17:57 That’s it from a wet Hereford, in all honesty not the most competitive afternoons racing you will ever see, but a good size crowd braved the elements to enjoy the sport.

We have more big fields to cover tomorrow as we return to the flat and venture “up north” to Redcar.

17:55 A bumper to conclude proceedings and anguish for backers of Back At the Ranch (myself included) , who planted himself at the start and refused to race.

Over The Way set the pace, which was steady tracked by Brimley and Via Roma (the latter attempted to dump his jockey on the walkway).

By the time the field had reached the end of the back straight class began to show and two former winning pointers, Brimley and the odds-on favourite Drumbaloo.

It was Drumbaloo who hit the front on the home turn and was never threatened once McCoy asked for the effort, eventually coming home the eleven length winner.

Diddley Dee ran on well to take the runners-up spot and another running-on contender, Simbamead came home third.

17:28 The official going is now Good

17:27 Our final contest over obstacles was a 2m 1f handicap hurdle, reduced to 12 runners following four defections.

The handicapper would have been marginally happier with this contest as there was not a runaway winner, although favourite backers ended up being disappointed.

Miss Ladybird set the early pace before taking a slight breather starting the final circuit, leaving Won More Night in front.

Crazy Bold was also on the scene down the back straight, taking the lead briefly before Miss Ladybird again took up the running two out.

The favourite, Mouseen, began to make belated progress, having been settled mid-division.

Turning for home Miss Ladybird still had the advantage but looked a prime contender to be shot at, with both Peaceful Means, who ran on well and Mouseen both looking to have every chance.

However Miss Ladybird managed to plug on best of the trio in the appalling conditions, recording a 1½ length victory, with Peaceful Means taking second and Mouseen a further length back in third.

The first three came home twelve lengths ahead of their rivals, who were headed by Crazy Bold.

For the first time this afternoon all the runners finished.     

16:55 Back to the smaller obstacles for a 2m 4f novices’ contest, run in the pouring rain.

Little surprise there was no pace in the contest and it was a muddling contest with no runner seemingly keen to set the pace.

Bulwark, Kielder Rise and Civil Servant all had a go in front until the favourite High Gales, under AP McCoy hit the front three out.

Once in front Tiermore tried to keep him company but McCoy’s driving kept the favourite in front, despite his desire to want to hang to the left.         

Tiermore held on for second and in a dual for the finish Seraphim Knight got the better of Bulwark.

16:29 Our second and final chase of the afternoon, another 2m 3f handicap and this time back to a facile winner.

Run at a considerably faster pace than the first chase, Marked Man set the running once the field had settled down.

Typu Pompey was with the leader and the pair had a decent lead.

They were joined by Silver Adonis and Nesnaas  as they began the final circuit.

Tyup Pompey dropped out of contention half way down the back straight, at the same time McCoy bought the favourite, Benefit Game, into the mix.

Turning out of the back straight Marked Man still had the advantage but Silver Adonis, an almost white runner, was upsides, with McCoy threatening.

Two out Silver Adonis put in a cracking leap to take the lead and soon established a good lead. Benefit Man could not respond to McCoys urgings, even unable to pass the tired Marked Man.

As in the previous races Silver Adonis only faced dangers ahead, but his jumping was perfect and he went on to record  a ten length victory.

Marked Man took the runners-up spot holding off the running on Norborne Bandit, a length and a half behind.

15:58 Our first contest over the larger obstacles was a 2m 3f selling handicap chase.

Gus set off in front, however by the third fence the favourite Good Old Days had hit the front under Jason Maguire, with Scotch Corner for company.

The Walnut Tree had joined the front three as they passed the post for the first time.

After the sixth Gus came under pressure , leaving three in front.

Next to crack was Scotch Corner who made a mistake at the eight leaving Good Old Days and Irish Stream to battle it out in front.

As they progressed down the back straight the front pair pulled well clear of their rivals and it was only after four out that Rookery Lad emerged from the pack to challenge the front two.

Turning out of the back straight Irish Stream briefly hit the front for pressure, but Good Old Days jumped back into the lead two out then opened up a gap.

Irish Stream had run his race and was soon passed by the running on Rookery Lad.

In front, however, the only danger to Good Old Days was the final fence, which he cleared easily. Rookery Lad was closing on the leader in the run-in but was only able to get within five lengths of the eased winner.

15:27 The second division of the 2½ mile handicap was certainly more competitive than the first and it bought delight for favourite backers as King High, despite some jumping errors, took the contest for the Jonjo O’Neill / Tony McCoy combo, winning by 4½ lengths.

The runner-up, the inappropriately named The Snail, could have finished closer had rider Paul Moloney not tried to come up McCoy’s inside on the home turn and having to snatch up when he realised the gap was not there. Having said that it is debatable whether he would have won. Settled
near the rear he made progress after the second last.

There was a good battle for third spot with Tiger Moss just getting the better of Diamanpeg.

The front running Wait For The Light  faded in the closing stages to come home eighth.  

14:55 Division One of the 2m 4f handicap hurdle was race two and it turned out to be a race that made a mockery of the handicap.

