07:34 It has been dry overnight and the going remains Good following the application of 7mm of water yesterday.
The going stick readings are Chase 8.4 and Hurdle 8.1
09:15 We now have our first non-runner.
12:13 There are now four non-runners, details on the right.
15:57 Good afternoon from Worcester, where it is muggy with broken cloud.
We still only have the four non-runners and racing gets underway at 17:10.
16:31 It is Caribbean night here at Worcester and there is a steel band playing for the racegoers and they have just played a selection of Abba music – Mama Mia goes Caribbean.
Food wise it is chips and sandwiches in the press room, which I have forsaken as there was a very tasty chilli on sale elsewhere.
It seems to be fashionable amongst the media to sneer at Worcester racecourse – many list is as their least favourite racecourse.
I must admit I quite like the course, OK it is not a Grade One track and the racing is generally low grade but if you take it for what it is, it is an OK racetrack. On thing in its favour is it has the best value catering amongst the racecourses in this country.
16:59 Our opening contest is the two mile Worcester Festival Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, with a dozen going to post.
Ilewin Tom is a big beast of a horse, looks more like a chaser nut is getting a little warm.
Tram Express is a head shaker, Louis Ludwig is pulling slightly and has two handlers.
Pegasus Lad is swishing his tail and Frosty’s Gift is pulling slightly.
The parade ring positive, on looks and demeanour, was Monsieur.
17:13 Drama in the first as it looks like a false start but all the field, bar one, have jumped at least one flight.
17:36 An absolutely farcical start to this race as there appeared to be a false start yet only Wisteria Lane pulled up before the first flight with the remainder jumping at least one and some jumping two flights.
When they returned to the start the second attempt was clean and a sweating Monsieur was to the fore along with Pegasus Lad, London Times and the favourite Papradon.
Monsieur was in such a lather it was no wonder his lead did not last long and by the time they lined up for home the leader was in reverse.
Tim Vaughan’s Louis Ludwig then made eye catching progress from the rear of the field and he jumped the second last in front, pulling clear.
He crossed the line eased, eleven lengths clear of his rivals and is set to make a quick re-appearance at Stratford on Thursday.
London Times, always to the fore held on to take second spot.
Frosty’s Gift made good late headway to come home third.
Robbmaa made some eye-catching progress turning for home and looked to be a serious challenger but failed to deliver, coming home fourth.
The favourite was most disappointing, hitting reverse two out and only finishing sixth.
17:37 However the talking point here is the decision of the stewards not to call an enquiry into the first race.
17:38 Race two is another two mile contest, this time a chase, the 40 Live Football Markets At totesport.com Handicap Chase, with 11 going to post.
With all the excitement of the opening race I have not had a chance to see them in the parade ring.
17:57 A winner for the bookmakers in our second contest as Western Pride springs a shock 66/1 victory as Gerald Tumelty produces his mount with a perfectly timed run to grab victory in the final yards.
Until then Red Birr had looked the likely winner, taking up the running three from home and looked like coming home the unopposed winner after he finally shook off Sam Cruise, who had been vying for the lead throughout.
For most of the contest Sam Cruise was in a battle with Moon Bear for the right to lead.
Turning for home it looked as though only Sam Cruise, Moon Bear, Red Birr or My Condor could win the race as they were well clear of their rivals.
As three of the front four dropped out of contention all eyes were on Red Birr but making stealthy progress was Western Pride and she wore down the leader coming back to very quiet enclosures.
Sam Cruise came home third, ten behind the front duo.
18:01 Just the six go to post for race three the 2m 7f Get Live Football Stats at totepool.com Novices Chase.
Nothing of any note to report from the parade ring.
The stewards are taking a look at the opening race but the result will not be effected.
18:08 It looks as though I need to learn the new rules. Those of us here thought if a horse jumps a flight then the horse should be withdrawn.
However under the rules a horse is withdrawn only if it completes a circuit of the course or falls.
Well, you are never too old to learn.
18:28 Well another result for the bookies here at Worcester as the 9/1 shot Presentandcorrect does the odds-on favourite Baddam as the pair battle to the line.
Six set out with Baddam and City Heights setting the early pace with Minella not far behind.
City Heights and Baddam were still in front as they went out on the final circuit but by this point
Minella had run his race and was already well behind. He did go a few more fences before pulling up.
Next to drop out was one of the leaders, City Heights, quickly dropping through the field to pull up approaching four out.
Turning for home Baddam still had a healthy lead with Presentandcorrect in second and the only likely challenger.
By three out Presentandcorrect had joined the favourite and two out he had the narrowest of leads.
There was little to separate the pair as they jumped the last and it all came down to the run-in.
Presentandcorrect just managed to pull clear as the pair vattled to the line, eventually recording a half-length victory.
Canon’s Power came home third a distance behind the front pair.
18:34 The three mile Bet On Live Tennis at totesport.com Novices’ Hurdle is next up with ten facing the starter.
