07:48 There have been 8mm of rain overnight and the going is as follows:-

Round course - Good, Good to Firm in places
Straight course - Good to Firm, Good in places

The forecast is for a dry day with sunny intervals.

There is currently just the one non-runner, as in your daily papers and the action gets underway at 14:15.

Our suggestions are:-

12:43 Good afternoon from Folkestone where it is bright with some broken cloud.

A much more comfortable day temperature wise after the sweltering heat at Epsom.

We have three non-runners, all in the two mile handicap.

14:07 We have some terrible race names this afternoon and we begin with Ashford Designer Outlet Open Till 8pm Weeknights Handicap a six furlong contest with six going to post.

Yurituni and Diamond Johnny G are both swishing their tails in the parade ring.

Duster is slightly on his toes.

14:27 A race in which Duster cleaned up having bolted out of the stalls, tracking to the stands rail and leading throughout, never looking to be in any real danger.

The only possible challenge came from Planet Red, second for most of the contest but he was only able to come within 2½ lengths of the winner.

The favourite Sard looked poised to challenge two out but her run came to nothing and she was only unable to come home thitd, five lengths behind the runner-up.

Trailblazing, under Frankie Dettori, never settled and trailed home last.   

14:37 Race two is the Free 2 Hour Personal Shopping Experience Claiming Stakes another six furlong contest.  

Do people really spend two hours shopping?

Eight go to post, although Jimmy Ryan is setting off very early as he is being led to the start.

Sapphire Spirit is also going to post early and is a little bit on his toes.

14:38 In fact Sapphire Spirit will not be going to the start early, he has been taken out of the race for being unruly in the parade ring.

14:57 Another disappointing favourite, this time Matsunosuke, slowly away, in rear and left with a lot to do and to cap it all, failing to respond when asked for an effort.

No all the way winner this time.

Lindoro set the very early pace, before Silver Wind then went to the front.

When Matsunosuke made his effort, so did Piazza San Pietro, to much better effect, hitting the front inside the final furlong.

Silver Wind tried to make a fight of it but was unable to close and Piazza San Pietro came home ¾ length clear.

The favourite was a further 1¼ length back in third.

15:02 Race three is the Ashford Designer Outlet Junction 10 M20 Handicap, over the minimum 5f trip.

Ten line up, with Bollywood Style on her toes.

15:26 Thoughtsofstardom, Frankie’s mount was well backed from 6/1 into 3/1 favouritism.

Pressed For Time set the early paceand had a decent lead. Thoughtsofstardom was settled behind.

Half-way Pressed For Time still had a good lead, although not as big as it was as Thoughtsofstardom was closing the gap with deposed favourite Captain Kallis in third. Bookiesindex Boy was making good progress at this stage.

Approaching a furlong out Frankie swept Thoughtsofstardom into the lead and it was race over.

The Name Is Frank came with a late rattle and came within three parts of a length, with Captain Kallis the same distance back in third.

15:31 Half-way now and from the shortest race on the card to the longest, the extended two mile ashforddesigneroutlet.com Handicap.

15:35 A parade ring full of seasoned handicappers here. Nothing stands out strongly, nor are there any negatives.

16:00 Well the two mile contest was more of a procession than a race.

Brad’s Luck had the best start and led for the first furlong with On Terms and Brave Bugsy the followers.

After the furlong On Terms hit the front, soon to be joined by Brave Bugsy and the pair were soon clear.

Brad’s Luck led the supporting group, with Ambrose Princess and Group Leader in the next rank.

The front pair were clear until the field began to close up as they began the long turn for home.

On Terms pulled away, whilst Brave Bugsy went into reverse.

Straightening up for home On Terms actually began to run on again, leaving Brad’s Luck in her wake and the race was effectively over.

Ignoring On Terms, Ambrose Princess was running on best of all and she was soon in second spot but never in any position to trouble the leader.

Come the line On Terms was seven lengths clear of Ambrose Princess, with Sir Freddie running on to be 3¼ lengths back in third.

16:09 Race five is the 1½ mile Joy Is Discovering Your Favourite Brands Handicap (lucky Joy) in which 11 go to the stalls.

16:28 A very scrappy contest with the pacesetters Drum Major and Channel Crossing setting off at almost breakneck pace, so much so they were well clear after a couple of furlongs.

The second pair of Silken Promise and Bedarra Boy were, in turn, well clear of their rivals.

It was no surprise, therefore, the race was set up for the late finishers, although as they turned for home Drum Major was still to the fore, with Silken Promise on his quarters.

However it was Dark Energy who was first to run for home, hitting the front approaching the furlong marker, however his bid for glory was short lived as first Dazzling Begum and then Bedarra Boy passed him.

Dazzling Begum  ran on beast of all to claim a two length victory with, Bedarra Boy beating Dark Energy by a neck.

16:31 This afternoon seems to have flown by and we are already approaching our final race and a change of sponsor.

16:43 Mujdy, slightly on his toes in the parade ring is reluctant to post.

17:09 Those who remained for the final contest were rewarded with the best finish of the day, also the worse start as well.

Let’s deal with the start first and Masteeat, who needed a large number of stalls handlers to get her in the stalls, decided to rear just as the gates opened, completely missing the break and giving her rivals a huge start.

Having said that Mujdy wasn’t exactly quickly away either.

Sirdave, by contrast, came out of the stalls really well and set the pace, with Mecox Bay in close attendance. Gerabox and Blitzed settled in second rank with Cockney and Affirmable the next duo.

Turning for home the front pair still had the advantage but their fortunes were about to contrast.

Sirdave dropped out tamely leaving Mecox Bay in front but not for long as the Mark Johnston newcomer, and favourite, Cockney was soon upsides, although running green.

The pair were locked together in the closing stages and it was almost impossible to split them as they crossed the line.

Eventually judge Felix Wheeler gave the verdict to Mecox Bay by 0.01 of a second.

Having said that, had the result had been the other way round there is every chance the result would have been reversed as Cockney did lean into Mecox Bay.

Blitzed looked to be a serious challenger turning for home but failed to deliver, coming home third 4½ lengths behind the front pair.

Affirmable was weak in the betting and the ground was, perhaps, unsuitable for her. She was putting in her (relatively) best work at the end to finish fourth.               

17:15 Well that’s it from a now almost deserted Folkestone, hopefully getting away from here will be a great deal easier than it was from Epsom, despite the only access road being a narrow lane and the course having now closed off the “in the know” rat-run.

From a now overcast Kent a vey good evening.

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

15:45
1 Gold Ring (not eaten up - 10:44 Sun)
6 Night Out (going -08~:57)
10 Whitcombe Spirit (going - 11:55)

Results

14:15 Handicap 6f

14:45 Claiming Stakes 6f

15:15 Handicap 5f

15:45 Handicap 2m 93yds

16:15 Handicap 1m 4f

16:45 Maiden Stakes 1m 1f 149yds