17:37 That’s it from a sultry Leicester, two words you don’t hear together that often.

The beer has been flowing and the crowd is quite lively and are awaiting the start of the concert and today’s has been performer is Bad Manners.

Hopefully most will stay for the concert allowing me to make a swift exit.

17:35 Our final contest was back over the straight seven and we witnessed a very brave winning performance from the favourite Diapason and anyone who backed the filly owes jockey Richard Smith a drink.

They set off in front at a good pace, in an attempt to make it a pillar to post victory and all was going to plan until inside the final furlong.

The potential party pooper as far as favourite backers were concerned came in the shape of the outsider Piccolo Mondo who was rousted along by Jim Crowley, actually getting his head in front half a furlong from home.

Many would have waved the white flag at that point but Smith managed to get his head down and managed to get the filly to rally and get her nose in front on the line.

The pair came home three lengths clear of Good For Her back in third.

16:59 Only six runners for our penultimate contest, a 1¼ claiming stakes.

The complexion of the race was set by Granski – star of the parade ring before the contest – for all the wrong reasons. Keen to post and when the race started Pat Dobbs tried to settle him but he was fighting a losing battle and the errant runner was soon in front, miles clear of his rivals.

Needless to say he eventually tired. Albeit closer to home that would have expected.

The other runners did not try to stay with Granski, realising he was setting a suicidal pace.

Once the leader was out of it, the race was effectively a one horse contest as Jim Crowley took the favourite Playful Asset into the lead and absolutely nothing was able to go with him as he came home a seven length winner.

I am not sure what happens next with Granski as he has already been gelded and the application of first time blinkers today have done nothing to calm him down.

16:23 Well I hope you followed our paddock pick, Big Noise. A hairy ride as he only just held on to take the race.   

Key Signature along with Saucy Brown and Woodcote Prince set the pace with Big Noise happy to settle off the pace along with the favourite Masai Moon.

Indeed it looked as though the five pound claimer Louis-Phillippe Benzelin was deliberately keeping Big Noise covered up.

Moved to the centre of the course he asked for an effort inside the final furlong and it looked decisive. However Key Signature looked resurgent and had a second wind whilst Woodcote Place ran on from the pack – challenging the leader on both flanks.

The line came just in time for Big Noise holding on by a fast diminishing half length with Woodcote Place just getting his head in place for the runners up spot.

Masai Moon ran one paced to finish sixth.

16:02 Our feature race, a seven furlong, handicap next. We have our first paddock pick of the afternoon – despite being off the course for 280 days Big Noise looks very nice indeed.

15:54 Some very upset punters, I imagine, after our third contest – a 1¼ mile fillies handicap, which only went to further my prejudice against fillies contests as a betting medium.

Salisbury winner Mrs Beeton opened up as favourite but we then saw a major plunge on John Dunlop’s Mejala, backed in from 6’s to 100/30.

In the race itself Stravella set off in front, pursued by Whooska and Mrs Beeton, whilst the favourite was settled towards the rear.

As they began to turn for home Stravella had been joined by Simplification up front and the favourite was only three from the rear.

When asked for an effort Mejala stuck her head in the air and just refused to run on.

By contrast both Visite Royale and La Coveta were responding well to urgings and were soon battling up front along with the long time leader Stravella.

15:23 One thing about horse racing is its constant variability and its ability to spring a surprise.

We had two runners  vying for favouritism in the race with Polly Macho opening as favourite but Hachi being very well backed from 9/4 into 13/8.

Rainsborough joined the naughty step club, playing up behind the stalls and Tony Culhane did well to stay onboard.

Carries Lass veered left coming out of the stalls giving Miss Lauz a knock.

Hachi set off in front and, despite the knock Miss Lauz was soon on her heels, along with Carries Lass and Audrinna.

Polly Macho was behind the front group with Rainsborough settled last.

By half way Polly Macho was under the cosh but not responding.

Tony Culhane also asked Rainsborough for an effort and although he seemed to want to fight his urgings he did respond and took up the running inside the final furlong.

Audrinna was another responding well late on and the pair battle to the line with Rainsborough holding on by a length.

