18:12 That's it from Stratford and afternoon where the finish in the final race made the visit worthwhile.

As an added bonus the sun shone.

From a sunny Stratford - good evening.

18:11 The final race was another 2m 3f novices handicap – indeed division two of the opener.
Dinarius was sent off the even money favourite, despite being mulish at the start.

The final contest also went on to demonstrate why this sport brings so much delight. After the facile victory of Billie Magern in the last you could not have imagined a more contrasting and exciting finish to this one.

Having looked to be a candidate for planting at the start Dinarius actually got a flyer and was soon in front, making jockey William Kennedy earn his riding fee.

Bannville, Poppy parade and Shipslog tracked the leader, although by the time they passed the lollypop to start the final circuit Shipslog had dropped back to last and was pulled up.

Half way down the back straight Dinarius still had the lead although Bannville was upsides, with Rockys Choice in pursuit, leaving it as a three horse race.

Two out Rockys Choice was upsides Dinarius with Banville going backwards and looking beaten.
Coming to the last Rockys Choice was clear, with Dinarius second and Banville third.

Dinarius rallied on the short run-in and looked to have a chance to nail Rockys Choice. Then, goodness knows how, as he was hanging hard, Robert Thornton managed to get Bannville back in contention.

As the line came Rockys Choice and Bannville flashed past together.

A photograph was called – Brian Goodwill the judge deliberated – a dramatic pause. The winner –
Bannville.

Ride of the week – it has to be?

Ride of the month – possibly?

17:39 Our third odds-on favourite of the afternoon, this time in a 2m 6f novices’ hurdle and the most facile win of the afternoon.

Indeed to call it  a race does risk prosecution under the Trades Descriptions Act, it turned out to be a facile victory.

Billie Magern has an impressive pedigree, being a full brother to the great Ollie Magern. In truth he did not need to be much to take this contest.

Fealing Real set off in front and established a decent lead. Tom Molloy settled the favourite with a group of three in second place, along with Corporation and Letitbeasurprise.

Filly So Fickle called it a day as they began the final circuit and Simplyirresistible gave up as they entered the final circuit.

At that point there were three ahead of the field Fealing Real, Corporation and Billie Magern.
Corporation was the first to crack and Billie Magern was within a length of the leader.  He hit the front approaching two out at which point the “contest” became a procession.

Billy Magern made a bit of a mistake two out but still came home 21 lengths clear of Fealing Real in second, with Corporation another 30 lengths further behind in third.         

17:13 From the Stewards Enquiry in the fourth. The Stewards agreed Karky Schultz did interfere with Persian Warrior but that it was accidental.

17:02 Our second and final contest over the larger obstacles, this time a 2½ mile handicap.

Trotsky set off in front but was soon joined by Leopold, who took up the running after the third, having said that he never had a huge lead, and the two were pretty well running together.

As they entered the back straight for the final time Robert Thornton kicked Trotsky on to take the lead and he responded well, certainly running with more interest than when winning at Cartmel two weeks ago. In that race he really had to be encouraged.

Eljay’s Boy, who had been settled almost last in the early exchanges, was also launched with a run down the back straight and was soon second, the front pair well clear of their rivals.

Eljay’s Boy did his chances no favours by hanging in the home straight, having said that he never looked to be a serious threat to Trotsky, who came home 3½ lengths clear.

Red Jester came home third.

The favourite, Ours, never looked happy and was under pressure early on, never a contender and eventually only beating one home.

16:29 Back to the smaller obstacles and an extended 2m handicap.

Enlightenment under Donal Fahy set out to make all and it was a tactic that almost paid off as he held the advantage until the final 50 yards when Dancewiththedevil came with a well timed run to spoilt Enlightenment’s party.   

The winner had been settled mid-division before making progress approaching two out.

There was a nasty incident on the home turn as Karky Schultz drifted of the rail and caught Persian Warrior , causing the latter to fall. Danny Cook, the rider of Persian Warrior, was winded and the horse was OK.

The stewards are currently taking a look at the incident and, not wishing to pre-judge,  Karky Schultz’s rider Felix De Giles could have some explaining to do.

Pepperoni Pete was with the pace for most of the contest but dropped out of contention after three out.

15:56 Our third contest a 2m 7f novices’ handicap chase saw David Pipe’s Choumakeur attempting to win a four timer, eventually sent off the 13/8 favourite, having touched 9/4.

He was carrying a seven pound penalty for his recent successes and Pipe put up 5lb claimer Danny Cook to take some of the penalty off.

Setting up in front he had a five length lead for most of the contest but as they came down the back straight for the final time he gradually came back to his field and was challenged and passed, first of all by Jackie Boy then Orchard House but it was River Ripples who ran on best of all to make it a three way go turning for home.

Jackie Boy had the advantage at the last and looked the winner, but Sam Thomas on River Ripples was nothing if not determined and he drove his mount on to record a head victory.  

15:21 Anyone planning to get rich quick at Stratford this afternoon is having a disappointing afternoon so far as our second odds-on winner of the afternoon obliges.

Bernabeu set off at a fair rate of knots  and soon established something approaching a nine length lead.

Behind it was closer with Jethro Wheeler, Shrewd Dude and Tribani all vying for second spot.

By the time they passed the judge for the first time the field had bunched up. Bernabeu still had the lead, although it was only a length at most, Briannsta was in second, with the odds-on favourite Tribiani in third.

After bunching at that stage they were soon well strung out again by the time they were in the back straight and a number pulled up.

Tribani hit the front approaching two out and despite some minor jumping errors soon established a decent lead.

Dobravany emerged as a challenger although never looked like winning, his only chance was for Tribani to make a serious, rather than minor, jumping mistake. She, again, made a slight mess of the final fence but had enough in hand to record a seven length victory.

