17:23 That’s it from the July course, where the sun is bringing out the courses very best.

A reasonable crowd this afternoon, although the equine turnout was disappointing in some of the contests. It must leave course managers wondering what to do when only five runners turn up a listed contest with not unreasonable prize money.

The next meeting here is the July meeting, the highlight of the July course year and we shall be here all three days.

Meanwhile out next live racing coverage will be on Tuesday evening from Thirsk.

17:19 An apprentice handicap over seven for our finale today.

It was a contest that reverted to type as it was a case of all change as the entered the closing stages.

Tri Chara set the pace with King Of The Moors tracking and Rough Rock who, for no obvious reason, was taken to the very far side.   

Two out Tri Chara had the call but the challengers were lining up, including the favourite Violent Velocity, who took up the running inside the final furlong, to the delight of favourite backers.

However his rider Ian Brennan had to work hard to hold off the late challenge of Convince, under James Dene, although to the delight of favourite backers Violent Velocity had sufficient velocity to hold on by three parts of a length.

It was a close call for third but pace tracker, King Of The Moors, held on to deny King’s Icon the final place.     

16:47 Our penultimate race was a mile fillies’ handicap and another race with a disappointing turn out as only five go to post.

Michael Hills  must have paid close attention to his brothers ride in the last as he sent off Charlotte Point in a bold attempt to make all.

Once again the dip say the race develop, except it didn’t really. It looked as though a few challenges were developing but the all came to nothing, apart fro that of Cumana Bay, under Pat Dodds.

Charlotte Point and Cumana Bay had a good battle with the latter finally managing to get the best of a 3lb pull in the weights to come home a 1¼ length winner.

16:15 We are certainly seeing some contrasting races here at Newmarket this afternoon, making the diversion from Chester worthwhile.

On the weather front, after the shower earlier on, the sun is now doing its best to break through – ideal on the July course and appropriate for a race sponsored by Treasure Beach Hotel in Barbados.

Race five was a 1m 2f handicap and, unusually for this course, we saw a winner who made all.

This came in the shape of the Michael Jarvis trained Alazeyab who was quick out of the stall under Richard Hills and soon had a good lead on his rivals.

Sri Kuantan and the favourite Wintercast led the rivals, who were generally well bunched, apart from Dream Of Fortune who was held up coming out of the stalls.

When the races should have changed complexion, coming into the dip, instead of dropping out Alazeyab responded to pressure and held the lead.

Second favourite Mystery Star looked to be a challenger two out but that challenge flattered to deceive.

Proponent ran on well from the bunch, briefly taking the runners-up position until Wintercast responded to take second place on the line.

15:42 Our feature race of the afternoon was the John Bovington Memorial Criterion Stakes, a Group 3 contest over six furlongs.

The race saw one of the biggest betting drifts seen in many a long day with Mike De Kock’s raider Imbongi drifting from 5/2 this morning out to 8/1 at the off.

However it looks as though nobody told the horse he had no chance. Either with the pace or leading throughout he belied the lack of confidence in the market, coming home 1¼ lengths clear of his rivals.    

Interestingly Tote bunters did not seem to have the same concerns as he only returned a shade over 3/1 on the machine.

As one would expect with a race of this grade there were many in with chances and two out the field were virtually line abreast.

Express Wish and Al Quasi were with the pace early on, only to fade in the latter stages.

Huntdown, for Godolphin, was doing his best work in the closing stages to take second place, on the nod, prompting Stan James to cut him from 50’s to 33/1 for the July Cup – not that impressed then?

The horse he denied the runners-up spot was Balthazaar’s Gift.

15:07 Some news from the Stewards Room following the second race.

The Stewards decided Liam Jones did not take sufficient action to prevent Jeanie Johnson drifting to the left and causing interference. They decided it was careless riding and hi picked up a two day ban.

15:04 A very disappointing turnout for our second listed race of the afternoon, the 1m 4f Fred Archer Stakes.

In terms of a contest it also proved to be disappointing as the “contest” ultimately turned into something of a procession.  

It was no surprise that Classic Punch, half brother to Persian Punch, set the pace under Darryl Holland, although it was something of a sedate pace.

Yellowstone, All The Aces, Age Of Reason and Wasan followed, in that order for most of the race.
There was a difference as they turned into the straight after a mile and Classic Punch stuck to the stands rail, whilst the remainder took the centre of the track.

It was two out the pace picked up, but anyone expecting a close race was to be disappointed.
The favourite All The Aces hit the front under Michael Hills, establishing a clear lead in a matter of strides. Wasan ran on in the final furlong but was never going to mount anything approaching a serious challenge. Yellowstown and Classic Punch plugged along, whilst the Godolphin runner, Age Of Reason just did not want to be there.

The final margin of victory for All The Aces was six lengths but he could have won by further if he wanted to.   

14:32 A 6f listed fillies’ contest for race two and it turned out to be a text book display of hold-up running.

Jeanie Johnson set off in front but was fighting Liam Jones, determined to hang left, and he did well to keep her on a relatively straight path for most of the contest.

She was also working herself into a lather, literally, it looked as though she had been in a shower and had not bothered to rinse off the shower gel.

