07:32 It has been a dry night and a hot sunny day is forecast. The going is now Good to Firm, Firm in Places.

The eight race card gets under way at 14:00.

There are, at present, no non-runners although with the change in going it would be no surprise if there were to be some.

Our suggestions are:-

12:51 Good afternoon from a gloriously sunny Leicester where we have an eight race card and still no non-runners.

Not sure how big a crowd we will have this afternoon, we shall have to see.

13:50 In answer to my earlier query about the crowd size, I would say modest just about sums it up.

Our opening contest is the 7f The Ladbrokes.com Handicap Stakes with ten going to post.

Nothing outstanding to report from the parade ring.

14:12 A difference of opinion in our opener as some of the field came stands side and the remainder went centre course.

It was the near side who made the best decision in this instance as Learo Dochais, who was prominent throughout came home the length-and-half victor.

Prominent in centre course was Sweet Possession who only managed to come home sixth in the end.

Crocodile Bay was doing his best work in the closing stages to take the runners-up spot and Eastern Gift was another do best at the end to come home third.

Bilberry looked to be in with every chance if good enough half way but turned out not to be good enough.

Favourite Plutocraft was another who was never a serious threat, eventually coming home fifth.

14:22 Down to six furlongs for our second contest, division one of the Ladbrokes.com Maiden Stakes with 11 going to post.

Negative is Aramid, who was getting coltish in the parade ring and is whinnying.

A few of them are getting warm but that is to be expected today.

Postscript was the most relaxed looking in the ring.

14:40 Richard Hannon has this great knack with two-year-olds and King Torus is no exception.

The clear pick in the parade ring, the Irish bred colt was green in the early stages but once the penny dropped and Richard Hughes asked for an effort he destroyed the field making his rivals looking very ordinary indeed.  Coming home five lengths clear.

Tokum made very late progress to take second spot, although he may have been in a different race.

It was very close for third spot with judge Di Clarke giving the verdict to Postscript with Pretium Sceleris (early pacesetter) and Titus Two being the others involved in the photograph.

Kieren Fallon looked to have given Market Maker, who beat only one home, a very gentle ride and the stewards are taking a look at that ride.  

14:52 We remain at six furlongs for our third contest, the Ladbrokes.com Hickling Selling Stakes, with nine going to post.

King’s Sabre, who went early to post, was a bit on his toes.

Pizza San Pietro was pulling slightly and Mandhooma was carrying some condition.

15:09 A funny sort of race with seemingly little pace. Once they were into a rhythm it was Come On Buckers who set the early pace, although never with a commanding lead.

Not far behind were Sophie’s Beau and Feeling Fragile with Piazza San Pietro just behind the pace.

Piazza San Pietro was the first to make a move for home, although his lead was short lived as Jimmy Fortune asked Sophie’s Beau to go on at the same time and it was the latter who pulled clear the more easily, recording a 2¾ length victory.

Piazza San Pietro held on for second spot although both Bold Ring and King’s Sabre were both closing.

15:13 In a lively auction the winner was bought by Michael Chapman for 5,700 guineas.

15:20 We’re onto the round course for race four, the almost 1¼ mile Ladbrokes.com Belvoir Castle Handicap with seven going to post.

Vulcanite was slightly on his toes and Dynamic Drice was pulling slightly.

15:45 A race where everything changed in the closing stages.

Dynamic Drive set off in front, although he was soon joined by Flying Destination, with Sierra Alpha tracking these two.

Meanwhile favourite Udabaa and Vulcanite were the whipper’s-in.

Three out Sierra Alpha hit the front but his lead was short lived as first of all Flying Destination found a second wind.

More impressive though was Buffett who swept into the lead with what looked like a winning challenge under Kieren Fallon.

However Jim Crowley had found the turbocharger on Vulcanite and he shot up the centre of the course passing all his rivals to record a half length victory.

15:53 Race five sees only four runners competing for the Ladbrokes.com Charnwood Forest Fillies’ Conditions Stakes, a seven furlong contest.

I have to say nothing stands out in the parade ring.

