17:18 A couple of bumpers to conclude proceedings, we will bring just the results of those two contests.

17:07 Well the favourite Rowdy Rampage made all to take the feature contest but is was a hollow victory in what turned out a race most would want to forget.

The first incident was the very first fence where Kirkhammerton fell leaving rider Danny Cook prostrate. He was still being attended by paramedics as the horses came round on the second circuit, resulting in the fence being omitted.

The next horrible incident came at the eight where Troy Tempest took a sickening fall which proved to be fatal.

In the race itself Bold Perk was always to the fore before dropping out of contention in the home straight and coming home last of the five who finished.

The biggest challenge came from Grovemere who came home a closing length and a half second.

Top weight, The Ferbane Man, came third probably due more to the lack of ability of his rivals and 12 lengths behind the runner-up. Lost Glory in fourth was the only other finisher.

 Marleybow was looking to be at least placed passing the by-passed second last fence but pulled up with what looked like an injury to his near fore and he was taken away in the horse ambulance.      

16:45 Unusually we have had to wait for the sixth race for this afternoons feature contest, the Pershore Plum Festival Land O'Plums Handicap Chase, with 11 off to post.

Lost Glory sweating freely.

16:44 Andrew Thornton "cautioned" as to future use of the whip after his ride on Red Not Blue - for goodness sake he is a senior jockey, what use is a caution?

16:33 Ton-Chee made all to come home the impressive winner of this incident packed contest.

Dream Spinner continued his antics at the star and there was a collective sharp intake of breath as he reared at the start and his rider, Tom Weston, was lucky not to end up underneath him. That was the final straw and he was withdrawn resulting in a 10p Rule Four deduction.

The first incident in the race itself was Donal Fahy parting company from Friendly Love at the third, he was on the ground for a couple of minutes before walking away.

Mayor Of Kilcock took a very tired fall three out, depositing his rider Ben Poste in the wings of the flight, the rider finding little sympathy in some quarters as there was a feeling the horse should have been pulled up.

The favourite Naledi was settled towards the rear in the early exchanges, making steady progress to come from the field to be the main challenger to Ton-Chee, although only able to get within six lengths of the winner.

Hi Wycombe, who attracted some market support finished third, however he came home 18 lengths adrift of the runner-up.    

It says something about the quality of the race that 103 3/4 lengths separated first and last.

Not a race to live in the memory, unless you are a connection of the winner.

16:18 A two mile hurdle next as 14 go to post for the Midshire Communications Selling Handicap Hurdle.

Dream Spinner twice unshipped his rider as they went to post. Ton Chee was a head shaker, Breadstick was on his toes.

16:12 According to the Stewards the interference between Vertige Dove and Mad Moose was accidental but it had improved the formers position, hence the decision to reverse the placings.

It still seems a perverse decision to me.

15:59 A driving finish from Andrew Thornton, more effective than pretty, saw Red Not Blue take the race by three parts of a length, heading Haldibari in the dying stages.

Am I Blue set the pace, leading until the end of the back straight on the final circuit where the advantage was ceded to Haldibari, who had been in second place throughout. It wasn't long before Red Not Blue was in a challenging position but even as they cleared the last it looked as though Haldibari was going to hold on.

The favourite, Benmadigan, was hardly mentioned in dispatches for most of the contest but made steady progress from approaching four out and he came home third, 4 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up. 

15:47 Next up is the Tiddesley Wood Yellow Egg Plum Handicap Hurdle over three miles with 11 going to post.

I did not get to see them in the parade ring due to the Stewards Enquiry after the last race.

15:40 Well the Stewards have reversed the result, more to follow.

15:27 Only five runners but some drama in the closing stages as the winner Vertige Dore looked as though he wanted to run-out down the horsewalk doing the runner-up, Mad Moose, no favours and with only a short head it is small wonder the Stewards took a look.

Vertige Dore shared the running with Tout Regulier, with the other three tracking.

Schindler's Gold was the first to crack as they turned for home and as they lined up for home any of the remaining four were in a position to win.  

By the last it was between Vertige Dore and Mad Moose, the latter looking well beaten as they went out on the final circuit.

15:11 Onto the larger obstacles for race three as five go to post for the extended 2m 4f Bob Love 'King Of The Dirt' Memorial Novices' Chase.

