17:30 There are some very happy punters somewhere tonight

The Tote Jackpot Pool hit £1.6m and there were 4.5 winning tickets with the dividend paying out a very nice £267,447.80 to a £1 unit.

Sadly I am not one of the winners.

In contrast to yesterday we have had a glorious day weather wise. The ladies have been able to show of their finery and a good time has been had by all, despite winners being hard to come by.

17:15 Some more reaction from our earlier races.

Paul Howling the trainer of Generous Thought was relieved with the win, “At last!” was his immediate reaction.

Looking to the future, “He could go for a mile Listed race at Goodwood, although he does want a bit of juice in the ground.”

Another destined to be upped to Listed company is the third Choose Your Moment. Ben Haslam, son of trainer Patrick, said, ”We’re very happy, he’s a genuine horse. He just found a couple too go od for him today.

“We’ll look for a Listed race for him and we will eventually step him up to a mile and a quarter.”

Ouqba, impressive winner of the EBF Novices Stakes will be aimed at the two-year-old Doncaster Sales Race at York’s Ebor meeting next month.

17:00 At one time the grey, now white, Sir Edwin Landseer was a half decent horse. Now, at the risk of upsetting the Canine Defence League, he can best be described as an old dog.

He is acquiring a reputation for refusing to go into the stalls, today is the second successive time he has been withdrawn for refusing to enter the stalls.

Some may see this as an endearing quirk. Others, myself included, think it is unfair on the other runners who have to wait patiently in the stalls whilst the handlers attempt to load him.

When they did eventually set off on this finale, five furlong sprint, it ended up a dream result for the handicapper as they finished in an absolute heap.

Kay Two, ridden by Jim Crowley, was with the pace for all the race, along with Canadian Danehill, who eventually faded. In a charge to the line of Light Brigade proportions he managed to hold on by 3/4 length. As regards the places they were so bunched, even one of out top commentators Ian Bartlett was unable to spot them all, and it took the judge a good three to four minutes to work out the places. They were eventually awareded to Prior Warning and Ebraam with Zowington taking fourth place.

The disappointing favourite, Northern Dare, was prominent early on but never involved in the finish and the very well backed Luscivious (14/1 into 8/1) was another who flattered to deceive.

In truth this was a typical five furlong handicap with exposed runners where there were no secrets from the handicapper. Run the same race again tomorrow and you will get a completely different result.          
 

16:25 Another race where the betting got it wrong. The initial shows had two joint favourites Choose Your Moment and Generous Thought, both at 3/1. As post time approached the former shortened to 11/4 and the latter drifted to 4/1.

It was Richard Hills on Alfathaa who set the pace and he looked to be booked for a pillar to post victory, until Generous Thought, who had been happy to sit in rear, launched a challenge as they approached the furlong marker.

It turned out to be a decisive run as he wore down the front runner inside the final yards to claim a ¾ length victory, in a perfectly timed ride from the often underrated Robert Winston.

The favourite had been happy to track the leader but was not able to find any extra when it mattered.

15:55 Connections of Papal Bull were disappointed at coming second in the feature race.

Gary Pratchett, spokesman for the owners said, “The race didn’t go to our plan. We are disappointed that he didn’t win the race.

“Frankie (Dettori) got us a little boxed in about, two, two and a half furlongs out and Ryan (Moore) felt if he had got him going 50 yards earlier he would have got there.

“We’re still going for the King George according to Sir Michael.”

15:45 Finally some relief for favourite backers as Ouqba takes the 6f novice stakes in impressive style.

Only five went to post, two of whom were debutants, and the betting was open, with only Kentish Dream failing to attract much support.    

Ironically it was the unsupported Kentish Dream who too the place money.
Versaki, a winner on debut in the soft at Goodwood, but disappointing on faster ground at Royal Ascot, set the good early pace,

The favourite was happy to track the leader with the other three runners line abreast a little further behind.