Seta is a massive drifter in the market as low as 1/2 on the exchanges this morning now available at 11/8.

First City is pulling and Souter’s Sister has a very low head carriage.

16:11 Well those who backed Seta at 1/2 this morning will be kicking themselves as she comes home the 6/4 winner, also those who laid her at longer prices must be forming a queue at their local A&E to get their burnt fingers treated.

It has to be said the victory was more workmanlike than outstanding, although after her moderate performance in the 1,000 Guineas connections must have been relieved to see her get her head in front.

Baileys Cacao was first out of the stalls and soon had the stands rail, although after three furlongs Seta was in front, with First City in second spot.

By a furlong out, although still in front Seta still had not shaken off the attentions of First City, although the latter was under a strong drive whilst Fallon had not made a move on Seta.

Inside the final half furlong Fallon eased Seta ahead and she came home 1¾ lengths clear.

The remaining pair came home well back with Souter’s Sister just heading Baileys Cacao.

Winning trainer Luca Cumani said, he was pleased the filly got her head in front. Asked why she did not go to yesterdays Irish 1,000 Guineas he replied it would have been too hard a race.

16:24 Race five sees us going back to the round course for the 1¼ mile Ladbrokes.com Claiming Stakes with 11 facing the starter.

Saltagioo and Macanta were getting warm but, as I said earlier, it is very hot here this afternoon.

Sacrilege went to post early.

16:40 To call this a race would be in danger of breaching the Trade’s Descriptions Act.

Rocky’s Pride set off in front and he was so far in front a furlong out there was no way, baring an Act Of God, he was going to be beaten, coming home an eased five length winner.

Favourite Saltagioo was a hard driven runner-up, under strong pressure from over two out, with Applaude back in third.

Dream Of Fortune made some progress two out but flattered to deceive.

16:52 Division two of the six furlong Maiden is next up, with nine facing the starter, Degly Bo is out due to the ground.

Emmerline Pankhurst looked good until blotting her copybook and rearing in the parade ring.

Sheer Courage is probably candidate for best turned out but he was whinnying at one point.

Residence And Spa was pulling a bit.

17:11 The second division of the maiden stakes looked to be a better class than the first.

However there was only one horse in the race with Sheer Courage, giving both divisions to Richard Hannon, destroying the opposition.

The winning margin was an unbelievable ten lengths and he looked to be an awesome horse, clearly learning from his debut at Newmarket three weeks ago.

Favourite Old Master Expert looked booked for second but was done on the line by 50/1 shot Residence And Spa (owned by Timeform and Channel Four’s Jim McGrath).

17:20 Our final race is our longest contest, the 1½ mile Ladbrokes.com Coplow Maiden Stakes with eight going to post.

The Stoute newcomer Rhyton is a very nervous type and has twice tried to rear in the parade ring.

17:45 Well we seem to be bereft of close finishes this afternoon as we have yet another runaway winner in the finale.

This time it is Mark Johnston’s Bay Willow who made all under Richard Hills.

Three out it looked as though proven stayer Sister Earth was going to give him a run for his money but when Hills asked for an effort and soon pulled clear, eventually coming home six clear.

Sister Earth was a clear second with Magnetic Force back in third. Interestingly these three had filled the first three places throughout.     

17:48 Well that’s it from Leicester, a brilliantly sunny afternoon but frankly some very uncompetitive racing with only one of the eight contests producing anything resembling a competitive finish.

Highlight of the afternoon, though, has to be Richard Hannon’s Sheer Courage who looked magnificent in the second division of the maiden.

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

17:00
1 Degly Bo (going -14:46)

Results

14:00 Handicap 7f 9yds

14:30 Maiden Stakes (Div 1) 5f 218yds

15:00 Selling Stakes 5f 218yds

15:30 Handicap 1m 1f 218yds

16:00 Conditions Stakes 7f 9yds

16:30 Claiming Stakes 1m 1f 218yds

17:00 Maiden Stakes (Div 2) 5f 218yds

17:30 Maiden Stakes 1m 3f 183yds