07:44 Once again Leicester offers a "something for everyone" going report:-

Hurdle- Home straight Heavy, remainder Soft, Good to Soft in places.
Chase- Good, Soft on the flat course crossings.
(Going Stick: Hurdle 6.3 Chase 7.2 on Tuesday at 06:30)

Leicester are forecasting heavy rain up to mid-afternoon so the going could well change.

There is, currently, just the one non-runner.

10:41 There has been 6mm of rain so far today and the going is now Hurdle- Heavy, Soft in Places (6.3) Chase- Good, Good to Soft in Places (7.2)

10:49 Yet another updated going report:-

Hurdle- Heavy, Soft in Places on the back straight.
Chase- Good, Good to Soft in Places, Soft on the flat course crossings.

12:52 Good afternoon from Leicester where it is overcast, the rain has virtually stopped and it is now just a light mizzle.

13:22 Our opening contest is the extended 2½ mile Croxton Park Novices' Hurdle with 15 off to post.

Supralunary was a little bit on his toes as was, to a lesser extent, Well Mett. Notcantdoit is a big chasing sort.

13:46 Testing conditions here as the field come home well strung out although one who was not seemingly troubled was Merry King, who led his rivals home, crossing the line six lengths clear of his rivals.

Two out it looked as though Tarn Howes was going to take the spoils having come with an eye-catching run as they swung for home and two out it looked as though Merry King would struggle to win the race. But he showed a better turn of foot approaching the last and edged clear on the run-in.

It was 10 lengths back to third placed Ballywatt, another doing his best work in the closing stages.

Front running Zama Zama seemed to find a second wind to finish fourth, a further four lengths back.

14:01 Race two is another 2½ mile contest, this time over the larger obstacles, as 11 go to post for the Brook Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase.

I did not get to see them in the parade ring but going down Ben Trovato took a bit of a hold. Will this race come too soon for Drom after his Towcester win on Sunday?

14:12 Well hats off to Drom winning again after making all on Sunday and at what looked a longer than ideal trip. Add to that a 7lb penalty and a welter burden of 12-4 his achievement at making all today cannot be undersold.

It looked as though Killfinnan Castle would take the spoils as they came down the home straight but when push came to shove he had nothing to give and he finished second, 2½ lengths in arrears.

It was a similar distance back to third placed Cesium.

Esteem, who was displaced for favouritism by the winner just before the off, ran a shocking race given too much to do then softly unseating his rider three out when making belated progress.

14:31 Down to two miles for race three as a dozen mares go to post for the European Breeders' Fund Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

Zahirah Moon was battling with her two handlers in the parade ring and if you are one of those who thinks it significant then Dancing Teasel was grinding her teeth.

14:50 The hurdle course is definitely more testing than the chase course as they plod home in this contest..

This time it was Baby Shine, coming here off a 291 day lay off, who coped with the conditions best of all, coming home four lengths clear of the odds-on favourite Tempest River.

The winner was to the fore throughout, tracking the long time leader A Little Swifter before taking up the running two out.

Tempest River did her utmost to close down the leader but was unable to make any significant inroads.

The long time leader came home third, a further five lengths back.

Whichever looked as though she was going to be a viable challenger as they swung for home but flattered to deceive, eventually coming home fourth. 

15:05 Just four go to post for the two mile Dick Christian Novices' Chase.

15:18 This race is summed up by the name of the horse who vyed for the lead for most of the contest and eventually finished third of the four - Unforgettable.

The one sharing the pace was Mark Twain, with this duo having a private battle in the lead as Wester Ross and the favourite Crystal Rock had their own private battle.

As they turned for home three of the four were in with chances, the only one looking beaten was the odds-on jolly Crystal Rock who had jumped scratchily throughout.

Coming to the last it was a three way go with Mark Twain getting reminders, Wester Ross looking under pressure and Unforgettable looking the best of the trio.

15:34 The visibility is deteriorating here at Leicester, Evella is the negative in the next, pulling quite hard in the parade ring.

The next being our longest race of the afternoon, the extended 2m 7f SIS Leicester Handicap with nine off to post.

However on the run-in Paul Moloney pressed the turbocharger on Wester Ross and he swept past his rivals to record a four length victory.    

15:45 That was a rum race, as they would say up north.

Toby Belch was sent off the favourite and he ran a strange race and he was stone last in the early exchanges and looking at his jumping backers would wonder wonder if he would actually get round.

He ran on and off the bridle throughout but somehow he managed to be in contention by the last, jumping it upsides Don't Tell Sailor and having every chance.

They came out of the fence together but the jolly came off the bridle again on the run-in allowing Don't Tell Sailor to pull clear and record a 2¼ length victory.

To illustrate how bad a race it was Plum Pudding was up with the pace only to drop out to stone last a mile from home, ran on past beaten horses to come home third, 29 lengths behind the runner-up.   

16:03 Our final contest in the Leicestershire gloom is the 2½ mile Humberstone Handicap Hurdle with 11 off to face the starter.

Grassfinch was a tooth grinder, Mavalenta was the head-banger. Wiesentraum looked a cut above the others.

16:20 Our final contest of the day and, arguably, the most convincing winner as David Pipe's Painter Man comes home an eased nine length winner in a race in which only 6 finished.

Little Bob set the not too onerous pace with Wiesentraum, Fidelor and Painter Man all in close attendance.

There was little change up front for most of the contest and as they swung for home Little Bob, Painter Man and Wiesentraum had been joined by the favourite Mujamead, with Outside The Box also moving into a challenging position.

As they came down the home straight Little Bob was the first to wave the white flag as Painter Man took up the running.

Two out Painter Man still led with Mujamead, Wiesetraum and Outside The Box the only credible challengers.

By the last it was over, bar a fall, as Painter Man was well clear and he jumped the last tiredly but with sufficient momentum and advantage to be eased on the run-in.

Outside The Box slipped his rivals to come home a clear second with the favourite coming home a further eight back in third spot. 

16:30 That's it from Leicester where there was little to set the pulses racing but we can't have jam every day.

All being well out next live racing will be from Newcastle on Thursday.

From a dreich Leicester a very good afternoon.

 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

14:40
1 Combustible Lady (runny nose - SC 14:14 Mon)

16:10
7 Saves Time (going - 14:57)
13 Captain Smoothy (travel - 14:35)

Results

13:35 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds

14:05 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

14:40 Novices' Hurdle 2m

15:10 Novices' Chase 2m

15:40 Handicap Chase 2m 7f 110yds

16:10 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110yds