She’s No Muppet certainly lived up to her name and the Nick Mitchell trained filly came home the facile 21 length winner, giving Alex Merriam a double.

The early stages were not very decisive with the field well bunched, however as the field completed their first circuit Merriam sent She’s No Muppet to the front and it was effectively race over.

Running on to establish a clear lead nothing seemed to want to go with her Gallant Hero and Icansingarainbow battled it out for second spot, with the former throwing in the towel first.

The favourite Cloonavery was settled in rear before running on in the closing stage, but far too little too late to challenge the runaway leader.

14:30 An incident packed opener, a 2m 1f novices’ hurdle.

The first incident came at the first where Location jinked severely to the right, falling and bringing down Gold Maha in the process. Add to this several other jumping errors.

The only one jumping well was the favourite True Britannia who set out to make all under Alex Merriam.

The jumping at the second was sketchy but it was the third which saw the next departure, where Phoenix Enforcer jinked right over the obstacle sending Andrew Tinkler out of the side door.

Meanwhile True Britannia had established a decisive lead, and with no serious challengers she just had to stay on her feet to win.

Witch Of The Wave had been settled in second but was made to look one paced by Diamond Dee who was launched with a run coming out of the back straight, but she was never going to challenge the leader.

The only possible concern for True Britannia was a loose horse, but the fears proved to be unfounded as the favourite came home an eased twelve length winner.

All in all a very disappointing contest with only the winner worthy of a look in the future.

13:43 Good afternoon from a grey Hereford where the rain has not arrived yet but is surely on its way.

We have six non-runners.

09:23 After 5mm of rain the going is Good to Firm, Good in Places.

The forecast is for heavy showers

Our selections are:-

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

14:10
7 Miss Blueandblack (travel 10:21)

15:40
14 Simiola (off colour -sc 10:38)

16:40
1 Word Of Warning (Temperature - SC 09:32)

17:10
5 Vinnes Friend (dehydrated sc 11:46)
13 Local Present (colic - sc 09:48)
14 Double Spectre (travel 10:22)
15 Garafena (withdrawn)

Results

14:10 Novices' Hurdle 2m 1f

1st 1 True Britannia 7/4 fav
2nd 2 Diamond Dee 15/2
3rd 12 Witch Of The Wave 13/2
11 Ran Nr 7
Distances 12 & 6
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.90
Places £1.20 £2.20 £2.40
Exacta £10.70
CSF £15.13
Time 3' 55.25"

14:40 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 11 She's No Muppet 7/1
2nd 6 Icansingarainbow 20/1
3rd 13 Cloonavery 9/2 fav
14 Ran
Distances 21 & 3 3/4
Fav third
Tote
Win £8.00
Places £2.10 £5.70 £1.90
Exacta £115.00
CSF £141.03
Tricast £707.47
Time 4'42.36"

15:10 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 4 King HIgh 3/1 fav
2nd 5 The Snail 33/1
3rd 7 Tiger Moss 16/1
13 Ran
Distances 4 1/2 & 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.10
Places £1.90 £10.60 £4.70
Exacta £106.20
CSF £98.46
Tricast £1,397.75
Time 4' 46.03"

15:40 Handicap Chaser 2m 3f

1st 3 Good Old Days 11/4 fav
2nd 5 Rookery Lad 12/1
3rd 11 Irish Stream 15/2
13 Ran Nr 14
Distances 5 & 14
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.40
Places £1.70 £3.20 £2.50
Exacta £26.20
CSF £35.50
Tricast £230.87
Time 4' 38.72"

16:10 Handicap Chase 2m 3f

1st 1 Silver Adonis 10/1
2nd 6 Marked Man 9/2
3rd 3 Norborne Bandit 6/1
12 Ran
Distances 10 & 1 1/2
Fav 7 Benefit Game 5/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £13.10
Places £2.70 £2.00 £1.90
Exacta £60.30
CSF £55.32
Tricast £303.81
Time 4' 30.9"

16:40 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 3 High Gales 10/11 fav
2nd 9 Tiermore 33/1
3rd 8 Seraphim Knight 12/1
11 Ran Nr 1
Distances 2 & 4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1,90
Places £1.10 £9.90 £2.30
Exacta £43.00
CSF £44.42
Time 4' 53.4"

17:10 Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f

1st 4 Miss Ladybird 10/1
2nd 6 Peaceful Means 8/1
3rd 10 Mouseen 15/8 fav
13 Ran Nr's 5, 13 & 14 w/d 15
Distances 1 1/2 & 1
Fav third
Tote
Win £12.20
Places £3.10 £2.60 £1.60
Exacta £94.90
CSF £84.13
Tricast £218.31
Time 3' 59.04"
No rule four

17:40 NH Flat 2m 1f

1st 6 Drumbaloo 8/13 fav
2nd 5 Diddley Dee 50/1
3rd 9 Simbamead 66/1
11 Ran
Distances 11 & 4 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1,60
Places £1.10 £5.70 £11.50
Exacta £52.10
CSF £60.93
Time 3' 58.00"