07:35 It has been a dry night at Wetherby and a dry day is forecast.

The official going remains soft, good to soft in places on the home straight.

The seven race card begins, five minutes later than originally scheduled, at 14:15

At this early stage we have no non-runners.

Our selections are:-

12:11 Good afternoon from Wetherby where it is overcast but the sun looks to be winning the battle to break through.

We currently have one non-runner, detail on the right.

We have a slight going change it is now soft, good to soft on the back straight, whilst on the home straight it is good to soft.  

12:51 There is quite a brisk wind here this afternoon, it will be just about head-on to the runners as they go down the back straight.

13:22 I have just been chatting to our commentator, Malcolm Tomlinson. He is off to Aintree later in the week as part of the BBC Radio commentary team. Once again he has the hardest section, picking up the commentary as they approach the first – more impressively he tells me that unlike the television and course commentators the radio commentators work without spotters. Respect!!!

13:47 Very much a holiday crowd here today with plenty of families. The course enclosure is well frequented this afternoon.

14:01 Our opening contest is the extended two mile Wetherby Racecourse Sunday Car Boot Sale Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in which a dozen line up.

A couple of negatives in the parade ring – Ballyboe Boy was getting warm, whilst Sharadiyn was the head-shaker.

14:32 Something of a minor upset in our opener as the 11/10 favourite Woodlark Island was only able to come home in third place, very well beaten in the process.

It took a while for the race to settle down but when it did Woodland Island was leading as they entered the back straight, although Bombie Boy, Sharadiyn and Mister Fizzbomb were not far away.

Having said that Bombie Boy who had led early doors soon dropped out and was pulled up.

By the time they reached the end of the back straight the complexion of the race had changed with Woodland Island having been joined by Sharadiyn, the pair well clear with only Ballysimon coming after them.

By the time they had lined up for home all three were line abreast.

However first to crack was the favourite and he was soon left by the other two.

By the time they reached two out it was race over as Ballysimon had opened up a big lead and his only danger were the flights in front.

The obstacles proved to be no problem and he came home  21 lengths clear.

14:34 Next up we have the extended 2½ mile wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Chase in which eight line up.

Nothing to really report back from the parade ring, they all look reasonably good. Pamak D’Airy was having a good look round, otherwise all looked to be OK.

15:06 Unfortunately I could not get to my laptop from my viewing position on the roof of the stands but if I had been able to I would have reported a big plunge on King Fontaine backed from 6/4 into 5/6.

Settled in the rear by Phil Kinsella he then made progress past his rivals as the field went down the back straight, joining the leader Pamad D’Airy as they turned for home.

They remained together until two out when Kinsella eased ahead and it was race over, coming home six clear.

There was a very interesting contest for third. Neptune Equester was tailed off and looked like pulling up half way down the back straight before running on late, passing most of his rivals and denying Sarde third spot in the closing strides.

15:08 Next up is the 2m 6f Benfield Ford Wetherby Handicap Hurdle in which 14 line up.

15:44 An incident packed contest in which we had three runners sharing the lead – these being  Smart Man, Steveys Lad and Final Veto.

The favourite was settled mid-division.

The first incident came four out where Watch The Wind took a crashing fall badly interfering with Tropical Bachelor who ended up unseating his rider. Watch The Wind and his rider were both lucky to walk away from the fall.

As they turned for home 33/1 shot Lawgiver had taken up the running, having been settled behind the leading group.

Of the original leaders only Steveys Lad was with the pace but was unable to give Lawgiver a race.

The favourite Young Buddy fell three out, well beaten at the time.

The win provided a quickfire double for Phil Kinsella.

Lawgiver  held on for a comfortable five length win with Steveys Lad second and Miss Tarantella third.

15:45 The Yorkshire Post Ladies Day – 20th May Handicap Chase is next up, another extended 2½ mile contest, in which only seven line up following the defections of Akilak and Award Winner.

16:13 Agglestone Rock set out his stall from flag fall and never saw another rival in the entire contest.

As they passed the post to begin their final circuit he was ten clear of his rivals, who were headed by Cast Iron Casey, then Camden George and Jimmy Bond.

By the time they turned for home Jimmy Bond was tailed off but Agglestone Rock was still well clear, his lead down to about six furlongs.

Cast Iron Casey held on to second spot until passed by the fast finishing Le Roi Rouge.

Coming the last Agglestone Rock’s lead was reduced and he was beginning to look tired, all the time Le Roi Rouge was closing.

On the run-in a tired Agglestone Rock was hanging right and his lead was disappearing fast.
However the line came in time for favourite backers as he came home 1¾ lengths clear.

For the second race running we had a runner come from last to grab third spot, this time it was Dawn Ride.       

16:19 A 2m 4f hurdle next, the Bramham Hall For Conferences & Banquets Novices’ Hurdle, in which twelve line up.

16:45 In truth this was not a race but a procession.

The writing was on the wall when the field were well strung out after two flights, despite it not being a really fast pace.

Saveiro and Birnies Boy were the pace setters, with the favourite Love Of Tara tracing these two.

Archie’s Wish fell at the first but all the other casualties were pulled-up.

There were only five left in contention as they turned for home and it was as they turned for home that Love Of Tara swept past Saveiro, with Bocamix in third and the remaining pair coming home in their own time.

As they plodded, there is no other way to describe it, down the home straight the gaps opened further.

