17:44 That’s it from our marathon eight race card here at Salisbury, where the sun has shone and the decent midweek crowd have seen some exciting finishes.

17:41 A cracking finish to our final contest and a Royal winner as Free Agent just sees off the odds-on favourite La De two by a head .

La De Two’s pacemaker, Peligroso, set off at a good pace and the field were in Indian file for most of the contest with Free Agent running in second, followed by La De Two, Swingkeel and former Melbourne Cup runner up, Bauer, coming off a 667 day layoff in last.

Peligrose still had a good advantage as they approached the two furlong marker, with Free Agent on the far rail upsides.

La De Two was running on for pressure and briefly hit the front inside the furlong but Free Agent under Richard Hughes battled back to hit the front again in the dying strides.

17:22 Our final contest is the longest race of the afternoon, the 1m 6f Irish Thoroughbred Marketing “Persian Punch” Conditions Stakes.

It has to be said the five runners in this contest have no right to be mentioned in the same breath as Persian Punch.

The idea of looking at runners in the paddock is to spot a likely winner.

17:09 One of those races where there is little point in producing a 200 word report.

The Jobber and Matterofact shared the pace with The Wee Chief and Nollaig Shona tracking, with Green velvet in rear from the start.

Approaching the furlong marker Jimmy Fortune eased Matterofact clear and, favourite, The Wee Chief ran on to challenge the long time leaders.

Matterofact was comfortably clear in front and effectively came home unchallenged, 1½ lengths clear.

Despite strong pressure from Richard Hughes The Wee Chief was unable to get past The Jobber and had to settle for third spot.

16:51 A depleted field for our seventh race as just five go to post in the Sydenhams Handicap over the minimum five furlongs.

The Jobber was getting a little warm, whilst Green Velvet was very much on his toes.

Did not get to see Nollaig Shona as she had not come into the ring by the time I had to begin the hike back from the parade ring.

Salisbury is one of those courses where you need to be very fit -   very steep steps up to the press box and even more to view the races and a good long walk to the parade ring.   

16:38 Sarasota Sunshine opened up the favourite in the betting ring but a plunge on Thrill saw her deposed from the favourites spot.

Well the betting got it right – almost, as the top two in the betting were the ones battling out the finish but it was the deposed favourite Sarasota Sunset, under Frankie Dettori, who got up to deny the jolly Thrill by ¾ of a length.   

The duo ran with very different tactics.

Thrill was to the fore, battling for the lead with Strictly Dancing, whilst Dettori held up Sarasota Sunshine in rear before making progress two out and taking up the running about 50 yards from home.

16:18 Yet another fillies’ contest for race six, the seven furlong European Breeders Fund Lochsong Fillies’ Handicap, in which are due to take part.

16:07 A really cracking finish to our feature contest and judge Derek Lever took a while to sort out the photograph before awarding the race to Brevity, who got up to beat Rimth in the final stride.   

The favourite Margot did was, once again, disappointing only able to finish third.

Margot Did was fastest out of the stalls but was soon headed by Sweet Cecily who then led until halfway before Rimth became the third leader of the contest.

Margot Did managed to find herself caught behind runners two out and this may have affected her chances as, once she saw daylight, she did run on.

Rimth was the first to go for home but Jamie   Spencer was riding a patient race on Brevity and he allowed her her head inside the final furlong, running on impressively to win by the minimum distance.

15:41 Our feature contest is next with nine going to post for the £17,000 plus European Breeders Fund Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes, a listed contest over six furlongs.

Margot Did has a worrying string of seconds in her last three runs and this must be her best chance to get her head in front again.

Perfect tribute was on her toes in the parade ring and Tale Untold did plant herself at one point but then seemed to be better afterwards.

15:26 Well division two of the Maiden Stakes produced another 33/1 winner, this time an all the way winner as Shim Sham made all under Martin Dwyer, opening up a decent lead by half way and holding on as the line approached.

The even money favourite Khawlah looked singularly unimpressive in the early stages and took some stoking up from Senor Dettori before making late progress.

Indeed it was the favourite who was bearing down on the front winner in the closing stages but could only get within three parts of a length.

A furlong out it looked as though Lay Time and Chinook Wood would be the main dangers to Shim Sham.

Lay Time however quickly tired although Chinook Wood was staying on to take third spot.

15:11 Division two of the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes next up, with 18 facing the starter this time.
Paddock negative is Isolate, who reared at one point and was giving her two handlers plenty to do.