Two out the favourite, under Richard Hills, was unleashed and soon took a decisive lead. Kentish Dream came from the pack to take the runners up spot, whilst the early leader only managed to finish fourth.

15:15 A very tactical race with last years St Leger winner, Lucarno,  setting a very strong pace and basically running the field ragged.

Such tactics certainly did not help Anna Pavlova, winner of last Saturday’s Lancashire Oaks at Haydock, who settled mid-division but had absolutely nothing to give when asked the question by Jamie Moriaty two out. When the mare failed to respond Moriarty gave up the unequal battle and the mare coasted home last.

The one who did try to challenge the winner was Papal Bull, who replaced Anna Pavlova for favouritism just before the off. Another to be settled mid-division, it would be fair to ask if Ryan Moore left his challenge too late. Although closing he was never going to catch the winner.  

Petara Bay was another eye catcher, settled last for the majority of the race she ran on well in the latter stages to take third.

15:00 Our main race of the day next, with a decimated field as five of the eleven declared runners do not go.

14:45 The bookmakers are still smiling as another double digit winner comes in, giving trainer Andrew Balding a double on the afternoon.

More than once this meeting I have described a race as being odd, this was the oddest yet.

Run over 1¼ miles the 16 runner field were well strung out as they made the only turn of the race, yet three out the whole field were almost line abreast across the track, probably testament to the slow pace of the race. A theory re-enforced by the proximity at that stage of Jedediah who missed the break.

Ramona Chase set what pace there was but by three out was part of the main bunch.

It was the slow starting Jedediah, under seven pound claimer David Probert, who came from the bunch to take up the running with Steele Tango his only challenger.

There was a bunch finish for the minor’s with Indian Days and Love Galore taking third and fourth respectively.

14:20 Speaking after the first race the trainer of Donegal, Andrew Balding has said it is likely the gelding will go jumping, saying “I think he’s going to make a lovely jumper.”

14:15 The official going is now Good To Soft with jockeys reporting the ground to be sticky and dead.

14:05 Yes I definitely still want to be a bookmaker, even more so after the second race.

Although, having said that, I would have had some major palpitations in the dying strides of the race.

After the long distance first we were back to a six furlong sprint for this one and only two horses were in the race according to the betting.

Initially flip-flopping Prolific was sent off the 2/1 favourite, whilst Sayif, who opened as favourite drifted out to 3/1.

Classic Blade, trained by Tom Dascombe and ridden by Richard Kingscote, set the pace, which was a reasonable one. He was closely attended by Viva Ronaldo and Sayif, at least until the former gave way two out.

Prolific under Ryan Moore seemed content to settle in behind the leaders.

Come the business end it looked as though Classic Blade had slipped his field with the only challenger being Sayif, under Alan Munro. Prolific was asked the question by Ryan Moore but seemed to have nothing to offer in the dead ground.

In a dour battle to the line Classic Blade and Sayir were locked together but the long time leader adopted a never say die attitude and he managed to hold on in an exciting finish.

The only other backed horse in the race, Effort, failed to live up to his name and came last.

Classic Blade is trainer Tom Danscombe's first group winner. The next target for the winner will be the Tattersalls Sales race at The Curragh in August.

13:35 I want to be a bookmaker!!

The biggest cheer as the winners crossed the line in the first race came from the bookmakers as the unfancied Donegal, under William Buick swept through to take the spoils from Gravitation with the well backed favourite (and many peoples banker of the afternoon) Bouguereau back in third.

No matter how much spin you put on the race this was a shock result, the only possible indication being the winner was previously one from one on the prevailing going.

Jamie Spencer on Wood Chorus set the pace in the 1 mile 5 furlong event and was still leading as they came into view from the stands on their turn for home.

Behind the front runner positions were constantly changing with the favourite and eventual winner both tracking the front runners.

The favourite hit the front two out but was quickly attended by both Unleashed and Gravitation.

