17:33 And that is it from Leicester where, against most expectations we managed to get through the card.
Our next live coverage is from teh beach at laytown on Thursday, until then goodnight.
17:23 The finale, a 1¼ mile Apprentice Handicap, turned out to be the most competitive heat of the afternoon and for the only time this afternoon the field were not spread out at the finish.
Under Fire set the pace whilst, by contrast Krugerand tracked the field.
Gracechurch, sent off the 11/4 favourite, settle mid-division but was never a challenger.
Two out Under Fire was still in the lead with course specialist Princelywallywogan tracking him in second place, however he faded in the final stages not totally happy with the ground.
It was now the challengers emerged from the pack, most notably Kimono My House and Princess Flame who fought a good battle to the line with the former prevailing by a neck.
Long time leader Under Fire had to settle for third whilst the favourite could only manage to finish seventh.
The time of 2’ 15.93” was two seconds faster than the earlier heat over this distance.
16:56 Another four runner contest and another facile victory for an odds-on favourite.
The one mile maiden went to Le Grand Amour under Phillip Robinson who set off in front and never looked to be in any danger, despite the field being virtually line abreast three out.
However once Robinson asked the favourite to run on two out the race was over.
Fongoli was 4½ lengths back in second with Jaubertie a further five back in third.
Amatara was always behind and clearly did not like the ground.
The winning time of 1’ 55.12” was slow by 10 seconds
16:26 The feature five furlong conditions stakes only attracted four runners and the race went to the most well known runner in the field Angus Newz who was sent off the 7/4 favourite.
Favouritism went to Biniou, with the other pair The Trader and Mango Music going off 5/1 and 9/2 respectively.
Come the race itself it was Angus Newz who set off in front and was never headed. The favourite, by contrast, clearly did not relish the ground and was always behind.
The only horse to keep pace with the winner was her stable mate Mango Music but when Frannie Norton asked the winner to go the race was over.
The time of 1’ 02.81” was two seconds outside standard.
15:56 It would probably be pushing the definition of the word to call the fourth event a race.
We had an odds-on favourite, winning as an odds-on favourite should.
Only six runners set off and only five really competed – Pas De Roland missed the break and by the time they broached the turn jockey Micky Fenton had already thrown in the towel.
Mr Burton set the pace under Dean Hislop, tracked by Richard Quinn on the well backed Hawk House with the jolly, Torphichen, happy to track the front two.
The field approached the tight turn with caution, but without incident and three out the leaders were four abreast with only Scania Classic and Pas De Roland out of contention.
Long time leader Mr Burton was next to crack whiles Philip Robinson set off for home, leaving his rivals standing.
Hawk House looked booked for second until Distinctive Image launched a run to grab the runners-up spot but never troubling the leader who was eased approaching the line. The winner clearly not inconvenienced by the heavy going. To put the win into context the winner took the race wearing only three shoes, having lost one during the race.
The time of 2’ 17.37” was ten seconds slower than standard.
15:36 After two relatively large fields we have a six runner contest and our first contest on the round course – it will be interesting to see how the runners handle the top bend.
The rain has arrived here at Leicester and we have a really unpleasant afternoon ahead for the few racegoers who have turned up.
15:30 At least I got something right – the runners avoided the stands rail like the plague – perhaps I should be a jockey – then again there are not that many horses allocated 14 stone.
We actually had a very tight finish with two runners passing the line separated by ¾ of the width of the course.
At first glance it seemed that long time leader Castano under James Milman had held off the late challenge of Granary ridden by Amy Scott and it was the lady who came first by a head, although it took the judge a moment or two to call the result.
As in the last race the runners were spread out like Monday’s washing and the time was similar to the last 1’ 29.64”.
The winner was slowly out of the stalls but it did enable Amy to track over to the centre from her No2 draw.
By halfway Castano had the lead and the only challenger turned out to be the winner. I have to say Amy Scott’s riding style is excellent she was perfectly balanced and managed to bring the winner home without having to resort to the whip.
The favourite West End Lane was three lengths further back in third with the remainder of the field back in another parish.
15:05 It was going to be interesting to see how the field split in this 16 runner seven furlong dash (?).