Vita Lika is a big filly and was getting a little warm, as well as swishing her tail.

14:57 For the third race running a front running favourite ended up getting done in the closing stages.

This time it was the Ralph Beckett trained Sylvestris who attempted to make all only to be done and this time the defeat came at the hands of a 33/1 outsider in the shape of Azameera.

The winner had been settled in the front rank, around fourth spot. The other front runners were Dolcezza and Tidal Run, whilst Miss Thea and Heavenly Song were both also thereabouts.

Approaching the furlong marker Azameera looked to be the main challenger to the favourite and he eased in front 50 yards from the line to record a 1¼ length victory.

Things were about to get worse for the favourite as Aneedah, who had been making steady progress in the final quarter mile managed to ease past to claim second spot.

14:34 Race three id division one of the European Breeders Fund Quidhampton Maiden Fillies’ Stakes which sees 17 charging down the 7f course, 11 of whom are making their racecourse debut – so good luck to commentator Ian Bartlett.

A couple of negatives Inimitable Romanee is getting very warm in the parade ring and Kiss My Tiara was also getting a little warm.

Disturbia is a very diminutive filly.

14:22 The betting had this as a two horse race with Paul Cole’s Diamond Penny just shading Richard Hannon’s Cai Shen in the betting and it was this pair who were battling out the contest.

Diamond Penny set the pace, leading until well inside the final furlong, when Cai Shen (who had tracked the leader throughout) swept past to come home a 1¼ length winner.

Not much else to say really the better horse won and, for the pocket talking punter standing next to me, it was not Jamie Spencer’s fault the favourite did not win – the horse simply was not good enough.

Of the newcomers Zain Shamardal was the better looking of the two and was running on well in the closing stages.

Mantoba has, to be kind, still has some learning to do.     

14:01 With two non-runners, including the likely favourite General Synod, only four go to post for our second contest, the EBF Whitsbury Manor Stud Novice Stakes, a two-year-old contest over a mile.

13:57 Flapper was sent off a very popular favourite in this Salisbury opener and set out to make all under Amy Scott.

The jolly wasn’t allowed to dictate that strongly though as Transfer, Levitation and Catchanova were all on her quarters.

Catchanova in particular was not going to allow the favourite to pull clear and two out Nathan Alison took Catchanova to the front and opened up a decisive lead.

The favourite could do nothing in response and it was left to Lutine Charlie to provide the biggest challenge, having been held up and launched with a late challenge under Matthew Cosham.

Closing all the time the line came in time for Catcanova, who won by half a length.

All was not lost for Matthew Cosham on the runner-up as his second place secured him the first prize of £1,000 for winning the Racing For Excellence series.

Gallego was another running on contender, coming home in third place, 3¼ lengths behind the runner-up.

13:26 Race one is the Axminster Carpets Racing Excellence Apprentice Handicap (whips carried not used) a mile contest with 13 competing.

An important weight notice in that Into The Wind carries 4lbs overweight.

13:07 Good afternoon from Salisbury, where we have a sunny afternoon.

We will do our best to provide live updates this afternoon, however the on-course wi-fi does not work at all - well I cannot connect to it and I am having to use a very weak wireless broadband dongle.

We have several non-runners, details on the right.

07:40 It has been a dry night and a warm sunny day is forecast.

The going remains Good to Firm and 4mm of water was applied yesterday.

Huge fields this afternoon with one just non-runner at present and 89 runners (over two-thirds of them fillies) remaining and the eight race card gets underway at 13:40

  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

14:10
3 Billy Buttons (lame - SC 12:18)
4 General Synod (going - 13:26)

14:40
13 New River (lame - VC 12:54)

15:50
2 Fifth Commandment (going - 10:01)

17:00
1 Magical Speedfit (sore - SC 18:08 Wed)
4 Doctor Hilary (heat in leg - SC 09:48)
8 Imaginary Diva (going - 09:54)

17:30
2 Shahwardi (bruised foot - VC 07:56)

Results

13:40 Handicap 1m

14:10 Novice Stakes 1m

14:40 Maiden Stakes (Div 1) 6f 212yds

15:15 Maiden Stakes (Div 2) 6f 212yds

15:50 Listed Stakes 6f

16:25 Handicap 6f 212yds

17:00 Handicap 5f

17:30 Conditions Stakes 1m 6f