So great was his lead Sam Twiston-Davies eased Love Of Tara over the last and he more or less strolled up the run-in.

Saveiro settled for second spot and Bocamix looked booked for third.

16:51 Our final contest over obstacles is the 3m 1f Party In The Paddock – 3rd June Handicap Chase in which we have eight facing the starter.

Pistol Basc was the paddock negative very much on his toes and needing two handlers.

17:15 Another funny race with the jockeys obviously taking note of the way the runners finished in the last race.

Jeringa was happy to set the pace and he was accompanied by Killard Point and these two were still to the fore as they turned for home with Stagecoach Diamond about to join them.

By the time they lined up for home Jeringa was beaten and in reverse.

Killard Point had the advantage as they lined up for the four fences in the home straight.

Stagecoach Diamond was beginning to make some progress before hitting three out, effectively ending his chance.

Joint favourite Rusty Red, in contrast to Killard Point, had been held up for most of the contest before making late progress and closing on Killard Point.

However the challenge came just a little bit too late and Killard Point held on by 1¾ lengths.
Stagecoach Diamond was a further five back in third.

The other joint favourite, Pistol Basc, was never in contention finishing fifth, probably flattered passing tired horses.       

17:17 Our final contest is the Wetherby Racecourse Family-Sunday 25th April Standard Open NH Flat Race in which eight line up.

17:48 It isn’t very often a Howard Johnson runner with Denis O’Regan on board goes off at 40/1 …. and it went on to win, although admittedly O’Regan was only on board because Johnson’s first choice Diamond D’Amour was a non-runner..

Following the defection of the morning favourite Island Fellow was sent off the odds-on favourite.

There was also some on course support for Mr Supreme (7/1 into 4/1)

Inishkea set the somewhat sedate pace in the contest, with the field reasonably well bunched in behind.

O’Regan, on board Arrow Barrow, was quite happy to settle towards the rear before making progress down the back straight.

Turning for home Inishkea and Arrow Barrow were well clear of their rivals but by the time they were a furlong from home Arrow Barrow was in an unassailable position, despite running green in the closing stages.

Beside The Fire made some decent late progress to come home second, ten lengths behind.

Mr Supreme was another making late headway, pipping the front running Inishkea for third spot.
Island Fellow never looked happy and although with the main group turning for home, never made an impression.

17:50 That’s it from Wetherby, not the highest quality racing to be held here during the year but an enjoyable afternoons racing for the holiday crowd.

Also, after all the problems and criticism the course has faced conditions seem to have improved and, most importantly, all the runners came home OK.

 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

15:20
2 Bel Hugo (going - 13:12)

15:55
1 Akilak (going)
6 Award Winner (bad scope - SC 09:06)

15:30
7 Diamond D'Amour (going)

Results

14:15 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 9 Ballysimon 7/2
2nd 1 Sharadiyn 16/1
3rd 4 Woodlark Island 11/10 fav
12 Ran
Distances 21 & 1¾
Fav third
Tote
Win £5.70
Places £1.80 ££.40 £1.20
Exacta £80.50
CSF £51.29
Tricast £100.86
Time 4' 09.7" (slow 22.7")

14:45 Novices' Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 4 Kings Fontaine 5/6 fav
2nd 6 Pamak D'Airy 13/2
3rd 5 Neptune Equester 33/1
8 Ran
Distances 6 & 4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Places £1.50 £1.10 £5.80
Exacta £6.40
CSF £6.93
Time 5' 23.6" (slow 33.6)

15:20 Handicap Hurdle 2m 6f

1st 4 Lawgiver 33/1
2nd 12 Steveys Lad 4/1
3rd 13 Miss Tarantella 9/1
14 Ran Nr 2
Distances 5 & 3
Fav 7 Young Buddy 11/4 (fell)
Tote
Win £33.90
Places £8.00 £1.10 £4.90
Exacta £310.90
CSF £157.29
Tricast £1.320.14
Time 5' 44.9"

15:55 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 2 Agglestone Rock 9/4 fav
2nd 3 Le Roi Rouge 20/1
7 Ran Nr's 1 & 6
Distances 1¾
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.50
Places £1.80 £3.00
Exacta £36.90
CSF £39.20
Tricast £596.45
Time 5' 22.4" (slow 32.4")

16:25 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 1 Love Of Tara 11/8 fav
2nd 8 Saveiro 5/2
3rd 7 Rushing Nature 80/1
12 Ran
Distances 16 & 30
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.00
Places £1.20 £1.20 £16.50
Exacta £6.60
CSF £4.87
Time 5' 18.6"

16:55 Handicap Chase 3m 1f

1st 1 Killard Point 8/1
2nd 8 Rusty Red 3/1 jf
3rd 3 Stagecoach Diamond 16/1
8 Ran
Distances 1¾ & 5
Fav second & Pistol Basc (5th)
Tote
Win £10.50
Places £1.80 £1.70 £2.90
Exacta £33.70
CSF £31.10
Tricast £355.59
Time no time taken

17:30 Open NH Flat 2m

1st 2 Arrow Barrow 40/1
2nd 3 Beside The Fire 10/1
3rd 5 Mr Supreme 4/1
8 Ran Nr 7
Distances 10 & 8
Fav 9 Island Fellow 8/13 (6th)
Tote
Win £36.90
Places £5.90 £1.10 £1.60
Exacta £199.00
CSF £384.19
Time 4' 18.6"