15:53 Wednesday What should have been a Twilight meeting has been bought forward to a 13:50 start because of the adverse weather conditions impacting turf racing.

Some light snow flurries are forecast but no problems are anticipated with the seven race artificial surface card.

08:11 Temperatures dropped to -6 overnight and are expected to remain at zero during the day.

The track has been power harrowed and will be restored to racing standard this morning with an expected going of Standard. 

08:42 If you see somebody at Wolverhampton this afternoon looking like a Michelin man it will probably be me.

08:49  We currently have one non-runner

09:19 Two non-runners now, now is Beauchamp Castle a non-runner because the horse has a temperature or because it is too cold :-)

12:51 Good afternoon from Wolverhampton where it isn't as cold as I thought it would be - I may have overdone the layers.

13:04 Time for a pre-racing quiz - what have I just had for lunch - I certainly don't know!!!

13:40 Our opening contest is the Blue Square Carnival IPhone App Apprentice handicap, with seven off to post.

It is strange seeing sprinters having been exclusively NH since October. Methaaly has an odd gait and if I didn't know better I would say he was limping.

13:53 Something of a typical apprentice race with no sort of gallop early on and Riverdale setting what pace there was.

There were six lengths splitting the field as they swung out of the back straight.

Coming for home it came down to be a two horse race with Night Trade coming upsides Riverdale and the pair dueled to the line with the top weight Night Trade edging it by a head.

Possible hard luck story in the race goes to Methaaly whose rider decided to take an inside line and hope a gap would appear but it didn't, ruining any chance and third place went to Lucky Dan. Having said that in going for the inside rail his rider, Noel Garbutt, caused interference, earning him a three day careless riding ban.

14:12 Race two is another six furlong contest, this time with just six off to post for the Ringside Suit Classified Claiming Stakes.

No parade ring clues for the second with all the runners looking decidedly average.

14:23 Whether you like artificial surface racing or not you have to say the first two races have both produced some exciting finishes as for the second race running judge Brian Goodwill had to revert to the camera to decide the result.

The spoils went to the favourite Hinton Admiral who made all under Joe Fanning, holding off a late challenges from the running-on duo of Steelcut, who finished second, and Dancing Maite.

Steelcut had raced in third place for most of the contest before making progress to join the leader and Haadeeth as they swung for home.

By contrast Dancing Maite had missed the break and did not make his move until the home straight.

A furlong out Haadeeth was out of the battle and it was Hinton Admiral and Steelcut who were battling with Dancing Maite closing.

14:40 Race three is the Sponsor A Race By Calling 01902 390000 Handicap, a 1½ mile contest with 12 off to post.

Black Iceman was doing his best to shove his lass through the parade ring rail. During The War was pulling quite hard, Grecian Goddess was pulling slightly.

14:55 Three races and three photo finishes but it still does not mean I am getting to like artificial surface racing.

Loads of scrimmaging as they swung for home with During The War looking as though he had clipped heels and as he went backwards caused some scrimmaging. There was more scrimmaging as they turned for home

One who missed the trouble was Black Iceman who was going wide having missed the break and he managed to get a clear run to charge up the home straight, first of all heading the leader Port Hill then holding off challenges from the well backed Cantor and Beneath, the former getting within a short head of the winner and arguably an unlucky loser having been one of those caught in the scrimmaging.

Beneath was a further head back in third.

15:13 Race four is the Great Offers Online At Wolverhampton-Racecourse.co.uk Handicap, which sees 13 go to the extended 1m 1f start.

15:18 It is starting to get a little bit chilly at Wolves now - I'm glad it was moved from a twilight to an afternoon fixture.

15:24 Finally a race where there was no need for a photograph as Harrys Yer Man came from almost last to first to come home a length and a quarter winner.

The winner hit the front approaching the half furlong marker, soon edging clear of My Mate Les, Deferto Delphi and Aggbag.

Another running on well late on was Prickles and he finished third, a length and a quarter behind the runner-up My Mate Les 

Two paddock negatives. Littleportandbrandy has been on the brandy I think the way she was behaving in the parade ring. However she was not as bad as Deferto Delphi who was really on his toes.

 15:42 I think this is race five coming up next, I'm starting to get very bored now.

This is the Download The Blue Square IPone App Handicap, an extended mile contest with nine off to post.

Star Links and Goal were both slightly on their toes, on looks Elijah Pepper gets the narrow vote.

15:55 A good battle to the line with Viva Ronaldo taking the spoils, coming home a half-length winner over Mullins Way, with Thunderstruck, who had attempted to make all, a neck back in third.

The winner was helped by the stands rail as he eased past the long time leader inside the final furlong.

Thunderstruck looked as though he would hold on for second but was nabbed by Mullins Way who came with a wet sail down the centre of the course and had he begun his run a few strides earlier there is every possibility he could have stolen the race on the line.

Photo Opportunity was disappointing, having been with the early pace only to drop out tamely on the spin for home. 

 16:11 Almost there and the penultimate contest is the extended two mile Enjoy The Punters Package Group Offer Handicap, with nine off to post.

16:25 A two mile contest and Fantino led all the way just holding off Blue Cossack in our closest finish of the afternoon, it took Brian Goodwill a while to decipher that photograph with the winning distance being just a nose.

Blue Cossack had been settled just behind the leading group before moving into a challenging position as they came home and almost got up on the line.

Leyte Gulf was eventually sent off favourite but had to settle for third place, two lengths behind the main protagonists, having been produced late. Royal Bonsai, who vied for favouritism was on and off the bridle throughout the latter stages of the contest and had to settle for fourth spot.

16:43 The final race is here as just eight go to post for the Play Rainbow Riches At bluesq.com Handicap.

Gabrial's King had a hissy fit on one of the circuits of the parade ring, rearing and almost pulling his handler over. Miss Cato and Si Sealy were both slightly on their toes. 

16:47 The floodlights are on for the final race here at Wolves

16:54 Luctor Emergo missed the break and had to charge on to hit the front as they came out of the home straight, once he hit the front he opened up a couple of length lead and he did not see another rival in the race.

The favourite, Gabrial's King, was settled nearer last than first for most of the contest before being produced late.

He was slowly closing the gap on the leader but could only get within a length as the line came.

Miss Cato, who had been prominent, came home third a further 2¼ lengths in arrears. 

17:08 That's it from Wolverhampton and, hopefully, my only artificial surface meeting of 2012.

I have to say a well done to this afternoons commentator Gary Capewell, who was calling his first full meeting. He did very well, especially with the number of close finishes. He's back here tomorrow and hopefully he will be a bit more relaxed having got the first meeting under his belt.

I'm pleased this meeting was changed from a twilight to afternoon meeting as it is now getting quite cold.

From a chilly Wolverhampton a very good afternoon.

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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

Results

13:50 Handicap 5f 216yds 

14:20 Claiming Stakes 5f 216yds

14:50 Handicap 1m 4f 50yds

15:20 Handicap 1m 1f 103yds

15:50 Handicap  1m 141yds

16:20 Handicap 2m 119yds

16:50 Handicap 1m 141yds