In the end they split with twelve on the stand side and four on the far side.
Needless to say it was one of the four on the far side, Hollow Green, who stole the race under seven pound claimer Andrea Atzeni (by the way a male jockey despite the confusing name). He also picked up a three day ban for his use of the whip.
Like the first race it is another to ignore from a form perspective – the runners came home in a manner more appropriate for a three mile chase rather than a seven furlong event.
The placed horses ended up coming home down the centre of the course.
Mr Clearview was the leader around the halfway point but eventually ended up being done for third place by Transferred.
Bounty Reef under Frankie McDonald grabbed the runners up spot, but 3 lengths behind the winner but giving a 1-2 for trainer David Evans.
Evans was surprised with the result, saying ""Hollow Green loved the ground and probably a lot of them didn't. I backed the second and was probably on the wrong side of the track."
So what have we learned from this race – well don’t trust the form at all and secondly it looks as though the better ground is in the centre to far side.
We have a thirteen runner event over the same distance next – what odds we have more going far side.
The time for this race was much better than the first – 1’ 29.56”
14:25 As expected the going had a significant say in the outcome of this contest and it is a race to ignore for formbook.
I think it is safe to say that all five runners were in the lead at some point and the market had problems differentiating the runners as shortly before the off four of the five runners were co-favourites.
Parthenon a Mark Johnston newcomer was in the van for most of the contest, but a furlong out it looked as though the only runner with experience, Piazza San Pietro, would take the race as he came from mid-division looking all the way the winner, however this run flattered to deceive and he soon faded.
However it has to be said the winner is nothing if not brave and he seemed not to be overly inconvenienced by the ground as he rallied and eventually got the better in a dour battle with
Imposing, another who put in his best work in the latter stages.
The other who eventually got the hang of things and ran on was Michael Jarvis’s Hunterview, settled towards the rear initially but rallying well at the end to finish a neck behind the runner up.
The time of the race 1’ 32.41” was six seconds slower than standard.
13:45 Good afternoon from Leicester where the weather is dry but conditions underfoot are testing to say the least. All the races are going to take some getting.
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Non-Runners
2:20
1 Hilltop Artistry (sore shins)
2:50
2 Calypso Prince
14 Cwmni
3:20
4 Blue Charm
10 Ken's Girl
13 Torquemada (not eaten up)
14e Pop Music
16 Eternal Optimist (lame)
5:20
11 Admiral's Way
Results
2:20
1st 4 Parthenon 3/1
2nd 3 Imposing 10/3
5 Ran NR 1
Distances 1/2 & neck
Tote
Win £4.30
Place £1.50 £1.90
Exacta £12.60
2:50
1st 16 Hollow Green 7/1
2nd 13 Bounty Reef 12/1
3rd 18 Transfered 11/1
16 Ran NR's 2 & 14
Distances 3L & 3 1/4L
Tote
Win £8.70
Place £3.30 £5.20 £4.10
Exacta £116.10
3:20
1st 5 Granary 13/2
2nd 6 Castano 6/1
3rd 11 West End Lane 11/2 fav
13 Ran NR's 4, 10, 13 , 14 & 16
Distances Head & 3 1/4L
Tote
Win £7.70
Place £2.20 £2.20 £2.40
Exacta £57.90
3:50
1st 6 Torphichen 4/6 fav
2nd 3 Distinctive Image 12/1
6 Ran
Distances 4 1/2L
Tote
Win £1.80
Place £1.20 £5.30
Exacta £7.20
4:20
1st 1 Angus Newz 7/4
2nd 4 Mango Music 9/2
4 Ran
Distances 1 1/4L
Tote
Win £2.30
Exacta £4.90
4:50
1st 4 Le Grand Amour 4/7 fav
2nd 2 Fongoli 2/1
4 Ran
Distances 4 1/2L
Tote
Win £1.60
Exacta £2.30
5:20
1st 7 Kimono My House 8/1
2nd 5 Princess Flame 16/1
3rd 8 Under Fire 25/1
11 Ran NR 11
Distances Neck & 2 3/4L
Tote
Win £8.80
Place £2.70 £3.90 £6.40
Exacta £143.10
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