A victory which would have been further with more fluent jumping.

14:51 An extended two mile hurdle for race two. Nine remain in this contest, with four non-runners.

Shrewd Dude is getting a bit warm in the parade ring and Bernabeu is a little bit on his toes.

14:42 The betting will tell you a great deal about our opener with six of the thirteen runners priced 100/1 or above in the betting for this 2m 3f maiden hurdle.

At the other end of the betting High Gales was the very well backed favourite, eventually going off at 4/11. Second favourite Gemini Ahhs was weak in the market drifting from 3/1 out to 4/1.

Alfie Noaks who was lively in the parade rung set the pace although it may well have been under sufferance for his pilot Nick Schofield.

Mayfair Tambourine, High Gales, Gemini Ahhs and Mouseen tracked the leader.

By the time they completed their first circuit and the halfway point, the field were well strung out and Lady Penepoly waved the white flag.

Entering the back straight for the final time Mayfair Tambourine had taken up the running but the favourite tracked every move, hitting the front before three out.

Meanwhile Gemini Ahhs was in reverse and going through the field.

High Gale was soon well clear with Mouseen running on for pressure but never challenging. Hammer was running on in third.

Turning from home there was no doubt about the winner, barring a jumping error and favourite backers were given a mild fright as the leader treated the final flight with some disdain. However it did not stop High Gales who came home the easy and eased, nine length winner.

Mouseen came home second and was 25 lengths clear of the remainder, headed by Gemini Ahhs who found a second wind to run on through beaten horses to just deny Hammer third spot.

13:31 Good afternoon from Stratford where it is currently sunny. Believe it or not we have another drastic going change, where it is now Good all round.

I wonder how many of the trainers of the twenty non-runners are now kicking themselves?

11:10 We are up to 19 non-runners now, all ground related.

10:13 ..... and some more, they are coming through thick and fast

10:03 A dozen non-runners so far, all due to the going change. Details on the right.

08:06 After 36mm of rain in the last 24 hours the going has eased to Soft, Good to Soft in Places.

Our selections 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

14:35
8 Art Value (going - 10:03)
15 Hurstpierpoint (going - 11:07)

15:00
1 Tora Petcha (going - 10:27)
2 Tifter (going - 08:28)
6 Eddystone (going - 08:41)
10 Outback Bob (going - 08:51)

15:35
2 Bathwick Lucy (going - 09:45)
5 Rapid Return (going - 08:43)
9 Intense Suspense (going - 08:51)
12 Marado (going - 11:41)

16:10
1 Is It Me (going - 07:39)
5 Treaty Flyer (going - 09:06)
7 Elaala (going - 10:27)
11 Le Corvee (going -14:42)
13 Priest Field (going - 10:07)

16:45
1 Jackella (going - 10:06)

17:20
7 Lapina (going - 08:51)

17:50
3 Minstalad (going - 09:01)
8 Duneen Dream (going - 10:03)
9 Planetarium (going - 09:06)
11 Cailin Na Ri (going - 07:42)

Results

14:25 Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f

1st 5 High Gales 4/11 fav
2nd 6 Mouseen 25/1
3rd 4 Gemini Ahhs 4/1
13 Ran Nr's 8 & 15
Distances 9 & 25
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.30
Places £1.02 £5.10 £1.20
Exacta £11.30
CSF £17.04
Time 4' 29.1"

15:00 Selling Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 12 Tribiani 8/13 fav
2nd 5 Dobravany 13/2
3rd 11 Shrewd Dude 20/1
9 Ran Nr's 1 , 2 , 6 & 10
Distances 7 & 18
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Places £1.02 £1.80 £3.80
Exacta £6.00
CSF £5.36
Time 3' 55.7"

15:35 Novices' Choice 2m 7f

1st 6 River Ripples 16/1
2nd 8 Jackie Boy 7/1
3rd 7 Orchard House 5/1
8 Ran Nr's 2 , 5 , 9 & 12
Distances head & 1 3/4
Fav 1 Choumakeur 13/8 (4th)
Tote
Win £18.00
Places £4.10 £2.40 £1.50
Exacta £92.90
CSF £127.69
Time 5'42.00"

16:10 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 14 Dancewithedevil 14/1
2nd 2 Enlightenment 15/2
3rd 8 Right Stuff 11/4 fav
10 Ran Nr's 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 & 13
Distances 1 1/4 & 3 1/4
Fav third
Tote
Win £19.60
Places £5.10 £2.70 £1.50
Exacta £128.20
CSF £117.17
Time 3' 52.4"

16:45 Handicap Chase 2m 4f

1st 6 Trotsky 15/2
2nd 4 Ejay's Boy 4/1
3rd Red Jester 7/2
8 Ran Nr 1
Distances 3 1/2 & 2 3/4
Fav 3 Ours 5/2 (7th)
Tote
Win £7.20
Places £2.10 £2.20 £1.60
Exacta £58.20
CSF £51.33
Time 4'51.03"

17:20 Novices' Hurdle 2m 6f

1st 1 Billy Magern 4/9 fav
2nd 3 Fealing Real 28/1
7 Ran Nr 7
Distances 21
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.40
Places £1.10 £6.10
Exacta £13.10
CSF £14.90
Time 5' 24.7"

17:50 Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f

1st 1 Bannville 7/1
2nd 5 Rocky's Choice 9/4
3rd 7 Dinarius evens fav
10 Ran Nr's 3 , 8 , 9 & 11
Distances head & 1
Fav third
Tote
Win £8.50
Places £2.00 £1.20 £1.10
Exacta £25.70
CSF £23.40
Time 4' 33.7"