21:32 That's it from Hamilton where the weather failed to do its worse and that ends the Northern odyssey.

The next live updates will be from Windsor on Monday, from Hamilton Park a very good evening.  

21:26 Undoubtedly this is Paul Hanagan's evening as he gets his four timer in the final race, making all on Abdicate coming home 2 1/4 lengths clear of his rivals and repelling a late charge from Petomic.

Edas harried Abdicate for the first three quarters of a mile but then faded.

Hidden Glory was sent off the favourite but spent most of the contest in last place before running on too late to finish fourth. Third place went to the course specialist Botham.

21:09 Our final contest is the John Banks Memorial Handicap over 1m 1f with seven due to go to post.

Another contest with no clues in the parade ring.

21:00 No four-timer for Paul Hanagan as he was only able to finish third on Cotton Grass.

With only four runners it was bound to be a tactical contest and Hal Of A Lover set the pace, with Cotton Grass on his tail. Brook Star ran next with Downtown Boy in rear.

That's how they remained until approaching two out, at which point Cotton Grass was hard ridden and Downtown Boy accelerated to be upsides Hal Of A Lover.

The duo were locked together until inside the final furlong when Andrew Mullen kicked Downtown Boy clear to record a two length victory.

Hal Of A Lover was unable to fight back and Cotton Grass was a further 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

20:42 Just four go to post for the next race, the 1m 4f Westlife Live Next Saturday Handicap.

No real clues from the parade ring.

20:27 This is turning out to be Paul Hanagan's evening as he wins three races on the trot, producing French Hollow late to take a half-length victory and beating Comedy Act who had looked the winner.

Sharp Sovereign set out to make all, opening up a six length lead by half way. He still had the advantage two out as Comedy Act and Royal Trooper went for home.

It looked to be between these two but as the pace quickened Comedy Act pulled clear.

French Hollow was settled about four from the rear for most of the contest before making steady progress as they came down the home straight, moving into fourth two out before launching his charge.

Union Island, also settled towards the rear was another running on late and managed to grab third spot from Royal Trooper.  

20:05 One of those quirky contests next where the runners set off down the home straight the "wrong way" before going round the loop before coming back.

This is the 1m 5f John Smith Stayers Handicap with nine facing the starter.

Wicked Daze is pulling in the parade ring. I've written something about Union Island but cannot now read my writing. Comedy Act and Royal trooper looked best with preference for the latter.

19:49 Yesterday at Cartmel it was AP McCoys afternoon, this is turning into Paul Hanagan's evening as he wins the feature contest on Quest For Success coming home 1 1/2 lengths clear of his rivals.

A furlong out it was the sort of contest that would have the handicapper salivating as they were ten abreast in front. One of those was Quest For Success and Hanagan took him clear approaching the half furlong marker. Colonel Mac was his closest pursuer and he ran on to take second spot.

It was a close call for third with Roker Park just getting the better of Enderby Spirit

Tom Eaves took a gamble on Enderby Spirit by bringing him down the stands rail and it looked as though it was going to pay off at one point.

Ginger Ted was never in contention.  

19:41 I am keeping away from it but it sounds as though it is getting lively in some parts of the course and during the last race the police extracted somebody from the crowd.

19:45 Our feature contest next as 14 line up for the John Smith's Scottish Stewards' Cup Handicap over six furlongs.

 I don't like the look of Ginger Ted at all, pulling hard, fighting his handler and throwing the occasional fly kick. Roker Park looked good though.

19:20 A feeling of deja-vu as another fast finishing runner defeats a leading favourite. This time the winner was ridden by defending champion jockey Paul Hannagan as he produced the well supported Tahitian Princess late to take the contest by 1 1/4 lengths beating the favourite Arch Walker who had taken up the running approaching two out.

Indeed Arch Walker had to battle to retain second spot as he was challenged by Weetentherty who got within a neck of taking second spot.

