17:48 That’s it from Leicester, where we have seen some good racing with a couple of new entries for the notebook.

Even the weather remained kind, with the sun out most of the afternoon, although it is very grey now and I’m sure the rain is not that far away.

17:46 The final race, a six furlong apprentice handicap, saw more joy for favourite backers.

Boldinor was smart from the stalls, whilst Metropolitan Chief was very slow away.

Union Jack Jackson, Shakespeare’s Son and Desert Pride tracked the leader.

By half-way Shakespeare’s Son had taken up the running, with Desert Pride the challenger. Plumage, the favourite, was in fourth place by this point.

Two out Shakespeare’s Son and Desert Pride were locked together in front but Plumage was running on under Lee Newnes.

Desert Pride soon dropped out under a weak ride from Jemma Marshall.

Shakespeare’s Son had the lead a furlong out but Plumage had his measure, sweeping past inside the final half furlong and coming home a comfortable length winner.

Moral Duty ran on well to take third place.  

17:16 A nervous race for favourite backers.

Frankie Dettori sent Seaway off to make the running but two out it did not look good as he was attacked on both sides by Bow To No One and Reset City and it looked as though either of them could have done the favourite.

However Seaway responded to Frankie’s urgings and eventually came home the 1¼ winner, perhaps more than he deserved.

Arashi, who was settled nearer last than first for most of the contest, came with a very late run, grabbing second spot on the line denying Bow To No One the runners-up spot.

Stormy Morning, fourth, was another running on late.     

16:60 Back to 1¼ miles in our sixth contest. Somewhat decimated with four of the eleven not running  - a pain for each way backers.

Billy The Gas and Arashi were both on their toes.

16:38 They say it is best to strike whilst the iron is hot and that is certainly the case with Invasian, a winner at Yarmouth two days ago, who followed up in impressive style this afternoon.

Settled in second place behind Channel Crossing and taking up the running just before they left the back straight. Once in front he never looked to be in any danger having a large lead two out.

The challengers came in the shape of last years winner of this race, Nawamees and the second favourite Agente Romano.

Invasian was beginning to tire inside the final furlong but had enough to hold on by 1¾ lengths.

16:13 Our longest contest of the afternoon next, a mile and a half claimer.

Also our first positive from the parade ring in the shape of David Evans Nawamees.

16:03 Only five went to post for our feature contest, a 10 furlong conditions stakes.

We had joint favourites in the shape of In Footlights and Libel Law.

It was Frankie Dettori on In Footlights who set off in front, going a decent pace.

Libel Law and Big Bound went off in pursuit, with Rendezvous and Misdaqeya following the field.

In Footlights held the lead until two out when Big Bound hit the front with Lible Law in pursuit.

In Footlights was in reverse and soon last, Rendezvous one paced and Misdaqeya running on but never troubling the leader.

Big Bound remained in front as Philip Robinson slowly narrowed the gap on Libel Law but only came within a head of the eventual winner.

15:47 Well the Stewards also spotted Balata hanging, called in rider Tom McLaughlin, decided his riding was careless and gave him a three day ban.

15:28 An interesting tactical affair in this contest with Cook’s Endeavour and Orlando’s Tale opting to come towards the centre of the course with the remainder coming stand side.

In the end the move seemed to be inconclusive as the two in the centre and some on the far side crossed the line in a heap, giving judge Mark Richie-Noakes some work to do in separating them.

In the end My Gacho, who led the stands side group, was given a nose verdict over Orlando’s Tale from the centre group, with Cooks Endeavour (centre) a head back in third with Balata in fourth, who would have done better had he not hung.

The favourite, Sweet Gale, was never really in contention, making some late progress but coming home a never nearer fifth.  

15:15 A seven furlong handicap for our third contest.

Balata was taken to post early and mounted on the course – being a bit on his toes.

Sweet Gale, the only filly in the contest was a little skittish in the parade ring and Bahamian Kid had a tail swishing like a windmill.

14:56 Some racegoers scoff at low grade midweek meetings but this seller was an absolute cracker.

Debutant Annia Galeria was a most impressive winner, sent out ready to race and with the pace throughout, hitting the front by halfway and keeping on well in the final stages and winning by a neck. Certainly one for the notebook and it was a big surprise there were no bids for the winner in the post race auction.

Another for the notebook is the runner-up is the other debutant, Ishe A Lord, going down by only a neck but clearly finding the going too lively as he changed legs several times in the closing stages.
Look out for him with a bit more give in the ground.

The favourite, Izuizirizuain’t, was doing her best work in the closing stages after being denied a clear run.

