20:37 Thursday

The advance report is:-

Going

Good to Soft, Soft in places (GoingStick: Hurdle 6.9 Chase 7.0 on Thursday at 15:00)

Hurdle rail has been moved out 3m all the way round the course. Chase rails have not been moved.

Dry last 24hr.
Thursday- Sunny spells, dry, frost overnight
Friday- AM sunny spells, overcast later.

Our selections are:-

07:32 Overnight temperatures dropped to -4.5. There will be an inspection at 09:30 to see if racing can go ahead.

Clerk of the course Richard Osgood is optimistic racing will go ahead.

He said, "We're due to go up to 8C and the sun is out already.

"I can't see us having a problem, but I need to have a look - just in case."

09:40 Still awaiting news of the inspection, meanwhile we have our first non-runner, with Super Kenny out of the opener with a vet's certificate.

10:00 Finally some good news. Racing goes ahead. The official going is Good to Soft, Soft in Places

10:24 .... and another non-runner.

12:52 Good afternoon from Newbury where we have a lovely sunny afternoon and you would not believe we had a frost scare this morning.

It has to be said not the biggest of fields for day one of this two day meeting. It has to be said tomorrow’s fields are not exactly massive but what they lack in numbers they make up for in quality.

Not too busy in the press room at the moment. Commentator Mark Johnson is sitting to my left doing his homework and Lydia Hislop and Jonathan Neesom are doing their RUK prep work, whilst the rest of us enjoy the pies.

13:58 Five line up for the opening Arbuthnot Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, an extended 2m contest.

On paper this should be a shoe in for Rougham, although he has to overcome a stinker last time
out.

The grey Pool Of Knowledge is a tiny horse and is dwarfed by his rivals.

14:24 When you have a 1/5 favourite in a five runner contest you would expect them to win by a country mile.

Well Rougham duly won the race, although whether he won in the manner of a really short odds-on jolly is debatable.

His jumping was sketchy rather than impressive, apart from the final flight which he spring-heeled.

He set off in front but was harried for the lead by Lost Arca (for whome the early challenge was too much and he pulled up before the last).

Pool Of Knowledge’s race was short lived as he managed to get rid of Aiden Coleman at the first.

Worth’s A King became the challenger in the home straight and was on the quarters of the favourite most of the may down the straight without really making a serious challenge.

Rougham did pull clear approaching the last and came home five lengths clear.

Lucky Score, making her debut, was never a threat but the experience will do her little harm.      

14:37 Race two is the 2m 5f Totesoprt Supports West Berkshire Mencap National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle.

Nine line up with the late defection Solar Express, who has heat in his leg.

Quizwork has the build of a future chaser, by contrast Chef Junior is on the small side.

Moleskin was a little but edgy when he first came into the ring but after a circuit he had relaxed.  

15:07 A desperately close finish to our second contest but more of that in due course.

The favourite, Moleskin, set out to make all in this contest, although he was never allowed to have it all his own way as both Bai Zhu and The Big Orse made sure he never had a big lead.

The favourite also blotted his copybook at the end of the home straight as he tried to duck out towards the stables. His rider had to give him a few backhanders to ensure he went out on the final circuit.

There was little change up front for most of the contest.

Moleskin still had a narrow lead three out although thereafter he was challenged on both sides by Bai Zhu and The Big Orse.

These two were soon clear of the favourite, who was unable to respond.

The front pair were locked together for the remainder of the contest and they crossed the line locked together.

The photo was extremely close, as close as it can be without it being a dead heat as Bai Zhu was given the verdict.

However one does wonder how closely the stewards looked at the replay. The front pair came very close together inside the final furlong and Felix De Giles, accidentally one assumes, managed to hit Colin Bolgers hand with his whip – forcing Bolger to lose his whip.

Now it is a valid question to ask – did losing the whip cost The Big Orse the race?

15:15 Our first chase of the afternoon is the 2m 1f Securon Handicap Chase in which six line up.

15:17 Chaninbar is a bit reluctant going down to the start.

15:35 Well Chaninbar may have been reluctant going down to the start but where it mattered he performed well, coming home the easy 10 length winner.

It’s Crucial set out to make all with Chaninbar, Mister Quasimodo and the favourite Chance De Roy vying for second spot.

However Mister Quasimodo’s participation as a serious contender was short lived as by the time they were half way down the back straight he was tailed off. Whether it was just one of his non-going days, the stone plus he was giving his rivals or this run coming only six days after his last win we will probably never know.

As they turned for home Chaninbar made progress to come upsides the long time leader and hit the front as they lined up for the judge.

Four out both Chaninbar and Chance De Roy made slight mistakes but it did not stop Chaninbar and by that point the favourite was already beaten.

As they progressed down the home straight they became more and more strung out.
Chaninbar was eased for his ten length win, with the long time leader second and Kew Jumper a further ten back in third.

Chance De Roy was a distant fourth and Mister Quasimode did eventually pass Only Dreams but only because the latter had slowed down to a walk.

15:45 Our feature race is the Arkell’s Brewery Novices’ Handicap Chase over the extended 2¾ miles.

15:48 From our second contest, Joshua Guerriero picked up a ten day ban for dropping his hands on Moleskin and losing third place.

owever no action on the whip incident, I am surprised there was not an objection.

16:13 This is one of those races where it may well be remembered for the horse which came last.
Lupanar, ridden by Phillip Hide, was never going to win this race and was always in last place with some iffy jumping for good measure.

