spot.

Jack My Boy was actually in front half a furlong from home but missed out on the places as he was “done” on the line by Shamir.        

16:47 Just five line up for the 32red Online Casino Handicap a marathon two mile contest.

Epsom Salts is pulling slightly, Byblos is a head-shaker.

17:08 A two mile contest run at a steady pace as a few of the runners were attempting the trip for the first time.

Byblos set the pace leading until 3f out before dropping off dramatically to finish tailed off.

Oxford City, one of those attempting the new trip, hit the front two out and looked to be in a good position to take the race.

However Soundbyte found the turbocharger to charge down the home straight, sweeping past Oxford City, recording a five length victory.

So for the second time this afternoon, following on from defeat in the boat race, Oxford had to settle for second yet again.

The favourite, one of those who does have form over two miles, only came home fourth.   

17:19 Sixteen, hopefully, go to post for our final contest, the one mile 32red.com Casino Handicap (London Mile Qualifier).

17:43 Normally the safety limit on the all-weather at Kempton is 14, however there are a few races each year where 16 are allowed to compete.

This race is one of those which questions the wisdom of having sixteen runner contests as there was a great deal of interference as they bunched coming down the back straight.

Den’s Gift set the very early pace but was soon headed by Frankie Dettori on Last Sovereign.

Dettori then set out his stall, which was to make all.

He managed to hold onto the lead until a furlong from home, at which point he was challenged on all sides, with it being impossible to call the winner until they actually reached the line.

In the end it turned out to be a good afternoon at the office for Ryan Moore as Highly Regal was produced with a well timed run, taking the contest by half-a-length, giving Moore backers a 1700/1 treble on the afternoon.    

Chapter  And Verse was also running on to take the runners-up spot, whilst Desert Kiss ran on to take third spot another half back.

After his front running performance it could be argued Last Sovereign deserved at least a place but he was run out of fourth spot by Prince Of Thebes.

17:46 Well I think the holiday crowd had a good afternoon here at Kempton and they were treated to some exciting finishes.

Whether we have seen any classic winners is a moot point but there were one or two potential group performers on display this afternoon.

The weather remained kind to us as well, which was a bonus.

 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

15:15
6 Faldal (pulled muscle - SC 08:34)

15:50
8 Thebes (withdrawn)
9 Capricorn Run (withdrawn)

16:55
3 Cold Turkey (coughing - VC 11:52)
4 Prince Charlemagne (tied up - SC 11:49)

Results

14:05 Conditions Stakes 1m

1st 6 Pipette 13/8 fav
2nd 1 Bella Swan 8/1
6 Ran
Distances 1¼
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.30
Places £1.20 £3.60
Exacta £15.90
CSF £14.83
Time 1' 38.62 (hand timed) (slow 0.82")

14:40 Conditions Stakes 1m

1st 2 Aldovrandi 8/1
2nd 3 Azizi 11/10 fav
6 Ran
Distances 1
Fav second
Tote
Win £9.30
Places £3.50 £1.40
Exacta £19.70
CSF £17.19
Time 1' 39.62" (slow 1.82")

15:15 Listed Stakes 1m

1st 11 Shamwari Lodge 13/8 fav
2nd 8 Mosqueras Romance 17/2
3rd 3 Chantilly Tiffany 5/2
12 Ran
Distances 1¼ & 4½
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.70
Places £1.40 £2.40 £1.40
Exacta £19.80
CSF £16.61
Time 1' 38.07" (slow 0.27")

15:50 Handicap 7f

1st  1 Beauchamp Viceroy 20/1
2nd 11 Dunn'o 12/1
3rd 15 Kay Gee be 6/1 jf
14 Ran w/d 9 & 10
Distances ½ & head
Fav third & 10 Brave Echo (4th)
Tote
Win £24.50
Places £6.10 £4.90 £2.60
Exacta £355.30
CSF £214.32
Tricast £1,428.13
Time 1' 25.07" (slow 0.47")

16:20 Handicap 7f

1st 2 Duellist 11/4 fav
2nd 4 Gallant Eagle 9/2
3rd 5 Shamir 13/2
14 Ran
Distances 1¾ & ½
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.80
Places £1.60 £1.60 £2.60
Exacta £17.50
CSF £14.27
Tricast £77.10
Time 1' 24.87" (slow 0.27")

16:55 Handicap 2m

1st 6 Soundbyte 9/4
2nd 2 Oxford City 5/2
5 Ran NR's 3 & 4
Distances 5
Fav 7 Kristallo 15/8 (4th)
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £1.60 £1.90
Exacta £8.60
CSF £8.26
Time 3' 33.19" (slow 9.19")

17:25 Handicap 1m

1st 10 Highly Regal 8/1
2nd 3 Chapter And Verse 16/1
3rd 6 Desert Kiss 10/1
4th 12 Prince Of Thebes 16/1
16 Ran
Distances ½ & ½
Fav 8 Wise Dennis 9/2 (10th)
Tote
Win £11.20
Places £3.20 £3.50 £2.80 £3.30
Exacta £191.20
CSF £128.46
Tricast £1.363.37
Time 1' 39.05" (slow 1.25")