17:28 That’s it from Nottingham where, although overcast, we saw a very good crowd for a midweek afternoon.

17:25 A hands and heels apprentice handicap over a mile and a quarter.

The early pace was set by Keen As Mustard, who lived up to his name, and Pretty Officer, although it was the latter who ran on well to take a good lead four out.

It looked to be a decisive run until, once again, we saw a late finisher – this time in the shape of Murrumbidgee under Barry Adams, who has only one behind as they left the back straight.

It was a perfectly timed run as Murrumbidgee hit the front right on the line.

This was only the jockey’s sixth ride in public and his second winner – with a 33% strike rate perhaps he should retire when on top.

The almost white Tivers Song was also running on well in the closing stages and looked likely to join in the final battle but flattened out in the closing stages to come home a four lengths third.

The favourite, Comrade Cotton, tracked the leaders, attempted to run on three out but was unable to deliver.

16:57 A mile fillies race for our sixth contest and the favourite Charlotte Point set out to make all, almost succeeding but thwarted by a late run by Suba.

The pair crossed the line locked together and it was so tight the judge, Brian Goodwill, was unable to separate them, calling a dead heat.

In contrast to Charlotte Point’s front running performance, Richard Hills on Suba played a more waiting race, settling towards the rear before running on in the closing stages.

Indeed there were several running on in the latter stages, Burza eyecatchingly to grab third spot in a blanket finish.  

16:22 Our feature race, a mile conditions stakes saw the Godolphin first string, Emmrooz, sent off the 6/5 favourite with Frankie on board.

It was Khateeb, however, who set off in front under Richard Hills and wanted to make all.

Behind there was plenty of shuffling, until four out where both Dubai’s Touch and Emmrooz began to run on.

The formers challenge was short lived however and it was Emmrooz who was on the tail of the long time leader.

One and a half furlongs both the front pair were under pressure and it was Frankie’s chance to seal the race. Despite a couple of strong backhanders the favourite would not respond and Khateeb held on to win the contest by 1¼ lengths.

15:54 Our longest race of the afternoon a 1 3/4 mile handicap and we saw two runners dominate the closing stages.

The bulk of the race, run at a decent pace, was headed by Lombok, chased by Clippity Clop, Suitably Accoutred and Mountain Forest, although all four were out of the race as they turned for home.

Saffron's Son tried to make headway three out but that effort soon fizzled out.

Golden Games ran on well to take a good lead with only the favourite, Taste The Wine offering any sort of challenge.

A furlong out only these two could have won the contest and a good battle ensued with Golden Games looking the winner but Taste The Wine was wearing him down, taking the lead in the dying strides, winning by a neck.

Their rivals were far behind with the running-on Saffron's Son 18 lengths behind in third.

15:24 If you subscribe to the form book may I make the following suggestion – when the copy containing our third race (a 5f fillies stakes) arrives tear the race out of the book – the form is pointless.

The race was decided at the stalls.

Moonlight Babe in stall one veered so far left she gave 25 lengths to her rivals, The Midshipmaid came out on her hind legs only and, in complete contrast, Lady Royal Oak got an absolute flyer.
So much of flyer she was 5 lengths ahead of her rivals by half way.

The pace was so fast the others just could not live with it and it was only in the final stages the market leaders, White Daffodil and Velvet Band, managed to make any inroads into the lead.

Clearly Lady Royal Oak was going to tire and she did, she also drifted left in the final half-furlong, this allowed sufficient space for both White Daffodil and Velvet Band to edge ahead.

14:52 A good 5f maiden for race two and the betting had it as a three runner race with Choisharp, Intolerable and Musical Bridge preferred to the remainder.

These three filled the places although perhaps not as the final betting suggested.

Jamie Spencer set off on Musical Bridge to try and make all, by half way he had a good length and a half lead on his rivals.

Approaching the furlong marker he was being challenged by his market rivals in a pincer movement on both sides.

14:23 A somewhat depleted opening 6f handicap with five of the declared runners by-passing the contest.

Of those who remained Rainy Night was sent off a well backed favourite. He was settled behind the leaders and looked to be short of room two out, however when he saw clear air he was unable to run on and eventually came home fourth.