Inside the last furlong it was Unleashed who took up the running but not for long as Donegal, Gravitation and Bouguereau all ran on again in the closing stages.
Donegal was the clear winner but judge Brian Goodwill had to call a photograph for the minor places.

Certainly an exciting climax to our first but not one for the punters.       

12:45 Only 45 minutes to our first race and I can say with absolute confidence the crowds are much bigger than yesterdays.

The East Anglian ladies are here, sporting their finest, and only those with large hats seem to have anything to fear from the weather as the breeze is still quite strong. When you find a spot in the sun it is actually a very pleasant afternoon.

11:25 As the Dinah Washington song says, “What A Difference A Day Makes?”

Yesterday it was wet and miserable, today the sun is shining, although it has a strong wind to keep it company.

Certainly we already seem to have bigger crowds than yesterday, well it is Ladies day and the Premier enclosure was sold out some time ago.

Still more non-runners coming through, we are up to eleven non-runners now, all of them on account of the going.

9:15 The non-runners are coming through thick and fast, I will just keep adding them on the right as I get a chance.

09:10 Good grief I did not realise my prophecy would come true so quickly, another non-runner in the 4:55, so we lose the each way betting on fourth. Also annother, making four, non-runners, in the Princess Of Wales's leaving seven and only each way only on the first two.

09:00 Good morning from Newmarket where it has finally stopped raining.

We already have six non-runners, all down to the going. Details on the right. Also call me cynical but I will go odds-on we will have at least one more non-runner in the 4:55.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

1:30
9 Hobby (going)
10 Si Belle (going)

2:35
7 Fools Wildcat (going)
16 Suzi's Decision (going)
18 Dream Desert (going)

3:10
3 Galactic Star (going)
4 Gulf Express (going)
5 Halicarnassus (going)
6 Happy Boy (going)
11 Shahin (going)

4:55
2 Bertoliver (going)
6 Norhern Empire (going)
9 Elharmi (going)
12 Special Day (going)
15 Fantasy Explorer (going)

Results

1:30 Bahrain Trophy

1st 3 Donegal 16/1
2nd 8 Gravitation 7/1
3rd 2 Bouguereau evens fav
9 Ran NR 9 & 10
Distances neck & neck
Tote
Win £17.30
Place £4.00 £1.70 £1.30
Exacta £119.20

2:00 July Stakes

1st 1 Classic Blade 6/1
2nd 6 Sayif 3/1
7 Ran
Distances short head
Tote
Win £7.50
Place £3.40 £2.40
Exacta £27.50

2:35

1st 6 Jedediah 11/1
2nd 9 Steele Tango 16/1
3rd 17 Indian Days 14/1
4th 13 Love Galore 25/1
16 Ran NR's 7 , 16 & 18
Withdrawn 12 (no rule 4)
Distances 1/2L & 1/2L
Tote
Win £12.40
Place £2.90 £4.00 £3.80 £4.80
Exacta £306.90

3:10 Princess Of Wales's Stakes

1st 1 Lucarno 6/1
2nd 8 Papal Bull 2/1 fav
6 Ran NR's 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 & 11
Distances 1 1/4L
Tote
Win £7.20
Place £3.10 £1.60
Exacta £17.50

3:45

1st 3 Ouqba 7/4 fav
2nd 4 Kentish Dream 10/1
5 Ran
Distances 1 3/4L
Tote
Win £2.80
Place £1.50 £2.60
Exacta £21.70

4:20

1st 4 Generous Thought 4/1
2nd 2 Alfathaa 11/2
7 Ran
Distances 3/4L
Tote
Win £5.20
Place £2.70 £2.70
Exacta £31.70

4:55

1st 14 Kay Two 9/1
2nd 1 Prior warning 25/1
3rd 3 Ebraam 11/1
12 Ran NR's 2 , 6, 9 12 & 15
Withdrawn No 4 (No rule 4)
Distances 3/4L & Head
Tote
Win £11.30
Place £2.90 £7.10 £3.50
Exacta £265.90