16:50 That’s it from Newbury where we have had a pleasant afternoons racing, with a reasonable size crowd. Tomorrow it will be rocking, literally, as Boyzone perform after racing.
However forget the concert, there is some excellent racing on offer as well.
From a still sunny Newbury good afternoon
16:45 Races at Newbury do tend to be over some unusual distances and the finale was a 1 mile 1 furlong apprentice handicap – giving the pros time to set off for racing at an evening meeting somewhere – presumably Kempton or Newmarket.
Celticello was sent off the 6/4 favourite, certainly the best runner on paper but something of a sod on course having to be led down sans jockey then needing a firm shove to be loaded into the stalls.
Settled nearer last than first the favourite ran on under Richard Evans to finish a never nearer third.
Up front Danish Monarch and Red Currant set the pace and they were pretty much locked together until Danish Monarch faded approaching three out leaving Red Currant in what seemed to be a comfortable lead.
Merrymadcap under Jack Dean was tracking the leaders turning for home. Two out Dean launched a challenge to Red Currant, drawing alongside and getting his head in front in the final half furlong.
The duo, separated by a neck at the line, finished 3½ lengths clear of the favourite with the remainder of the field not that far behind.
16:10 Earlier on this afternoon I overheard a couple of annual members bemoaning the standard of racing on this afternoons card.
Well I would respond you don’t need quality to have a good race as our sixth race clearly showed.
A lowly class five 1 mile 3 furlong handicap the field were well bunched three out and three runners battled out a really good finish.
Red Merlin was sent off the 7/2 favourite and was one of the best backed horses of the day having opened at 6/1. Adam Kirby tracked the front running Megalala from flag fall and when the favourite hit the front one and a half furlongs out it looked like gamble landed. However Marc Halford on the 16/1 Megalala was having none of it and he got more out of his charge to regain the lead in the final half furlong.
To add further ignominy to the favourites challenge She’s So Pretty put a rattling run from the back to take second place on the line.
15:35 There may only have been seven runners in the seven furlong fillies stakes, including three debutants, however it turned out to be a very competitive heat.
John Gosden’s newcomer Party Frock was sent off the 6/4 favourite.
Three runners set the pace Straight Sets under Sam Hitchott, Turfwolke under Richard Quinn and Perfect Silence under Adam Kirby set the pace and a good pace it was too. The other four followed line abreast.
By half way any one of the runners was in with a chance.
It was two out that the action started with Perfect Silence taking the lead in what looked like a decisive run. Party Frock was running on down the centre of the course and Straight Sets was the first to look beaten.
However following a couple of slaps from Adam Kirby the Clive Cox filly rallied and came between runners to take the race by a length from the favourite.
Two of the three debutants Party Frock and Turfwolke have promise, although the latter will probably prefer shorter.
Blush Tone finished a virtually pulled up last.
16:00 A tasty little six furlong handicap for our fourth race and the betting was interesting with the original favourite Muftarres drifting badly and yesterdays Sandown winner Tadalavil was well backed into favouritism despite being saddled with a 6lb penalty.
In the end the 6lb penalty beat the favourite, who was under strong pressure two out.
Errigal Lad and Lodi set the pace on the stands side with Polar Annie in the centre of the course.
Two out Polar Annie was in a clear lead, despite drifting to her left, and never looked to be in any danger.
The challenges came from the pack as both Cape Rock and Muftarres ran on to battle out the minor places.
14:25 Our big race of the afternoon and it threw up a couple of shocks.
First of all my father-in-laws theory is flawed as Seb Sanders on the odds-on favourite only managed to finish fourth.
Secondly my paddock pick Lucky Leigh finished stone last.
Thirdly the starting prices of the first three home were 20/1 , 20/1 & 14/1.
Madame Trop Vite was the one to come out on top as Neil Callan jumped off in front and was still there five furlongs later as they crossed the line, winning by 2¾ lengths from Harry Findlay’s Kerry’s Requiem and Riotista taking third.
At the halfway stage both Shyrl and Lucky Leigh were close enough if good enough although it is more than possible that both were beaten by the going.
The eye catcher for me was the runner up who, despite having plenty of experience, ran quite green in the early stages before running on in good style in the latter stages.
14:00 One of my Father-In-Laws betting rules, which often change, is see which jockey wins the first then back him the rest of the afternoon.
It may only be race two but his theory has worked so far this afternoon as Seb Sanders rides a double on Tropical Straight.
Manyriverstocross was sent off the 13/8 favourite and he bid to make all under 5lb claimer David Probet, a tactic that worked until three out, when Sanders put Tropical Straight into the lead, having tracked the leaders in the early stages.
Lovers of greys would be happy with the battle for second place as come from behind Woolfall Treasure battled it out with the prominent Jagger. In the end Jagger got no satisfaction as he finished third.
The favourite came in fourth.
13:30 A trappy six furlong two-year-old sprint to get us under way with five of the nine runners making their racecourse debut.
In these sort of events it often pays to follow the market and so it proved today as Brian Meehan’s Nasri came home with a comfortable pillar to post victory under Seb Sanders.
The market said it was a two horse race with the second favourite Count Paris shortening just before the off, which was a surprise as the colt was whinnying in the pre-parade ring and then played up in the stalls.
The only real challenge to the favourite came from Definightly who came from the pack to finish within ½ length of the winner, the pair finishing five clear of the remainder.
Third place went to Harry Findlays well backed Pearl Of Manacor (14/1 into 11/2) who never looked to be a danger.
Absent Pleasure ran on briefly three out but flattered to deceive.
To be honest there is little to take out of this race.
12:45 Good afternoon from Berkshire where we have some nice sunny weather bur a modest crowd - if crowd is the word.
The going is Good to Soft (Soft in places) and we have seven races.
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