07:27 It has been a dry night and a warm, sunny, day is forecast.

The going is Good, Good to Firm in places with a going stick reading of 8.7 at 06:00 this morning.

There is currently one non-runner

12:54 Good afternoon from a lovely sunny Ripon, where the “Garden Racecourse” is having its final meeting of 2010.

We have a seven race card, starting at 12:30 and we currently have five non-runners, details on the right.

13:49 A minor change to the going stick – it is now 8.9

14:19 Racing gets underway with the extended 1m 1f Carthy Marr Memorial Selling Stakes, in which 11 go to post.

14:25 Dane Cottage took a very strong hold going to post, Guga was also pulling well.

14:45 It was no surprise the fired up favourite Guga set off at a breakneck pace, doing himself no favours in the process.

He set off so fast the others left him to it.

Duke Of Normandy, after going slowly to start, set off in second spot, again clear of the remainder who were headed by Tom Wade and Chantilly Pearl.

Guga was still leading as they turned for home but by then Duke Of Normandy had engaged reverse gear. Chantilly Pearl had made progress to close on the favourite and it was no surprise when she took up the running two out.

Dark Ranger had been held up but began to make eye catching progress as they progressed towards the line.

The large crowd woke up as Chantilly Pearl, the second favourite, looked the likely winner but Dark Ranger was running on well and was upsides approaching the line.

Eddie Ahern had come with a perfectly timed run as Dark Ranger crossed the line a neck clear of Chantilly Pearl.

The pair had a opened a good gap on their rivals, who were headed by Dazeen, who was also making late progress.

Dane Cottage, who ran too freely for her own good, came home fourth, followed by the disappointing favourite.

In the subsequent auction there were no bids for the winner.

14:53 Race two is the six furlong Thank You Peter Bateson Nursery with eight after the money.

Maggie Mey was pulling quite hard in the parade ring, Jibaal was swishing his tail and Eland Ally was getting a little bit warm.

Peter Bateson, by the way, is the about to retire Head Groundsman here at Ripon.

15:18 A race to delight the handicapper and one which made judge Mark Ritchie-Noakes earn his money, as you could have thrown the proverbial blanket over the first five home.

Falkland Flyer did just that to lead early on but was soon headed with Eland Ally setting the pace.

The favourite Maggie Mey grabbed the stands rail to shere second with Normandy Maid.

Mark Johnston’s Jibaal looked to be outpaced early on.

Eland Ally still had the advantage a furlong out, Maggie Mey was still in second but under pressure, with Normandy Maid and the running on No Poppy was also running into contention.

Also inside the final furlong Jibaal finally decided to run on but found himself behind a wall of horses.

Approaching the line the field were well bunched and it was impossible to call the winner as they flashed across the line.

After looking at the photo Maggie Mey was awarded the race by a neck with No Poppy just grabbing second spot by a nose from Eland Ally and the running on Jibaal came home fourth.

There was plenty of argy bargy in the closing stages and the Stewards had a look, however the placings remained unaltered.

15:25 It’s back to the extended 1m 1f for this afternoons feature race, the City Of Ripon Handicap with a dozen having a shot at the dosh.

15:44 Another cracking finish and one where the neutrals will have sympathy for Fastnet Storm, who set out to make all only to be denied in the final yards by Ailsa Craig, who had been settled behind the leaders before making late progress under James Sullivan.

The favourite Be Invincible had been tracking the leader throughout, before dropping like a stone through water to eventually beat only one home.

Like the winner Granston was handily placed and was running on well eventually getting third place in a very tight photograph with Norwegian Dancer who was running on after a hold up run.

Arizona John was another doing his best at the end.

15:51 A couple of five furlong sprints coming up. The first of them being the Sapper Conditions Stakes with just five competing.

Choose Wisely was shaking his head in the parade ring and Hortensia had a snotty nose.

16:11 A good result for the layers as the odds-on favourite Choose Wisely was only able to come home third, never looking the winner being under pressure from half-way.

Jameela Girl set the pace, with Choose Wisely tracking against the stands rail. Mappin Time was close to the front pair, with Hortensia tracking and Crimson Knot in rear.

Inside the final furlong the writing was on the wall for favourite backers as Mappin Time and Jameela Girl settled down to battle to the line, with the former coming home a head clear.

There was almost a twist in the tail as, belatedly, Choose Wisely began to run on but had to settle for coming home a neck third.

The other pair were also running on well to finish in a heap.

16:20 The second sprint is a fillies contest, the gottohavediamonds.com Fillies’ Maiden Auction Stales with eight runners.

The parade ring negative was Breezolini, who was really getting on her toes.

16:40 This wasn’t even a race, it was over as a contest after 100 yards as Silvestre De Sousa got an absolute flyer on the even money favourite Abzolutely.

She was five lengths clear after 100 yards and was able to tack across from the far draw to the stands rail.

The only view her rivals had was of her rear end away in the distance.

She did begin to tire slightly inside the final half furlong but still managed to come home four lengths clear of her rivals.

The rivals were led home by Kinlochrannoch, who led the chasing group throughout and she herself finished 1¾ clear of the running-on Breezolini back in third.  

16:50 Up to a mile for our sixth race, the Raye Wilkinson ‘lifetime dedicated to racing” Stablestaff Handicap, with nine going to post.

17:16 Another good finish as the favourite Chief Red Cloud holds off a late challenge from Ours who was rattling home in the closing stages.

Elmfield Giant set out to make all, pinging out of the stalls and tacking over to take the rail.

Betteras Bertie tracked the leader with the jolly tracking the front pair, along with Koo And The Gang, who had been supported in the ring.

Two out Elmfield Giant came under pressure as Chief Red Cloud was asked to challenge by Neil Callan.  

Chief Red Cloud was soon clear, opening a decent lead, which is just as well as Ours, held up towards the rear, was launched with a mighty challenge and was closing with every stride, with the line coming just in time for the favourite, recording a diminishing neck victory.

17:27 Our final contest of the day and Ripon’s 2010 season is the longest race of the afternoon, the two mile Wakeman Stayers Handicap, with 11 chasing the £2,590 first prize.

Captain Cornelius was on his toes in the parade ring, Smugglers Bay was pulling quite hard and Power Desert was a bit biter.

17:49 A good tactical contest in which Power Desert set the pace and the favourite, Petella, was settled stone last.

Spring Breeze and Amir Pasha tracked the leader and there was little change in the order until they turned for home.

All of a sudden Paul Hanagan bought the favourite from last to first and he was soon clear of his rivals and Petella was soon clear.

It looked as though the favourite would be home and hosed but Descaro under Silvestre De Sousa had other ideas and he came charging up the centre of the course to nail the jolly in the final yards to claim a half length victory.

Capable Guest was another settled in rear but made good late progress to finish third, without troubling the front pair.

17:51 That’s it from Ripon’s final meeting of the season and the sun shone on Yorkshire’s Garden Course.

There was a good Tuesday crowd and they were treated to some good finishes. However the highlight of the afternoon must be Abzolutely destroying his opponents in the first of our sprints.

  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
8 Anna's Boy (going - 12:44)
10 Marsh's Gift (not eaten up - SC 12:39)

16:00
3 Master Macho (lame - SC 10:25)

16:30
9 Snow Legend (lamd - VC 21:13 Monday)

17:35
1 Ursis (cast in box - SC 08:39)

Results

14:30 Selling Stakes 1m 1f 170yds

15:00 Nursery 6f

15:30 Handicap 1m 1f 170yds

16:00 Conditions Stakes 5f

16:30 Maiden Stakes 5f

17:05 Handicap 1m

17:35 Handicap 2m