15:36 That’s it from Wincanton where we have seen you do not need large fields to have exciting racing.
Let’s hope it also holds true tomorrow, where we will be at Sandown and the fields are again very small.
From a bitterly cold but thankfully dry Wincanton a very good evening.
15:34 After the shock result in the opener, favourite backers will be happy with the result in the last as the well backed favourite Carrickmines came home the comfortable three length winner.
Andrew Glassonbury had settled the favourite near the rear in the early stages before making progress as they came down the back straight for the final time.
He passed the long time leader, Honour’s Dream, as they turned for home and Oncle Kid went with him.
It was between these two as they approached the three fences in the home straight but Carrickmines put in the better jumping effort and was soon clear.
Most impressive in the closing stages though was Mayeul, who had been settled last throughout before making late progress. David Pipe’s charge only just failed to mug Oncle Kid for second but he looked impressive and could be worth a decent look over further.
15:03 Our final contest is another 2m 5f chase, the Jockey Club Catering Conditional Jockeys’ Handi9cap Chase with eight battling it out.
15:02 There are some who deride small field contests as being boring and uncompetitive, I would refer them to this latest contest from Wincanton.
Turning for home any one of four of the five runners could have won the contest, the only exception being High Bray, who had pulled-up.
Our Bob had led from the first fence and had the favourite Vodka Brook alongside. Just behind were Aux Le Bahnn and Backbenscher.
Two out Our Bob and Vodka Brook jumped the fence together and Backbenscher put in a good leap to go third.
Approaching the last it was all change again with Vodka Brook the marginal leader and Aux Le Bahnn and Backbenscher on his quarters, with Our Bob beaten.
A good battle up the run in with any one of the first three looking possible winners. However Robert Thornton on Backbenscher kicked on best of all to win by a neck, with Aux Le Bahnn just getting second and the favourite a further neck back in third.
A cracking race.
14:35 Race five is the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Beginners’ Chase, a 2m 5f contest with five horses having a go.
14:32 There may only have been four runners but an incident packed contest nonetheless.
Most of the race was pretty boring with the runners processing in Indian file, the order being Sun Quest, Oddshoes, Sweet World and Right Stuff.
Turning for home the field bunched up with Oddshoes, Right Stuff and Sweet World line abreast.
However as they made the turn a groundsman was strolling across the course, arms full of starting tape. He got off the track just in time but Oddshoes only just missed stepping on the trailing starting tape.
Whether this contributed to what happened two out is a moot point but the joint favourite Right Stuff fell and Sun Quest, independently, fell.
This left Oddshoes in front with Sweet World chasing, although the chase was in vain as Oddshoes held on by 4½ lengths.
14:02 Our fourth contest is the two mile Betfair Handicap Hurdle in which Norsan is a non-runner, leaving only four runners.
14:00 Odds-on shot Master Overseer followed up his recent Towcester win with a seven length victory here, after seeing off a challenge from Skipper’s Lad.
Terrible Tenant set the pace until entering the back straight for the final time, where Hayden Frost too Master Overseer into the lead.
At the 12th fence (what is normally the third in the back straight) Aces Or Better fell, bringing down Wizard Of Edge, who was beaten at the time. Both horses were quickly up, although it was a couple of minutes before their riders walked away.
Turning for home it was a two horse race and, briefly, Skipper’s Lad headed the favourite. There was a battle down some of the home straight but approaching the last the favourite pulled clear, put in a good jump, and it was race over.
13:41 It may be a bitterly cold afternoon here at Wincanton but Gatien Du Tertre is getting pretty warm in the parade ring, whilst Triggernometry was doing his best to pull his lasses arm out.
13:31 Race three is our first chase of the afternoon, the Weatherbys Bank Silver Buck Handicap Chase over the extended 3m 1f. Alexanderthegreat is a non-runner leaving seven to take their chance.
The first two fences in the back straight are being omitted in all our chases this afternoon.
13:30 Well by no stretch of anybody's imagination could our second contest be described as a race.
Richard Johnson, on board Rougham, left his rivals standing at the start, had a 15 length lead passing the post for the first time. He extended his lead to about 25 lengths by the end of the back straight and eventually came home 30 lengths clear, having never seen any of his rivals.
There wasn’t even a battle for the places either with Brad’s Luck coming home nine clear of Woodlark Island.
The favourite, History Lesson, clearly did not like the ground and the run can be discounted.
13:10 A two mile hurdle for race two, the South West Racing Club Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, in which seven line up.
13:06 It could be one of those afternoons as the SP’s for the first three home were 50/1, 14/1 & 33/1.
