Monday 18:20

The advance report is:-

Going

Heavy, Soft in places. (GoingStick: 6.8 on Monday at 07:45)

1mm rain overnight.
Forecast:Monday- Dry max temp 8c night min temp -3c
Tuesday- Dry max temp 8c.

PRECAUTIONARY INSPECTION AT 8.00AM

07:40 A very cold and frosty night at Leicester, where temperatures dropped as low as -9. They will be inspecting in about 20 mins.

Our selections are:-

08:04 No great surprise, another inspection has been called for 10:00 after the early look proved to be inconclusive.

10:06 It looks as though this one will be going to the line as another inspection is called for 11:30. Temperatures are rising but they are not yet high enough.

10:18 Comments from clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson, "It's coming on nicely, but we just need to be patient.

"We'll have another look at 11.30am so we've still got plenty of time.

"We remain confident."

11:34 It is good news, all systems go and racing goes ahead.

13:14 Good afternoon from Leicester where we have a lovely sunny afternoon after this mornings frost scare.

14:16 Another all chase card this afternoon and our opener is the two mile Captain Machell Beginners’ Chase in which five line up.

Circus Of Dreams and, to a lesser extent, Turnworth were slightly on their toes in the parade ring, whilst the only mare in the contest, Simplified, was so relaxed she looked as though she was about to drop off to sleep, something reflected in her 150/1 price.

14:37 This was only a two mile contest but the five runners came home strung out by 75 lengths.

Simplified may have been almost comatose in the parade ring but she certainly lit up at the first almost getting rid of her rider and pulling hard.

Once things settled down it was the two market leaders Circus Of Dreams and Vasodilator who settled down in front.

Happy to hack around together they were inseparable for most of the contest.

It was only after two out that Leighton Aspell asked Circus Of Dreams to go on and it was a case of race over as Vasodilator was unable to respond.

Eased on the run-in Circus Of Dreams still came home 16 lengths clear of his market rival.

Overstrand ran on in the closing stages but was still four behind the runner-up.

Daryl Jacob gave winning pointer Turnworth a strange ride holding him up over the two mile contest and never in contention.   

14:39 The Squire Osbaldeston Handicap Chase is next, just shy of three miles with ten taking their chances.

We have a non-runner in the third.

14:45 No stand outs or negatives in the parade ring.

15:10 After they came home strung out in the opening contest it was something of a surprise to have a really close finish in our second.

Although it is open to question how he would have fared had he gone all the way Raki Rose came down at the 10th fence when sharing the lead with Adare Prince.

Having said that Adare Prince’s challenge petered out a couple of fences later.

Wherrimon and Captain Smoothy then took up the running and had a good lead, although Thedreamstillalive and the favourite Omix D’Or also looked to be likely challengers.

The favourite, however, flattered to deceive and was running on one paced by two out.

Thedreamstillalive continued to make good progress and was in the mix at the last.

However on the run-in it was Wherrimon and Captain Smoothy  who joined battle and it was hard to call with Wherrimon making a late lunge to take a neck victory.

Thedreamstillalive had to settled for third with the jolly fourth.

15:35 Another contest where the betting was spot on with the joint favourites Ray Mond and Brimham Boy filling the first two places.

It was Ray Mond who took the spoils and he did it the hard way with a brave front running performance. In truth he never looked to be in any danger. It was also consolation for connections, who lost out in the photograph in the last race.

There was more of a battle for second spot with Brimham Boy, who had been second for most of the contest, until being headed four out by Just Playful.

15:41 Just four runners for the extended 2m 7f Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide 2010 Novices’ Chase and all eyes will be on Blazing Bailey.

16:11 Blazing Bailey finally got his head in front in a chase at the third time of asking.

Bench Warrent set the pace and went through the top of a couple of fences.

Blazing Baily was with him all the time, although at the first one questioned whether he get round after a very eccentric jump, clearing the fence by three feet.

He his the front as they turned for home, when Bench Warrant began to tire.

However it looked as though we may have had a shock on our hands as the outsider Theballyedmondchap came with a challenge and was looking like giving Blazing Bailey a fight when unseating three out.