Mzuri Bay is the paddock negative, pulling hard and shaking his head like a banshee.
Chaser’s War is pulling slightly.
19:02 Only two greys running here this evening and both in this race and they filled the first two places which will delight the two ladies who were looking at the runners in the parade ring.
They were not disputing the lead early doors as this role was shared between Mr Johnson and Montevetro, with Mzuri Bay, Chasers War and Oursininlaw next rank.
Once the race settled the field were generally well bunched with Victor Daly also joining in the fray.
Turning for home there were three vying for the lead with Mzuri Bay, Victor Daley and Oursininlaw leading the pack.
Mzuri Bay was first to drop out leading Victor Daly and Oursininlaw in front with Sir Ronan closing.
Two out Sir Ronan had taken the lead with Oursininlaw in pursuit and Our Guardian Angel making some progress.
Sir Ronan had enough in hand to come home 4½ lengths clear of Oursininlaw with Our Guardian Angel a further 4½ back in third.
19:04 Starter Mervyn Smith is having a nightmare of a night with the last race being his third false start of the evening - he retires soon and on tonights performance that day probably cannot come soon enough.
19:06 Another 2m 7f chase next as seven like up for the Play Blackjack At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle, let’s see if he can get these off without incident.
19:27 At last a result for favourite backers as Mad Jack Duncan takes the prize, having run in snatches before making late progress to take up the running two out.
The early pace was set by Tritonville Lodge and Thenameescapesme, however the latter took a crashing fall at the 11th fence and as I write this ten minutes after the race he is still being treated by vets.
The fall left Autumn Red as the challenger to Tritonville Lodge, until the end of the back straight when the favourite ran on into second spot.
Turning for home it was effectively a two horse race and the first two fences in the home straight were taken with the front two almost abreast.
It was two out that Mad Jack Duncan hit the front and the front runner was unable to respond with the jolly coming home two clear.
It was 11 lengths back to third placed On You Go who ran on past beaten runners.
19:30 Sad to report the vets were unable to save Thenameescapesme.
19:36 Next up is the extended 2m 4f Vicky Owens Birthday Handicap Chase, with nine going to post.
There is a slight delay to the start of this race following the incident in the last contest.
19:38 More on the farcical start in the first race – starter Mervyn Smith called a false start but forgot to raise the recall flag to alert the flagman by the first flight.
20:00 A cracking finish to our penultimate contest as three runners all in with a chance at the last.
It isn’t very often Tony McCoy makes the wrong choice but he did this evening, opting to ride I’m The Decider. Bad move as it was stablemate Good Company under Richie McLemon who took the spoils.
The pace was set by Glengarra and Michigan Assassin with the favourite Captain Marlon settled in third, although his challenge eventually petered out to be pulled up turning for home.
Neutrino, along with O’Toole and I’m the Decider were off the bridle from the start and were soon behind, so it was a good effort from Tom Scudamore to not only get the gelding going but he actually hit the front four out.
Sharing the lead with Michigan Assassin the two battled well until Michigan Assassin blundered two out and his rider, Aodhagan Conlon, did very well to remain on board.
This gave Neutrino a clear lead but he then got up to his old tricks allowing both Michigan Assassin and the running on Good Company to make it a three way go at the last.
On the run-in Neutrino was the first to crack as Good Company ran on to record a 2¼ lengthy victory.
20:03 Our final contest is the two mile Play Roulette At totesport,com Maiden Hurdle with nine going to start.
20:22 Quite a few hard pullers in this contest, not least That Man Fox who set off in front, having said that the favourite Coeur de Lionne was also quite feisty running in third, with Coach and Four separating the two.
By the time they were going down the far side That Man Fox and Coach And Four were well clear with Coeur de Lionne leading the chasing group.
As they turned for home Coach And Four pulled clear of the tiring That Man Fox with Coeur de Lionne attempting to get into the fray.
By two out Coeur de Lionne had paid the price for his early hard pulling and quickly dropped out of contention.
This left the running on Points Of View to become the challenger and his job was made easirt by Coach And Four also tiring.
Points Of View soon had the race sewn up and came home 4 ½ lengths clear.
The winner may have been impressive but even more eye catching was Mutadarrej who was charging up the home straight to come home a clear second.
Global led the pack home to take third spot.
20:25 That’s it from Worcester where a reasonable crowd enjoyed some half decent racing.
The beginning of the first race was a farce and I must confess I am no impressed with the wording of the Stewards enquiry, which makes no mention of the starter failing to use his flag to signal the false start, yet it makes mention of the flagman not waving his flag - the implication being it was the flagmans fault, when it was not his fault at all but the starters incompetence. It looks liks looking after ones own and attempting to use smoke and mirrors to make the fault appear elsewhere.
We are off to Epsom for Derby Day on Thursday – no I haven’t cracked, it is the Ladies Derby at Epsom on Thursday evening – join us then.
From Worcester a very good evening.
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