07:59 It has been a dry night and a dry,sunny, day is forecast.

The official going is Good to Firm.

There is currently one non-runner.

12:31 Good afternoon from a hot sunny Catterick, where we have clear blue skies.

The going stick at 08:30 was 8.7.

We currently have two non-runners.

14:21 Race one is the EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes a five furlong contest with eight lining up.

For a parade ring full of fillies they are well behaved.

Empress Royal, a very tall filly, is slightly on her toes.

Royal Hush, two handlers, is going to post early. Orchard Street is biting her bit.

14:25 Lady Kildare is keen to to post.

14:42 Tancred Spirit and Orchid Street set the early pace in this sprint, with Holy Arrangements tracking the first two.

Two out Orchid Street was asked for an effort by Barry McHugh and soon pulled clear of her rivals.

Tancred Spirit was unable to respond and her run petered out.

Lady Kildare was putting in her best work in the closing stages, running on well but only able to get to within three lengths of the winner. She looks as though she will take a modest race at some point in future.

It was very close for third spot with Brian Goodwill having to refer to the camera before giving the verdict to Normandy Maid, with Empress Royal in fourth.

Royal Hush was suppose to have run at the Royal meeting but had to be pulled out after coming into season, she was expected to do well here but did not seem at home on the ground, coming home a disappointing fifth.

14:49 Royal Hush has returned with a cut leg, which may explain her poor performance in the opener.

14:52 Race two is the Yorkshire4x4.com Adventure Activities Median Auction Maiden Stakes over 6f with nine lining up.

15:24 Another six furlong contest for race three, the We Race Again Next Wednesday Handicap, with eight lining up.

Ryedane and Arjemis are both big horses and both are slightly on their toes.

Babyshambles is biting his bit and Galpin Junior is swishing his tail.

The Hermitage is the paddock pick.

15:43 Certainly no need for any photographs in this contest at the field came home at decent intervals.

Sir Nod set off in front with The Hermitage and Ryedane tracking. Babyshambles and Galpin Junior were next rank.

Turning for home Sir Nod still had the advantage but The Hermitage was looking to be under pressure and it is to rider Joe Fanning’s credit that he managed to keep the joint favourite in a challenging position.

The other joint favourite Gap Princess was trying to make progress but in a seemingly impossible position behind runners against the far rail.

Paul Hanagan, who has been riding really well the past few days, then inexplicably drifted off the far rail and Silvestre De Sousa on Gap Princess needed no second asking and he powered through the gap to grab the race, coming home 2½ lengths clear.

Sir Nod held on for second with the battling The Hermitage a further half length back in third.

Galpin Junior came home virtually pulled up.

15:53 Race four is the 1½ mile Book Raceday Hospitality On 01748 810165 Handicap with nine going to post.

Classic Contours is getting warm, Film Festival is pulling as is Castlebury.

16:12 A battling finish as joint favourite Drop The Hammer set out to make all and almost succeeded.

Film Festival and Noche de Reyes tracked the leader, with Classic Contours , Castlebury, Kendalewood and Trumpstoo forming the next rank.

There wasn’t any significant change in the order until they lined up for home.

Drop The Hammer, who had been well backed this morning, still looked to be comfortable in front.

Avitus made good progress to be a challenger.

Inside the final furlong Drop The Hammer and Film Festival had pulled clear but Film Festival had more in hand and pulled clear to record a ¾ length victory.

Avitus was a clear third, with Maneki Neko making late progress to finish fourth.

The other joint favourite, Noche de Reyes, paid the price for his early dominance and beat only the tailed off Kendalewood home.

16:24 A couple of seven furlong  races to end the afternoons action, the first being the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap, with eight going to post.

A well behaved group in the parade ring with Frognal pulling slightly.

16:27 Will Hayler is sitting next to me busily researching – I won’t steal his thunder but it looks as though it could be a cracking article – look out for it in The Guardian.

16:45 What a difference a day makes?

Last night Nufoudh reared when coming out of the stalls, ran an indifferent race and did well to finish fifth under pressure.

Today he pinged the stalls and made all, although he had to battle hard to win a closing finish, eventually by three parts of a length.

The favourite Glenridding was settled in second spot and two out looked to be poised to mount a challenge.

There was indeed a challenge in the closing stages but not by the favourite, who ended up coming home last. However a veritable wall of horses launched a late charge – something like the Charge Of The Light Brigade on a smaller scale and it was impossible to determine the places using the naked eye.

Once again Brian Goodwill had to consult the camera and second spot was awarded to Mandalay King, who had been settled in last place for the early part of the contest. Malcheek, who had made a move three out, and looked a serious contender one out, took third spot, with Frognal fourth.   

16:55 And finally the Zetland Median Auction Maiden Stakes with just six going to post.

Hairy Maclary is on her toes and her owner just said to me “we ideally need four non-runners to stand a chance.”

17:13 A Noah’s Ark type race in which they ran two by two for most of the contest.

Joint favourites Quite Sparky and Offspring led, with Hairy Maclary and Barren Rock second racnk and Octaviana and Spread Boy third rank.

It looked to be between the top two in the betting as they turned for home with the only likely challenge looking to come from Barren Brook who was eased into a challenging position by James Sullivan two out.

Even a furlong out it was a question of which of the favourites would win the battle, although that debate soon became academic as Sullivan engaged the turbocharger on Barren Brook and he pulled clear leaving a trail of beaten runners in his wake, coming home an impressive three length victor.

The two favourites continued battling to the line with Quite Sparky getting bragging rights by a head.

The owner of Hairy Maclary was spot on when he said he needed four non-runners, as his horse did finish fifth beating only the almost pulled-up Octaviana.  

17:15 Well that’s it from a very hot Catterick Bridge, average fare but some very exciting finishes for the decent Wednesday afternoon crowd.

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

Non-runners

14:30
3 Immacolata (lame - VC 11:51)
6 Misscomplacent (bad scope - VC 12:12 Tue)

16:00
9 Treason Trail (going -n14:39)

Results

14:30 Fillies Stakes 5f

15:00 Maiden Stakes 5f 212yds

15:30 Handicap 5f 212yds

16:00 Handicap 1m 3f 214yds

16:30 Handicap 7f

17:00 Maiden Stakes 7f