07:40 It has been dry overnight but rain is expected from mid-morning onwards.

The official going is Good to Firm, Good in Places, with a going stick reading of 8.7

There is currently just the one non-runner.

Our suggestions are:-

10:41 Quite a few non-runners now, details on the right.

13:19 Good afternoon from an overcast Leicester, where it is at least dry.

13:50 Sorry I spoke too soon - it is tanking down.

14:06 Still raining and our opening contest is the EBF Forest Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over five furlongs.

Dubai Affair looks very unfurnished and is on her toes.

14:14 My Elliemay not overly impressive going to post and Star Today was swishing her tail going down.

14:15 Dubai Affair playing up at the start, having to be led round sans rider.

14:33 The favourite, Elshabakiya, had been weak in the market and although she did hit the front a furlong from home.

However newcomer Crying Lightning was running on really well in the closing stages, making good late progress to record a deserved half length victory.

Despite being a bit green in the parade ring Elshabakiya did little wrong in the race and was just beaten by a better horse on the day.

Catalinas Diamond was putting in her best work in the closing stages.

14:41 Race two is the Stathern Claiming Stakes over 7f with eight going to post.

14:58 A race where tactics were important.

Two runners set the pace in this contest on the straight course with the favourite Maoi Chinn Tire grabbing the stands rail and Kirsty’s Boy taking the centre course route.

It looked as though the latter may have had a slight advantage for most of the contest but when push came to shove the rail proved to be an advantage as Maoi Chinn Tire pulled clear.

Baby Judge looked to be coming with a decent challenge but it came to nothing.

Juicy Pear, by contrast, came with a cracking run under Ian Burns, having only his seventh ride, and came within a neck of causing an upset.  

Kirsty’s Boy held on for third, just holding off a late surge from Petrocelli.

14:59 After all the rain the going is now Good

15:10 Race three is the seven furlong Abbey Park Handicap with 13 lining up, with Anenuesnalleyways and Candyfloss Girl the non-runners.

Suited And Booted was pulling in the parade ring, Maid in Heaven was on her toes as, to a lesser extent, was The Hermitage.

15:26 I suppose it will be stating the obvious to say Mark Johnston’s The Hermitage set the pace in this seven furlong contest.

She was joined in setting the pace by Quaker Parrot, with Transfixed and the favourite Red Gulch tracking.

Favourite backers knew their fate two out when he was off the bridle.

The Hermitage still had the advantage a furlong out but Maid In Heaven and Suited And Booted both launched challenges and it was soon a contest between the pair.

Suited And Booted had first run but Maid in Heaven proved to be more tenacious and came home a neck clear.

Front running The Hermitage was 2¼ lengths back in third with Thrust Control making late progress to come home fourth.   

15:37 Race four is The Swannington Handicap Stakes (Division 1) over just short of 1¼ miles.

Twelve take their chance, with Looks Like Slim being the absentee.

16:02 Two horses were right so and so’s going into the stalls. Namely the odds-on favourite Comedy Act who lived up to her name but half a dozen handlers made sure she went into the stalls.
Shades Of Grey was even more of a cow, rearing and unshipping Adam Kirby at one point, but as with the favourite the stalls handlers won the battle.

As is his style once the gates opened Comedy Act got a flyer and was soon in his usual front running position.   

Once the race settled into a rhythm Buona Sarah and Celtin Ransom were the pursuers with the hard pulling Shades Of Grey running behind the first group.

As they came down the home straight Comedy Act still had a decent lead.

Two out Shades Of Grey ran on for pressure and was soon upsides the favourite and it looked as though a shock could be on the cards.

However, as soon as she pulled level, half a furlong from home it seemed as though Seb Sanders had engaged the turbo-charger on the favourite and he pulled clear again, giving Comedy Act an impressive victory.

Buona Sarah was best of the rest, three lengths behind the front pair.

16:10 Next up we have Division Two of the Swannington Handicap, with eleven taking their chances.

16:30 A very unsatisfactory race as Broughtons Swinger makes all to win Division Two of the Swannington Handicap.

If there is any justice the stewards and BHA will take a long hard look at the run and then compare it to the horses last outing, when it was never put in with a chance of winning. The race stinks and I am not even going to dignify it with a proper report.

For the record Sharakyi was second and Fine Lace third.

16:31 Back to the straight course for race six and the 6f Oadby open Maiden Stakes with ten due to run.

16:35 Seb Sanders has picked up a 1 day whip ban for his ride on Comedy Act.

16:54 Godolphin had three of the ten runners and they managed to fill all three places.

It was Frankie Dettori who made all on the joint favourite Roayh and he never looked to be in any danger, once he had seen off the well backed other joint favourite Beacon Hill, who looked a serious threat until fading approaching the final furlong.

17:07 More on the Broughton’s Swinger victory. The Stewards held an enquiry and were told the horse was better suited by the softer going and longer distance. The stewards have now referred the run to the BHA.

17:11 Our final contest is the SIS Handicap over five furlongs, in which we have no fewer than six non-runners.

Spring Green was getting a little warm as was Grudge.

17:25 A very competitive finale with Foxy Music and Cape Royal setting the pace. The former in the centre of the course and the latter against the stands rail.

In a reversal of the opening race it was Foxy Music in the centre who did best of all taking victory by 1¼ lengths.

Spring Green, who was very green at the start came with a late charge to grab the runners-up spot, relegating Cape Royal to third spot.

Veteran 13-year-old, The Tatling was another making good late progress to come home a very respectable fourth.         

17:32 That’s it from Leicester where it has finally stopped raining.

We have seen a competitive afternoons racing, although Broughton’s Swinger’s victory does put a dampener on proceedings.

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

15:15
5 Avenuesnalleyways (going 08:55)
6 Candyfloss Girl (going - 09:20)

15:45
10 Looks Like Slim (bruised foot - VC 11:37 Mon)

16:15
11 Donair (lame - SC 10:07)

16:45
4 Elusivity (lame - VC 08:41)
9 Ridgeway Hawk (runny nose - SC 10:08)
12 Mollyow (not eaten up - SC 09:02)

17:15
3 Smokey Rider (heat in leg - SC 10:27)
6 Mythical Blue (not eaten up - SC 12:05)
7 Mandurah (pricked foot - SC 12:10)
10 Colorus (going -11:54)
11 Gwilym (going - 15:58)
18 Wreningham (cast in box - SC 09:05)

Results

14:15 Fillies' Stakes 5f 2yds

14:45 Claiming Stakes 7f 9yds

15:15 Handicap 7f 9yds

15:45 Handicap (Div 1) 1m 2f 218 yds

16:15 Handicap (Div 2) 1m 2f 218 yds

16:45 Maiden Stakes 5f 218yds

17:15 Handicap 5f 2yds