In the subsequent auction the winner was bought in for 6,200 guineas.

14:53 A jockey change in the next, another 6 furlong contest, and if I was David Probert, the new jockey on Miss Lauz, I would hand the ride right back -  she is being an absolute cow in the parade ring.

It is not as though this is her debut as all the two-year-olds in this contest have racecourse experience.

Rainsborough was whinnying as she went round the ring, Audrinna was on her toes and Haci was getting warm.

14:40 Well the betting has it as a two horse race with Itsher sent off the even money favourite and Wotasparkler at 11/4.

The betting almost got it right. Itsher certainly won easily, hardly breaking sweat, however Crystal B Good spoilt a 1-2 for punters by separating the top two in the betting.

Crystal B Good set the pace, along with Glorious Dreams, whilst William Carson was happy to settle the favourite mid-div.

Two out Carson launched the favourite with a run, soon led and it was race over as Itsher came home an eased four length winner. Crystal B Good held of a vain challenge from Wotasparkler to take the runners-up spot.

Glorious Dreams bid for glory with her early front running came to nothing, as she came home an almost tailed off last.

14:18 We have a six furlong fillies handicap to get us underway. I have to confess I am always wary of fillies contests, they seem to be more unpredictable.

Lana’s Charm is the big negative in the parade ring, swishing her tail and on her toes. Song Of Praise is getting a little warm between her legs, although it has to be said it is a tad muggy here this afternoon.

13:54 The sun is now out.

12:57 Good afternoon from Leicester where the weather is warm but overcast.

Still the two non-runners at what is, traditionally, one of the courses most popular meetings of the year.

09:11 After a dry night the going remains Good, Good to Firm in places, the weather is currently dry although there is a risk of showers later on.

We currently hav etwo non-runners, details on the right.

Here are our selections:-

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

3:05
3 Vested Interest (Other - Fri 08:38)

4:45
2 Daily Double (Sore - SC 08:38)

Results

2:30 Fillies Handicap 5f 218yds

1st 3 Itsher even fav
2nd 6 Crystal B Good 18/1
3rd 2 Wotasparkler 11/4
8 Ran
Distances 4 & 1
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.20 £2.60 £1.40
Exacta £22.00
CSF £23.16
Tricast £42.49
Time 1' 11.01"

3:05 Selling Stakes 5f 218yds

1st 2 Rainsborough 14/1
2nd 5 Audrinna 9/2
7 Ran Nr 3
Distance 1
Favs 7 Hachi (3rd)
Tote
Win £13.20
Places £5.40 £2.50
Exacta £81.80
CSF £73.81
Time 1' 12.73"

3:35 Handicap 1m 1f 218yds

1st 2 La Coveta 20/1
2nd 9 Visite Royale 6/1
3rd 3 Stravella 10/1
10 Ran
Distances neck & nose
Fav 10 Mejala 10/3 (upl)
Tote
Win £22.10
Places £5.20 £3.00 £3.70
Exacta £162.10
CSF £140.37
Tricast £1,300.78
Time 2' 06.57"

4:10 Handicap 7f 9yds

1st 3 Big Noise 7/1
2nd 5 Woodcote Place 12/1
3rd 11 Key Signature 8/1
11 Ran
Distances 1/2 & head
Fav 2 Masai Moon 7/2 (6th)
Tote
Win £8.50
Places £2.90 £4.40 £3.70
Exacta £161.50
CSF £92.65
Tricast £714.91
Time 1' 23.20"

4:45 Claiming Stakes 1m 1f 218yds

1st 5 Playful Asset 7/4 fav
2nd 7 Moggy 7/2
6 Ran Nr 2
Distances 7
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.10
Places £1.30 £2.50
Exacta £7.70
CSF £7.85
Time 2' 07.73"

5:20 Maiden Stakes 7f 9yds

1st 5 Diapason 5/4 fav
2nd 3 Piccolo Mondo 25/1
3rd 7 Good For Her 12/1
8 Ran
Distances short head & 3
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.30
Places £1.20 £2.50 £2.00
Exacta £14.80
CSF £39.91
Time 1' 23.84"