Her hanging left gave the favourite, Mudaaraah, every chance as it left her a clear run down the stands rail. However she was unable to take advantage.

Approaching a furlong out Jeanie Johnson still had the lead but was being challenged by Electric Feel. However, down the centre of the course, Jira – who had been settled last in the early stages, had made relentless progress and, with a perfectly timed run, took the lead in the final strides to record a neck victory.

14:06 It is now raining quite steadily.

14:02 Well the opener turned out to be quite an interesting little contest, although it ended up not having that much strength in depth.

The uneasy favourite, Missionaire, was quickly away with Irish Jogger, Dubawi Phantom and Our Boy Barrington sharing the second rank.

Coming into the dip there was little change in the order and approaching a furlong out Missionaire and Dubawi Phantom had put clear daylight between themselves and the remainder, all of whom seemed to have little to offer.

Half a furlong from home Dubawi Phantom, under Darryl Holland, had pulled alongside the long time leader, under Paul Doe and even had his head in front.

Many runners would have folded in the circumstances but Missionaire responded nicely to Doe’s urgings and ran on again to record a half length victory.

Debutant Simenon ran on best of the rest to take third spot, albeit three lengths behind the principals, with another newcomer Nideeb taking fourth. Both of these should come on for the run.

Our Boy Barrington and Irish Jogger, prominent in the early stages, both folded tamely.

13:45 A seven furlong, two year old, contest to get us under way and six of the eleven seeing the course for the first time.

A couple of jockey changes with Richard Hughes taking the ride on Richard Hannon’s Our Boy Barrington and Pat Dobbs taking the ride on Suited And Booted.

Funnily enough those getting warmest in the parade ring are those with experience, with Irish Jugger and Missionaire both getting warm.

Of those with experience, Blinka Me looked the most at ease with life, whilst Our Boy Barrington also looked good.

Of the newcomers, Nideeb looked to be the nicest.  

13:14 A quick weather update. Still very muggy and it is now starting to spit with rain, fingers crossed it comes to nothing.

12:53 Good afternoon from Newmarket where it is overcast and somewhat muggy.

We have two more non-runners bringing the total up to five.

Looking at the ground it does seem to be a little bit on the tacky side.

10:42 Another non-runner.

09:20 After a dry night the going is Good, Good to Soft in places.

We currently have three non-runners.

Here are this afternoons selections:-

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

2:20
1 Absolute Music (going - 09:01)
10 More Lashes (going - 11:42)
12 Reach For The Sky (respiratory infection - SC 08:29)

4:00
5 Grand Passion (going 10:11)

5:05
5 Bigfanofthat (lame - SC 11:44)
9 Pretty Officer (going 09:11)

Results

1:50 Maiden Stakes 7f

1st 6 Missionaire 5/2 fav
2nd 4 Dubawi Phantom 8/1
3rd 9 Simenon 20/1
11 Ran
Distances 1/2 & 3
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.10
Places £1.30 £2.80 £5.20
Exacta £18.10
CSF £23.32
Time 1' 27.83"

2:20 Fillies Stakes 6f

1st 8 Jira 15/2
2nd 7 Jeanie Johnston 3/1
3rd 4 Electric Feel 14/1
10 Ran Nr's 1, 10 & 12
Distances neck & 1/2
Fav 11 Mudaaraah 2/1 (upl)
Tote
Win £8.90
Places £1.90 £1.80 £4.60
Exacta £38.70
CSF £29.58
Time 1' 12.91"

2:50 Listed Stakes 1m 4f

1st 2 All The Aces 5/4 fav
2nd 4 Wasan 3/1
5 Ran
Distances 6
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.10
Places £1.30 £1.90
Exacta £5.10
CSF £5.28
Time 2' 30.95"

3:25 Stakes 7f

1st 6 Imbongi 8/1
2nd 9 Huntdown 9/1
3rd 3 Balthazaar's Gift 10/1
9 Ran
Distances 1 1/4 & short head
Fav 5 Dream Eater 5/2 (4th)
Tote
Win £4.10
Places £1.80 £2.40 £2.50
Exacta £41.30
CSF £77.72
Time 1' 24.83"

4:00 Handicap 1m 2f

1st 6 Alazeyab 9/1
2nd 4 Wintercast 9/4 fav
7 Ran Nr 5
Distances 1
Fav second
Tote
Win £7.10
Places £3.50 £1.90
Exacta £
CSF £20.33
Tricast £66.83
Time 2' 05.70"

4:35 Fillies' Handicap 1m

1st 3 Cumana Bay 7/4 fav
2nd 2 Charlotte Point 5/2
5 Ran
Distance 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.90
Places £1.60 £1.40
Exacta £4.40
CSF £6.50
Time 1' 39.40"

5:05 Apprentice Handicap 7f

1st 6 Violent Velocity 3/1 fav
2nd 7 Convince 7/1
3rd 2 King Of The Moors 8/1
11 Ran Nr's 5 & 9
Distances 3/4 & 3
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.90
Places £1.70 £1.90 £3.10
Exacta £27.40
CSF £24.40
Tricast £155.34
Time 1' 25.69"