It also has to be said the winner looked to be the best horse in running and was a deserved winner, whilst the well fancied runners did not appear to have any excuses.
The winner was Nick Mitchell’s Delcombe, whose form figures underlined his 50/1 price. Daryl Jacob settled the eventual winner behind the leaders Lady Bling Bling, Beat The System and Timetoring, before making a move turning for home. I suppose it has to be conceded he was making progress through tired horses.
Once in front, between the final two flights, he never looked like being headed.
There was a good battle for second spot where the front running Beat The System and the running-on The Pious Prince crossed the line locked together. It took Judge Di Clarke a while to make the call and it looked as though we were going to be in dead-heat territory. However she eventually managed to split them and The Pious Prince was given the call by a nose.
Timetoring, who was sent off second favourite, was with the pace until tamely dropping out turning for home.
The favourite Pete The Feat made progress down the back straight but was unable to capitalise and came home a never nearer fifth.
12:39 Little to report from the parade ring before the first, no real positives or negatives either way.
12:16 A six race card this afternoon and we begin with the 2m 6f Bathwick Tyres Taunton “NH” Novices’ Handicap Chase.
It sees our biggest field of the afternoon as 13 line up to face the starter. The hurdle on the stands side of the course will be omitted in all our hurdle races this afternoon.
11:41 We have two non-runners so far, details on the right.
11:40 Good morning from Wincanton where the going is Heavy. At least the rain has stopped and there are some breaks in the crowd. There is a bitterly cold wind however, which will be behind the runners in the home straight.
Although there has been no official announcement it looks as though the hurdle down the side of the course and the first two fences in the back straight are going to be omitted.
08:25 Racing goes ahead, the going is Heavy
07:30 After 21mm of rain in the last 24 hours there will be an inspection at 08:00
Our selections are:-
12:45 |
9 |
Timetoring |
13:15 |
5 |
Woodlark Island |
13:45 |
7 |
Master Overseer |
14:15 |
2 |
Right Stuff |
14:45 |
2 |
Bakbenscher |
15:15 |
6 |
Carrickmines |
14:41 Wednesday
Advance news:-
Going
Heavy, Soft in places
(GoingStick: 5.4 on Wednesday at 08:00)
Weather
7mm rain overnight Tuesday, forecast up to 4mm before racing
Return to race archive:
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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
13:45
1 Alexanderthefreat (Other - SC 09:43)
14:15
5 Norisan (Not Eaten Up - SC 08:41)
Results
12:45 Novices' Handicap Hurdle 2m 6f
1st 12 Delcombe 50/1
2nd 13 The Pious Prince 14/1
3rd 2 Beat The System 33/1
13 Ran
Distances 2 ½ & nose
Fav 11 Pete The Feat 10/3 (5th)
Tote
Win £87.50
Places £15.00 £6.20 £11.90
Exacta £467.60
CSF £615.76
Tricast £21,038.13
Time 5' 43.34"
13:15 Novices' Hurdle 2m
1st 3 Rougham 2/1
2nd 1 Brad's Luck 11/2
7 Ran
Distances 30
Fav 2 History Lesson 15/8 (5th)
Tote
Win £3.00
Places £2.10 £3.40
Exacta £14.30
CSF £12.25
Time 4' 02.4"
13:45 Handicap Chase 3m 1f 110yds
1st 7 Master Overseer 5/6 fav
2nd 4 Skipper's Lad 11/2
7 Ran Nr 1
Distances 7
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Places £1.60 £2.30
Exacta £5.10
CSF £5.51
Tricast £22.93
Time no time taken
14:15 Handicap Hurdle 2m
1st 1 Oddshoes 7/4 jf
2nd 3 Sweet World 11/4
4 Ran Nr 5
Distances 4½
Fav winner & Right Stuff (fell)
Tote
Win £2.90
Exacta £14.30
CSF £12.25
Time 3' 57.6"
14:45 Beginners' Chase 2m 5f
1st 2 Backbenscher 5/2
2nd 1 Aux Le Bahnn 9/2
5 Ran
Distances neck
Fav 5 Vodka Brook 13/8 (3rd)
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £2.30 £2.00
Exacta £16.00
CSF £13.20
Time 5' 28.9"
15:15 Handicap Chase 2m 5f
1st 6 Carrickmines 5/4 fav
2nd 2 Oncle Kid 12/1
3rd 5 Mayeul 14/1
8 Ran
Distances 3 & neck
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.50
Places £1.40 £2.80 £3.10
Exacta £26.10
CSF £17.29
Tricast £141.94
Time 5' 32.9"
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