17:26 That’s it from a pleasant 125th anniversary afternoon , it is a pity there were not more here to enjoy the day.

Tomorrow we shall be at Leicester, until then good evening.

17:02 A 2m 5f hurdle to end proceedings here at Plumpton.

It went to the favourite Gallileo Figaro who was carrying a 7lb penalty for last weeks Huntingdon victory. An eleven length winner over Ashleys Petale who headed Noun De La Thinte in the closing stages..

For a 2m 5f contest the field were well bunched for most of the contest, with Gallileo Figaro, Jades Double, Pomander, Letham Island and Noun De La Thinte all vying for the lead at various points.

However as they traversed the far side the whole complexion changed and a large number of runners quickly faded to the extent the field went from well bunched to well strung out in less than a furlong.

As they left the far side there were only four with any chance with the favourite leading, followed by Jades Double, Noun De La Thinte and with Ashleys Petale running on.

In the home straight Jades Double soon dropped out and the leader made a slight mistake at the second last – but not enough to impede her progress.

16:39 Our longest race of the day, a 3m 3f chase with our smallest field, only six.

Having said that it was an odd race.

Amoreigh, after trading places with Georges Boy in the very early stages, made all to take the race.

However behind it  as a roundabout with all the runners trading positions as the race progressed.

Portrait Royale did look to be a danger until falling five out and, indeed, the winner himself was very lucky after making a major blunder at the ditch first time round.

16:08 Tony McCoy may be the greatest jump jockey we have ever seen, however it is reassuring for us lesser mortals that he is also human and can get things wrong.

He came all the way to Plumpton for the ride on Aureate in the 2m handicap hurdle.

As they entered the back straight for the final time he looked nicely poised, picking off his rivals and closing on the leader Sumdancer. Then it was all over – by the end of the back straight he was in reverse and being passed by those he has himself passed moments earlier.

Coming out of the back straight Sumdancer had the lead, a position he had held since the end of the first circuit when he took over from the free running Wondersobright.

Sumdance only had one danger and that came in the shape of Bugsy’s Boy, who had been settled towards the rear before making progress.

It seemed Sumdance was going to hold on but  Bugsy’s Boy was nothing if not a fighter and he managed to get his head in front in the final yards.    

The well backed second favourite, Bazart was six lengths back in third. Twice hampered as they turned for home even with a clear run it is questionable whether he would have troubled the first two.

15:36 After the relatively close finishes in our first two contests our third contest, a 2m 4f handicap chase, turned into something of a procession as the field were well strung out come the end.

Victory went to the well backed favourite Valentia Island. Settled mid-division Jamie Moore rode a patient race coming with an effort turning for home.

However as they turned for home a slight question mark arose for favourite backers as the front running Take It There was running a dogged race up front.

Indeed it was only between the last two fences that the favourite managed to get in front but once in front the race was over, with Valentia Island recording a seven length victory.

The front running Take It There came home second seventeen lengths ahead of Stop The Show.

Wheres Johnny did not seem to take to first time blinkers.
 

15:05 Something of an upset in our second contest, a 2m maiden hurdle.

Novikov was sent off the very well backed 4/7 favourite, unfortunately nobody told the horse and he never looked like winning. OK he didn’t run that badly but he never looked to be a winner either.

Settled mid-division Jamie Moore bought Novikov with a challenge coming for home and he did get on the quarters of the then leader Intac but seemed unwilling or unable to go in front. By the time they turned into the home straight Moore was working overtime but the writing was on the wall and there was soon daylight between Intac and Novikov.

In total contrast to the winner Where’s Susie was running on really well and she gave the leader most to do.   

Intac jumped the last in front but Where’s Susie was grinding down the lead and the line came just in time for Intac, who recorded a head victory.

The favourite came home seven lengths behind in third.

14:36 An eight runner handicap chase over 2m 1f to get us underway.

Sula’s Legend and Mad Professor were the pacesetters soon having six lengths on the field.

Master D’Or and the favourite Laharna tracked the leaders.

Master Do’Or’s challenge did not last too long though as he fell at the second, hampering Laharna in the process.

After the fall they tended to settle down, with the front pair still taking them along. Funny Fellow was in third, followed by the favourite, Rudivale, Space Cowboy and Carly Bay.

By the time they were down the back straight Rudivale had waved the white flag.

Mad Professor and Sula’s Legend were still in front approaching four out, although not as far ahead. Sula’s Legend did his utmost to demolish the fence  and Mad Professor wasn’t much better.

Turning for home the front pair had been joined by the favourite but the Mad Professor’s run was about to end as he fell two out.

Sula’s Legend was not going to go down without a fight but the favourite took up the running approaching the last.

Yet again Sula’s Legend was still prepared to fight and Laharna only came home ½ a length in front.

Funny Fellow was third.

13:47 A couple of runners to look out for today. Novikov in our second contest is subject of a few whispers, whilst in the 3:50 Aureate had been backed off the boards this morning. Interestingly the latter is AP McCoys only ride of the day.

Today's selections:-

2:20 7 Laharna
2:50 3 Novikov
3:20 7 Valentia Island
3:50 7 Bazart
4:20 4 Beauchamp Prince
4:50 2 Gallileo Figaro (plus 10 Friends Of Tina for the forecast)

13:13 Here at Plumpton they are celebrating their 125th anniversary.

Unfortunately you will be reading these updates after racing as there is no wi-fi in the press room and I cannot get a signal on my mobile broadband.

09:22 A slightly less frenetic Plumpton today after the excitement of the last meeting where AP McCoy reached his 3,000 winner mark.

Also much better ground as well, where the official going is:-

Hurdle Course: Soft
Chase Course: Good to Soft

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

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Results

2:20

1st 7 Laharna 15/8 fav
2nd 6 Sula's Legend 10/1
3rd 8 Funny Fellow 12/1
8 Ran
Distances ½  & 3¼
Fav winner
Tote
Win £
Place £ £ £
Exacta £
CSF £
Tricast £
Time 4' 22.5"

2:50

1st 2 Intac 16/1
2nd 10 Where's Susie 9/1
3rd 3 Novikov 4/7 fav
10 Ran
Distances head & 7
Fav third
Tote
Win £
Place £ £ £
Exacta £
CSF £
Time 4' 15.4"

3:20

1st 7 Valentia Island 7/2 fav
2nd 4 Take It There 5/1
3rd 1 Stop The Show 5/1
10 Ran
Distances 7 & 17
Fav winner
Tote
Win £
Place £ £ £
Exacta £
CSF £
Time 5' 08.7"

3:50

1st 3 Bugsy's Boy 16/1
2nd 9 Sumdancer 16/1
3rd 7 Bazart 7/2
11 Ran
Distances Head & 6
Fav 1 Aureate (10th)
Tote
Win £
Place £ £ £
Exacta £
CSF £
Tricast £
Time 4' 10.3"

4:20

1st 5 Amoreigh 4/1
2nd 1 Teamgeist 7/2jf
6 Ran
Distances 2
Fav winner & No 3 (3rd)
Tote
Win £
Places £ £
Exacta £
CSF £
Time 7' 01.38"

4:50

1st 2 Gallileo Figaro 7/4 fav
2nd 3 Ashleys Petale 7/1
3rd 9 Noun De La Thinte 9/1
11 Ran
Distances 11 & 3/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £
Place £ £ £
Exacta £
CSF £
Time 5' 35.47"