8:25 Well that's it from Huntingdon tonight.For the first time in ages we have had racing without any rain.
8:20 Well shock horror we actually had sixteen runners in the last and another pillar to post victory.
Not McCoy this time but claimer Colin Bolger on Aimigayle for Suzy Smith although he had to fend of the blistering late challenge of the favourite Kahrayn under Christian Williams.
They finished well clear of Classic Quart, ridden by Tom Scudamore for brother Michael.
7:50 A really odd race where it wasn’t really possible to predict the winner until just before the line.
Champion jockey AP McCoy again attempted front running tactics, this time on Ghengis sharing the lead with Sitting Duck.
Coming down the back straight Ghengis stopped as if hit by a bullet and was quickly pulled up.
Sitting Duck proved just to be that as he was eventually passed by all but one.
Two out it looked as though Cheeky Lad – not employing his usual front running tactics – was destined for victory.
However from almost nowhere Toni Alcala under an inspired ride from Gail Gracey-Davison swept past most of the field to grab an impressive victory.
7:25 A very open heat for the 2 mile chase with only a few points separating the top few in the betting.
The betting may have been close but the race was not, in all honesty, any type of contest.
Especially when the favourite Heathcote unseated Jamie Moore at the third.
Two runners, Cape Greko and Muhtenbar, contested the lead for all the race and they eventually took the first two places with the former beating the latter by eight lengths with the remaining finishers a distance behind.
Tancredi took a crashing fall at the last and the screens were up for a while before he got back on his feet and was applauded back to the stables.
6:50 If you backed Choumakeur each way in the third race please feel free to have a hissey fit as you will not get paid – why? A late withdrawal reduced the filed to 15 runners.
Don’t Be Bleu from the Bowen yard was sent off the well backed favourite and after spending the early part of the race tracking the leader Deo Gratias, Tony McCoy went for the lead turning out of the home straight and despite the 1¾ length margin of victory he never looked likely to be beaten.
There was certainly a battle royal for the minor honours with the running on Petrus De Sormain getting the better of Avoine in the battle for second. With Choumakeur finishing fourth these were well ahead of the remainder.
6:20 Well if the betting provided a guide for the first it was little help in finding the winner of the second.
For a sixteen runner novices race there were only two in the betting with Fairyland sent of the even money favourite and Noticeable sent off at 7/4.
Noticeable was with the pace the entire race in which the pace setter was Sheena West’s Golan Way, a 33/1 outsider. I have become use to reporting that early pacesetters end up getting beaten close home – not so in this race – Golan Way never looked to be in any danger romping home by ten lengths.
The top two in the market had a private battle for second, in which the favourite just got the edge. However it has to be said that neither of the top two in the betting looked to have any resolution.5:55 A Hunters Chase to get us underway and a win for favourite backers as the odds on favourite Rydal Park won the race with consummate ease.
Habitual front runner Ballyowen set the pace taking the field along at a good pace.
The favourite was happy to track the field for most of the first circuit, running on to track the leaders as they passed the post for the penultimate time.
Come the end of the back straight Rydal park was given his head and quickly took a commanding lead to win by 24 lengths.
To say there was a race for second place would be an injustice it was more a question of which of the other horses was the least tired as they were all under pressure. In the end Jilted Lover, who had been in the van for most of the race, held on for second.
Disappointment of the race was the second favourite Forget The Ref who was under strong pressure for most of the race and was even reluctant at the finishing, coming home a disappointed fourth.
4:40 Strange weather here at Huntingdon - the sun is out but it is also raining.
3:25 A few non-runners ahead of this evenings meeting - eight so far - details on the right.
We are already down to 16 runners in the final race from an original 18. What price we have another one come out to knock each way backers?