07:47 There has been 3mm of rain overnight and there is still some light drizzle.

The going has eased to Good to Firm, Firm in Places.

Racing gets underway at 18:30.

08:52 We have our first non-runner of the evening, details on the right.

09:56 .... and a couple more non-runners.

10:41 The going has eased further following 6mm of rain and it is now Good to Firm.

11:32 the non-runner count hits four.

16:25 Good evening from a very muggy Thirsk, where it is overcast and I wonder if we will have thunder storms as we did at this corresponding meeting last year.

The going is Good to Firm, with a going stick reading of 9.6 at 14:00 and we have seven non-runners.

17:42 The cloud is beginning to burn off so we may be in for a nice sunny evening here tonight.

17:59 Nick Luck, presenting for RUK tonight, has forgotten the Thirsk “wear a tie” rule, luckily some of us are here for a couple of days and he has been lent one – with “The Colonel” eventually providing a suitable tie.

18:06 We begin the evening with our longest contest of the evening, the Betfair Racing Excellence Apprentice Training Series Handicap over two miles.

Just the six go to post with They All Laughed and Andorn the non-runners.

18:21 Nothing to report from the parade ring, the all looked OK.

18:25 Without Equal is trainer local trainer Alan Dickman’s final runner.

18:40 A good start for favourite backers but no fairytale to finish Alan Dickmans training career.

It was a tactical contest with Spruzzo setting the pace with Tilletudlem settled in second, Hi Dancer third, then Amir Pasha and McEldowney with Without Equal settled in rear.

There was little significant change until Without Equal made a couple of places six out.

It was all change as they lined up for home though as Spruzzo quickly ceded the lead allowing Hi Dancer to make a run for home.

Tilletudlem went off in pursuit and finally hit the front inside the final half-furlong recording a half-length victory.

18:52 Race two is the 2-year-old EBF Buck Inn Thornton Watlass maiden Stakes over six furlongs, with eight going to post.

Sleight’s Boy, a newcomer, was very lively coming into the parade ring, Pinotage was a little less frisky, whilst Bernisdal was slightly on her toes.

19:09 A funny sort of race.

Battle Of Britain and Irlandisuperman were quickest away, with the latter leading for the first furlong before the Godolphin favourite Battle Of Britain took up the running.

After a tardy start Volcanic Ash ran on to race in second spot with Irelandisuperman running in third.

By two out Irelandisuperman was soon in reverse with Guinea Seeker challenging Volcanic Ash for second spot.

Meanwhile Battle Of Britain seemed to have the race sewn up – well he did until the well backed Lizzie was launched with a late run by Graham Gibbons. The filly swept into the lead and the jolly was unable to respond.

Lizzie came home an impressive two lengths clear.

Battle Of Britain was unchallenged for second spot, with Volcanic Ash taking third spot.  

19:20 Race three is the one mile Carleton Furniture Handicap, with eight going to post.

The only one to comment on was Kings Point, who was jig-jogging round the parade ring.

19:42 A good front running performance from Reel Buddy Star under Tom Eaves.

Initially sharing the lead with Kings Point, Reel Buddy Star was clear after a furlong.

Kings Point remained in second spot until they turned for home.

Two out both Come and Go and Moheebb, under Paul Hanagan who is going through a purple patch at the moment both came with likely looking challenges.

However Reel Buddy Star dug deep, despite a 6lb penalty for a win at Newcastle four days ago, and repelled the challengers despite Moheebb eating into his lead.

19:44 Another mile contest for race four and our biggest field of the evening as 16 line up for the Black Sheep Brewery Handicap.

20:15 Well if you are a conspiracy theorist then you would be having a field day – a 16 runner handicap and a runner, Just Spike, gets withdrawn at the start.

If you backed fourth placed Mississippian then you have every right to feel aggrieved.

Needy McCredie and Dream Express set the pace, with Redwater River and Green Agenda in the next rank.

They were to the fore until the field lined up for home, at which point Amy Ryan asked Rascal In The Mix for an effort and they were soon clear.

It was desperate at the finish as Green Agenda, Champain Sands and Mississippian were all coming with late runs.

The line came in time for Rascal In The Mix as the filly recorded a half length victory.

It was very close for second and it took judge Brian Goodwill a couple of minutes to give the verdict to Green Agenda over Champain Sands.

20:23 Race five is the seven furlong White Swan Ampleforth Handicap with six taking the chance, we have three non-runners.

20:43 High drama at the start of this contest as Nufoudh rears coming out of the stalls, which set off Antarctic Desert, who bounced out of the stalls, unseating Tom Eaves in the process.

  In the race itself Chambers got a flyer and never saw another rival – actually that isn’t quite true as the loose horse cut across the leader two out, giving his rivals a chance to challenge.

Loveinthesand, under pressure early on, ran on very well in the closing stages and managed to get within a neck of the long time leader as they passed the post.

Favourite High Importance, second for most of the contest, was also closing on the winner but had to settle for third spot.  

20:45 Our final contest sees five line up for the 5f Helmsley Castle Handicap.

20:53 Tom Eaves has been bought back to the medical room with a leg injury.

21:12 As Victor Meldrew would say “I don’t believe it” …. we only had five runners in the closing 5f sprint but some riders still managed to get themselves into trouble.

Secret Venue set the pace with Lucky Art and Sir Geoffrey upsides and the favourite Mey Blossom along with Mullglen tracking.

Mey Blossom was asked for an effort by Michael Stainton two out but somehow contrived to find himself behind a wall of three horses.

Luckily for him and favourite backers Sir Geoffrey drifted slightly to his left leaving the smallest of small gaps and the favourite was through and away.

Mullglen didn’t fare much better under Graham Gibbons but the gap remsined open long enough for him to get through and chase the favourite home.

The favourite had enough in hand to record a length victory.

Sir Geoffrey was a further length back in third with Secret Venue fourth.  

21:16 Well that’s it from Thirsk, where the weather remained kind to us.

Somewhat average racing with no real eye catchers but the decent size crowd didn’t seem to mind.

Our next coverage is from a few miles up the road tomorrow, when we are at Catterick.

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

18:30
4 They All Laughed (lame - SC 08:38)
5 Andorn (not eaten up - SC 11:40)

19:30 8 Bold Diktator (lame - VC 11:48)

20:30
1 Lucy Brown (stiff - SC 13:49)
2 Diamond Daisy (not eaten up - SC 09:32)
8 Ingleby King (temperature - SC 11:18)

21:00
1 Invincible Lad (rash - SC 09:12)

Results

18:30 Apprentice Handicap 2m

19:00 Maiden Stakes 6f

19:30 Handicap 1m

20:00 Handicap 1m

20:30 Handicap 7f

21:00 Handicap 5f