Bench Warrent  rallied in the closing stages but Blazing Bailey’s hurdle speed saw him home on the run-in.

16:42 Well an eventful Hunters Chase with half the field failing to finish, the most nasty of which being Blackcomb Mountain who was pulled up with what looked to be a very nasty injury – more news on that when we receive it.

Up front William Somers and Lord Attica made the early pace, although by the seventh My Old Piano had replaced Lord Attica as the challenger.

These two then stayed in front, along with a loose horse. Indeed the loose horse hampered William Somers four out.

At this point My Old Piano was bang on tune and soon pulled clear, eventually recording a ten length victory.

17:11 AP McCoy had only one ride this afternoon American World in this final contest. Interestingly he was a big drifter in the market.

The favourite Bradford Boris set out wanting to make all although he wasn’t allowed to dominate as he would have liked  with both Rosie All Over and De Bansha Man harrying him.
Cesium, a winner at the last meeting here, was also in contention.

Rosie All Over was the first of the leading group to crack, soon to be followed by De Bansha Man.

Turning for home Bradford Boris had seen all his rivals off apart from Cesium. However had Daryl Jacob looked over his shoulder he would have seen McCoy making relentless progress.

Two out it was American World who looked to be the danger to the favourite as Cesium was plugging on one paced.

The pair still both had chances approaching the last but when push came to shove it was Bradford Boris who had more in the locker, pulling clear in the run-in whilst American World was unable to respond.

17:14 Well this afternoon seems to have flown by, a lovely afternoon weather wise despite the frost scare this morning.

A small but enthusiastic crowd here today.

Tomorrow we will be at Cheltenham, no racing but the weights for the handicaps are being unveiled.

From  lovely sunny Leicester good afternoon.

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

15:20
9 Ukrainian Star (going -14:29)

16:20
13 Cracking Cliche (lame - VC 1519 Mon)

16:50
7 Oxford de Lagarde (going 15:49)

Results

14:20 Beginners' Chase 2m

1st 1 Circus Of Dreams 7/4 fav
2nd 4 Vasodilator 15/8
5 Ran
Distance 16
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.30
Places £1.40 £1.30
Exacta £6.90
CSF £6.01
Time 4' 11.6"

14:50 Handicap Chase 2m 7f 110yds

1st 7 Wherrimon 4/1
2nd 5 Captain Smoothy 13/2
3rd 4 Thedreamstillalive 11/2
10 Ran
Distances Neck & 3¼
Fav 3 Omix D'Or 9/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £6.20
Places £1.70 £2.10 £2.10
Exacta £37.60
CSF £28.81
Tricast £140.86
Time 6' 04.3"

15:20 Novices' H/C Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 6 Ray Mond 7/2 jf
2nd 2 Brimham Boy 7/2 jf
3rd 8 Just Playful 6/1
10 Ran Nr 9
Distances 8 & neck
Fav winner & second
Tote
Win £3.10
Places £1.80 £1.90 £2.40
Exacta £21.10
CSF £16.25
Tricast £70.47
Time 3' 23.9"

15:50 Novices' Chase 2m 7f 110yds

1st 3 Blazing Bailey 5/6 fav
2nd 1 Bench Warrent 9/4
4 Ran
Distance 5
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Exacta £2.10
CSF £3.10
Time 6' 10.8"

16:20 Hunters' Chase 2m 7f 110yds

1st  5 My Old Piano 5/2 fav
2nd 11 William Somers 10/3
3rd 7 Oranger 10/1
13 Ran Nr 13
Distances 10 & 10
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.26
Places £1.20 £2.10 £1.80
Exacta £11.70
CSF £11.59
Time 6' 04.8"

16:50 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 11 Bradford Boris 4/1 fav
2nd 4 American World 15/2
3rd 6 Cesium 5/1
10 Ran Nr 7
Distances 11 & 5
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.30
Places £1.10 £4.00 £2.80
Exacta £37.30
CSF £33.91
Tricast £152.48
Time 5' 19.2"