Clear Ice was another running on late but was only able to finish fourth.

Ballinargh Boy and Blue Noodles set the early pace but both came home well beaten.  

19:05 Race three is the first of a brace of six furlong contests, the Book Now For Ladies Night Selling Handicap with eight going to post.

Blue Noodles is a bit head strong and is pulling, Weetentherty kept trying to push his lass into the rail. Ballinargh Boy was on his toes and Ya Boy Sir and Tahitian Princess were both jig-joggy.

18:55 Something of an upset here at Hamilton as the debutant Irrational heads the odds-on favourite Half A Billion in the dying strides.

However looking at the race one has to ask did Freddie Tylicki stop riding too soon, he stops using his whip in the final stages, thinking perhaps he had the race sewn up?

Another contributory factor could be the pace set by Half A Billion and Jay Kay up front, which was brisk. A furlong out Half A Billion ran on to open up what looked to be a decisive move.

The eventual winner was held up before coming with a furious late charge under Tom Eaves to produce a neck shock.

I watched the race standing next to Half A Billion's owner and it was painful to watch a man go from ecstasy to agony in a matter of seconds.  

18:33 Time for the babies in race two as six two-year-olds go to post for the John Smith's Extra Smooth Maiden Auction Stakes over five furlongs.

Apart from Lord Buffhead, who looks immature, they looked physically fit. Irrational was getting more fizzed up the longer she was parading. Burnwynd Spirit was slightly on his toes and pulling, going to post early. Half  Billion was a bit jig-joggy and is the paddock pick. 

18:14 The free running Carlitos Spirit attempted to set the pace in this mile contest and held the advantage until half a mile from home when Master Leon and Hits Only Jude set off for home, opening up daylight between them and their rivals.

Both looked to be tiring inside the final furlong and Glenluji came from the pack with a challenge, whilst Hits Only Jude seemed to have had enough and Master Leon pulled clear.

Glenluji continued to challenge all the way home but the line came in time for Master Leon, under Justin Newman, who recorded a diminishing length victory.

Spread Boy ran on late to deny Hits Only Jude third spot, coming home 2 1/4 lengths behind the front duo.

Carlitos Spirit came home fourth, with Second Reef and Crocodile Bay, who missed the break, coming home in their own time.

17:59 Our opening contest is the Anya's Papa Joe's 50th Birthday Apprentice Series Handicap over just over a mile with seven off to post.

Carlitos Spirit was very lively, even more so when his jockey mounted. Spread Boy was slightly on his toes. Hits Only Jude is the paddock pick. 

17:52 No food update this evening as I was well fed at a lovely little fishing village just south of Ayr as I made my way to the course this evening.

17:24 It is now raining steadily here at Hamilton, still an attractive course though.

17:12 Good afternoon from Hamilton where the rain has, so far, stayed away confounding both the forecasts I saw this morning. However it is just beginning to spit with rain.

08:40 The official going is Good to Firm, Good in Places.

Depending on which weather forecast you believe there will either be light rain this afternoon or it will tank down.

All races over distances beyond 6f will measure 8 yards further than the official distances owing to the rail configuration on the round course where fresh ground is provided for this meeting. 

There are currently three non-runners.

 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

19:15
2 Dancing Freddy (going - 19:30 Thu)
5 Autocracy (not eaten up - SC 09:02)

19:45

3 MisterHughie (going - 11:14)
15 Mirza (Going - 11:14 Thu)

20:20
7 Bosses Destination (going - 16:13)

20:50
2 Bella Montagna (not eaten up - 11:01 Thu)

21:20
2 Just Five (going - 12:25)

Results

18:10 Handicap 1m 65yds

18:45 Maiden Stakes 5f 4yds

19:15 Selling Handicap 6f 5yds

19:45 Handicap 6f 5yds

20:20 Handicap 1m 5f 9yds

20:50 Handicap 1m 4f 17yds

21:20 Handicap 1m1f 36yds