At the 10th he made another seemingly innocuous mistake, stumbling on landing. The jolt sent Hide out of the saddle and he actually came down with both legs on the same side of the horse,- odds-on to hit the deck. However Hide somehow managed to keep one foot in his iron and managed to swing his leg back over and go on to complete the race. It must be a candidate for recovery of the season.

Going back to the remainder of the runners. Buffalo Bob set out to make all and he had a generous lead for most of the contest.

As they came out of the back straight Buffalo Bob still had the advantage, with Sound Stage, still  a few lengths back, the only possible danger.

They remained in that position until they had jumped the last and it was only then Ian Popham asked Sound Stage to go on.

He hit the front just after the elbow and it soon became clear why he did not hit the front earlier as he seemed to be very unhappy once in front.

16:25 Back to the smaller obstacles for race five, the 2m 5f Stan James Supports Berkshire Mencap Handicap Hurdle in which we have ten facing the starter.

One or two negatives in the parade ring.

16:49 Another finish similar to that in the last with the favourite being produced late to hit the front on the run-in.

This time it was Venetia Williams Maraafeq, a winner at Fontwell a mere five days ago. Aiden Coleman settled him behind the leaders before moving into a challenging position in the home straight.

The race actually developed into a cracker with three in with a chance approaching the last.

Quinte du Chatelet had set out to make all and was still in front, just, two out. Miss Sarenne had made eye catching progress from the rear to be a serious challenger although she lost some momentum when hitting three out, however she had recovered sufficiently to be challenging as they cleared two out.

Coming to the last Miss Sarenne and Maraafeq were upsides, just in front of the long time leader.

16:57 Our final contest is the Rickety Bridge Hunters’ Chase over the extended 2m 6f.

Ten face the starter.

Alphabetical was getting warm in the parade ring. Both Paolo Soprani and Molostiep had two handlers.

17:00 In the final contest Saintsaire carries 1lb overweight.

17:26 Some stick their noses up at Hunters’ Chases but this final race was an absolute delight, with plenty of drama and the winner in doubt until the very final stages.

The drama first, Which pocket deposited his rider on the ground at the third after contesting the lead early on.

The next drama was at the water jump in front of the stands when Good Company ran out, almost flattening  a couple of photographers in the process.

The final drama came in the closing stages.

Gentle George, he is an absolute giant of a horse and a winner of a Hunters Chase at Huntingdon last week had been to the fore throughout but looked beaten two out as the cavalry charged.

Alphabetical, coming back from a 469 day lay off, had hit the front four out.

In addition to the challenge from Alphabetical, Ruari, Molostiep and, most impressively Alroyal had all come with late challenges and had seemingly swamped Gentle George.

Alphabetical and Ruari quickly dropped out between the final two fences.

Molostiep and Alroyal were then seemingly destined to battle it out for the spoils with Gentle George looking booked for third.

Approaching the elbow it was impossible to separate Molostiep and Alroyal but on the far side Gentle George was determined to have another go under Oliver Greenall and he found a gap, swept into the lead and came home 1¾ lengths clear in a fantastic rally.

Molostiep held on for second with 50/1 Alroyal taking third spot on merit.

17:29 That’s it from Newbury, the fields may have been small but we were still treated to some exciting finishes.

We race here again tomorrow where we have a great deal more quality on display.

As I write this the frost covers are being laid in anticipation of another chilly night.

We will be back here again tomorrow, until then a very 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

2:10
4 Super Kenny (lame - VC (09:35)

14:45
8 Solar Express (heat in leg - SC 14:14)

15:55
4 King Jack (infected foot - VC 10:21)

Results

14:10 Novices' Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st  1 Rougham 1/5 fav
2nd 6 Woth A King's 13/2
5 Ran Nr 4
Distance 5
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.20
Places £1.10 £1.70
Exacta £1.70
CSF £1.96
Time 4' 02.4"

14:45 Novices' Hurdle 2m 5f

1st 2 Bai Zhu 10/1
2nd 9 the Big Orse 9/2
3rd 7 Quizwork 8/1
9 Ran Nr 8
Distances nose & 12
Fav 1 Moleskin 2/1 (4th)
Tote
Win £12.80
Places £3.40 £2.00 £2.40
Exacta £80.60
CSF £55,23
Time 5' 11.1"

15:20 Handicap Chase 2m 1f

1st 2 Chaninbar 6/1
2nd 5 It's Crucial 4/1
6 Ran
Distances 10
Fav 4 Chance Du Roi 9/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £6.10
Places £1.60 £2.50
Exacta £29.20
CSF £28.99
Time 4' 02.7"

15:55 Handicap Chase 2m 6f 110yds

1st 3 Sound Stage 5/4 fav
2nd 2 Buffalo Bill 7/2
4 Ran Nr 4
Distance 3¼
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.20
Exacta £4.10
CSF £5.85
Time 5' 43.9"

16:30 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

1st 3 Maraafeq 6/4 fav
2nd 1 Miss Sarenne 15/2
3rd 2 Quinte du Chatelet 7/1
10 Ran
Distances 2¼ & neck
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.50
Places £1.50 £2.90 £2.30
Exacta £13.90
CSF £13.97
Tricast £62.77
Time 5' 10.7"

17:05 Hunters' Chase 2m 6f 110yds

1st 7 Gentle George 9/4 jf
2nd 8 Molostiep 10/1
3rd 6 Alroyal 50/1
10 Ran
Distances 1¾ & 2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.50
Places £1.50 £2.40 £7.00
Exacta £26.10
CSF £23.77
Time 5' 44.8"