Vico was pulling quite hard in the parade ring whilst, in complete contrast, Tout Regulier looked as though she was about to fall asleep.

15:05 Well they say the horses know nothing about the betting and so it proved in this contest. Geneva Geyser was an uneasy favourite drifting from 6/4 out to 5/2 but that did not stop him coming home the very comfortable nine length winner.  

Held up in the early exchanges he made steady progress under Leighton Aspell as they came down the back straight for the final time and as they turned for home he was on the quarters of Mercury Bar, who had set out to make all.

The pair cleared two out side by side but by the last the uneasy favourite was clear.

Mercury Bay held on for second spot with Peachy Moment a running on third, six lengths behind the runner-up.

Nataani was another making eye catching late progress to finish a further 2 1/4 lengths back in fourth.  

14:42 Another 2m 4f hurdle for race two, with a bakers dozen due to face the starter for the Pensham Novices' Hurdle.

A moderate looking bunch in the parade ring. Dr Anubis was swishing his tail a bit. One that caught the eye in a positive manner was the top weight Geneva Geyser. Mercury Bay is taking a pull to post.

14:33 First blood to the punters as the favourite American Art takes the spoils, his cause helped by his main rival Monroe Park drifting to the left on the run-in. Having said that the winning margin of five lengths suggests he would still have won had his rival remained straight.

The Good Guy, as usual, set the running with Kensington Oval keeping him company. Josephine Malines, John Sixteen and Modern Day Icon formed the second rank with the favourite tracking the leading group.

Turning for home Kensington Oval was the first to send out the distress signals and it was all change up front as Where's My Slave and Monroe Park had the advantage, with American Art in a challenging position and it looked to be between those three. Indeed Monroe Park had run on from last.

Two out Monroe Park was leading with American Art the challenger, who took up the running on the run-in, needing just one backhander from Conor O'Farrell to maintain his momentum.

Where's My Slave held on for third spot, eight lengths in arrears, whilst Moonwolf led the remainder home.   

14:16 A couple showing signs of getting warm - understandable in these weather conditions. The Good Guy was early to post.

14:12 The opening contest is the Vale Technical & Volkerlaser Claiming Hurdle over 2m 4f with 15 off to the start.

American Art was a little on his toes fighting his two handlers. Monroe Park did not catch the eye at all, very skinny. Josephine Malines was pulling slightly and showing signs of getting warm. Kensington Oval looked a nice sort.

13:10 Worcester going stick is 7 on the chase course and 7.5 on the hurdle course

12:58 Good afternoon from a muggy Worcester where we have broken cloud and no wind of any note.

There are currently five non-runners.

11:49 Three non-runners now

08:48 No revolution in the opener for Potemkin as he is a non-runner, sadly due to colic

08:09 How is this for a conundrum? I am travelling to Worcester on the train today. If I buy a return ticket from Milton Keynes to Worcester, via Birmingham, the cost is £35.90 return.

Yet if I buy two tickets, Milton Keynes to Birmingham return, then Birmingham to Worcester return the cost is only £12.50. 

Same trains with either ticket!!!

07:40 It has been a dry night and a mainly dry day is forecast with temperatures expected to reach 23 degrees.

The official going is GOOD (watered).

Both bends will be 6m off the inside line, adding approximately 34m to a two mile race (and presumably 51m to the longer races).

There is, currently, just the one non-runner.

Coverage of the first seven races only today.

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

14:20
2 Massams Lane (travel - 13:05)
8 Potemkin (colic - SC 08:41)

14:50
12 Caravan Queen (lame - SC 12:02)

15:50
10 Night Force (withdrawn)

16:20
1 Aperitif (going 12:03)
5 Sgt Roberts (lame - SC 17:20 Thu)
11 Watchmaker (lame - SC 13:02)

17:55
10 Celtic Legacy (lame - SC 11:09)

Results

14:20 Claiming Hurdle 2m 4f

14:50 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f

15:20 Novices' Chase 2m 4f 110yds

15:50 Handicap Hurdle 3m

16:20 Selling Handicap Hurdle 2m

16:50 Handicap Chase 2m 7f

17:20 Open NH Flat (Div 1) 2m

17:55 Open NH Flat (Div 2) 2m