Oriental Rose set the pace and attempted to make all, a tactic that was thwarted by Richard Kingscote on Volito. Also tracking the leaders throughout he was always running well within himself.

When shaken up he soon ran on impressively, coming home four lengths clear of his rivals.

Oriental Rose held on for second and in a tight finish for third Rainy Night just failed to overcome another of the front runners, Pure Rhythm.

13:15 Good afternoon from Nottingham where the weather is overcast and certainly a great deal cooler than the past few days.

According to my car the temperature is a mere 15 degrees, which in normal circumstances would be welcome.

Two more non-runners to add to the list, full details on the right.

11:12 The non-runner count now reaches seven.

09:23 I spoke too soon as we have four more non-runners.

09:10 After a dry night, no surprise there, the going is Good to Firm, Firm in Places (watered). The forecast is for a dry and warm day.

The running rail has been moved out 3m from the mile to mile and a quarter start, adding 18 yards to the distance of races over 1m.

We currently have two non-runners, both in the opener.

Our selections this afternoon are:-

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
4 Viking Awake (temperature - SC 08:42)
8 West Leake (going -09:17)
9 Fyelehk (lame VC - 12:58)
11 Ponting (temperature - VC 10:38)
15 Josia Bartlett (swelling - SC Tues 09:31)

2:40
2 Titus Gent (lame - SC 09:18)

3:10
5 Princess Shamal (Sore Shins - SC 12:11)

3:40
1 Blue Tango (going - 09:08)
4 Am I Blue (going - 08:58)

Results

2:10 Handicap 6f 15yds

1st 10 Volito 10/1
2nd 1 Oriental Rose 28/1
3rd 13 Pure Rhythm 4/1
10 Ran Nr's 4, 8, 9, 11 & 15
Distances 4 & 3/4
Fav 5 Rainy Night 9/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £9.60
Places £2.80 £4.00 £2.20
Exacta £169.90
CSF £237.19
Tricast £1,282.09
Time 1' 13.53"

2:40 Maiden Stakes 5f 13yds

1st 8 Musical Bridge 9/4
2nd 6 Choisharp 7/4 fav
3rd 7 Intolerable 9/4
8 Ran Nr 2
Distances head & 2 1/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £2.70
Places £1.10 £1.10 £1.10
Exacta £7.40
CSF £6.14
Time 59.60"

3:10 2-y-o Filies Stakes 5f 13yds

1st 11 White Daffodil 11/4
2nd 10 Velvet Band 10/11 fav
3rd 2 Lady Royal Oak 6/1
10 Ran Nr 5
Distances head & neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.70
Places £1.10 £1.30 £1.30
Exacta £7.40
CSF £5.31
Time 1' 00.97"

3:40 Handicap 1m 6f 15yds

1st 6 Taste The Wine 2/1 fav
2nd 8 Golden Games 6/1
3rd 9 Saffron's Son 12/1
9 Ran Nr's 1 & 4
Distances neck & 18
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.10
Places £1.10 £2.60 £2.50
Exacta £15.90
CSF £13.88
Tricast £112.30
Time 3' 04.91"

4:10 Conditions Stakes 1m 75yds

1st 5 Khateeb 11/4
2nd 4 Emmrooz 6/5 fav
6 Ran
Distances 1 1/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.30
Places £1.40 £1.40
Exacta £4.40
CSF £6.09
Time 1' 44.75"

4:40 Fillies' Handicap 1m 75yds

=1st 1 Charlotte Point 10/3 fav
=1st 5 Suba 6/1
3rd 10 Burza 15/2
10 Ran
Distances DH & 1 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win 1 - £1.70 5 - £3.80
Places £1.70 £2.20 £2.50
Exacta £12.57 £10.50
CSF £13.49
Tricast £76.94
Time 1' 46.44"

5:10 Handicap 1m 2f 50yds

1st 7 Murrumbidgee 8/1
2nd 8 Pretty Officer 4/1
3rd 11 Tivers Song 25/1
13 Ran
Distances nose & 4
Fav 1 Comrade Cotton 10/3 (7th)
Tote
Win £9.70
Places £3.20 £2.10 £9.80
Exacta £41.90
CSF £36.05
Tricast £776.02
Time 2' 12.78"