Saachi’s Vision was pulled up three out.

14:31 Down to the minimum distance for our second contest, a seller.

14:22 Well Transfixed has won three races this season, on today’s performance one does wonder why.

Keen to post she never looked keen in the race and although she made some late progress, she never looked to be the winner.

It was Gillburg in first time cheekpieces who set the pace, although it wasn’t really that much of a pace.

Angel Of Fashion tracked the leader, along with Transfixed, with Danzoe and Daniella de Bruijn happy to settle in rear.

The pace picked up two out and it was Angel Of Fashion who ran on best of all, soon taking a clear lead. Gillburg was unable to respond to the injection of pace, then again neither were any of the others.

In the end Angel Of Fashion came home four lengths clear of her rivals, with Gillburg a further three lengths ahead of third placed Transfixed.

All in all a very disappointing race and no future stars in evidence.

14:04 A 6f nursery to get us underway and nothing stands out in the paddock – all were slightly on their toes.
Transfixed, the favourite, looks really small and unfurnished.

13:48 A touch of drizzle in the air

13:05 Good afternoon from an overcast Leicester.

We have three more non-runners, details on the right.

10:12 Our first non-runner has come through. Credential is out of the 4:25 with a bruised food (vet's certificate).

08:45 The course has had 1.5mm of rain in the last 24 hours and the official going is Good to Firm, Good in Places, with a going stick reading of 8.0

Our selections for this afternoon are:-

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

2:10
5 The Shuffler (Coughing - VC 12:09)
7 Ginger Ted (travel - 12:50)

3:15
10 Torquemada (going - 12:58)

3:50
4 Prince Siegfried (going)

4:25
4 Promise Maker (going)
6 Everyman (going)
9 Credential (bruised foot - VC 10:02)

5:00
2 Laafet (going)
5 Lacrosse (going)
6 Merdaam (going)
7 Ottoman Empire (going)

Results

2:10 Nursery 5f 218yds

1st 6 Angel Of Fashion 6/1
2nd 4 Gillburg 7/1
5 Ran Nr's 5 & 7
Distances 4
Fav 3 Transfixed 15/8 (3rd)
Tote
Win £8.60
Places £3.90 £3.10
Exacta £22.30
CSF £42.22
Time 1' 10.69"

2:40 Selling Stakes 5f 2yds

1st 5 Annia Galeria 7/1
2nd 3 Ishe A Lord 10/1
3rd 7 Izuizorizuain't evens fav
9 Ran
Distances neck & 1 1/2
Fav third
Tote
Win £9.40
Places £2.00 £4.10 £1.10
Exacta £55.50
CSF £68.75
Time 1' 00.66"

3:15 Handicap 7f 9yds

1st 5 My Gacho 7/1
2nd 2 Orlando's Tale 10/1
3rd 8 Cooks Endeavour 5/1
9 Ran Nr 10
Distances nose & head
Fav 3 Sweet Gale 9/2 (5th)
Tote
Win £7.30
Places £2.20 £3.40 £2.00
Exacta £44.50
CSF £72.31
Tricast £381.92
Time 1' 23.30"

3:50 Conditions Stakes 1m 1f 218yds

1st 1 Big Bound 4/1
2nd 3 Libel Law 5/2 jf
5 Ran Nr 4
Distances head
Fav second & No 2 (last)
Tote
Win £5.10
Places £1.30 £1.90
Exacta £16.00
CSF £14.32
Time 2' 04.26"

4:25 Claiming Stakes 1m 3f 183yds

1st 2 Invasian 9/4 fav
2nd 7 Agente Romano 7/2
3rd 8 Nawamees 4/1
9 Ran Nr's 4 , 6 & 9
Distances 1 3/4 & 1
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £1.20 £1.60 £1.60
Exacta £11.70
CSF £9.95
Time 2' 29.20"

5:00 Maiden Stakes 1m 1f 218yds

1st 8 Seaway 8/11 fav
2nd 3 Arashi 28/1
7 Ran Nr's 2 , 5 , 6 & 7
Distances 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Places £1.30 £5.30
Exacta £22.30
CSF £26.52
Time 2' 08.76"

5:30 Apprentice Handicap 5f 218yds

1st 6 Plumage 3/1 fav
2nd 4 Shakespeare's Son 4/1
3rd 1 Moral Duty 7/1
11 Ran
Distances 1 & 3/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.90
Places £1.80 £1.80 £2.30
Exacta £16.30
CSF £13.95
Tricast £381.92
Time 1' 12.16"