The advance weather suggested we should expect a meander in the mud, instead we had fun in the sun, although the going was officially mostly soft for the hurdles and mostly good to soft in the chases.

Be In The Game - Betlive @ Williamhill.com Maiden Hurdle [2m ½f]

1: Mexican Bob     2: Sergheyev     3: Kerayasi

Winner owned: First Chance Racing, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

Twenty runners went to post, and it contained a fair variety of those ready to do themselves justice, future prospects and minor players. Mexican Bob continued his much improved form shown last time, despite the very different ground, easing clear from the second last. After winning a bumper at Leopardstown on his debut, Sergheyev made no show in the Champion Bumper, hardly unforgiveable, and looked well in the preliminaries. He ran quite well, but was disappointingly one paced in the last quarter of a mile. Further should suit. Kerayasi ran a similar race, without ever leading, only to wallop the second last and struggle home from that point, just holding the string finish of Invention - who looked to have the better credentials of Emma Lavelle's pair, but did not have Barry Fenton on board. Rated in the 80s on the flat, and winner of a Newmarket maiden on soft, he seems to have what it takes. Another looking well beforehand was the large Clifden Boy. He had not shown much in bumpers, but today managed sixth despite not being given too hard a time of it. Just in front of him was Counting House, who had a similar profile to Sergheyev, being second in a decent juvenile hurdle before ending up down the field in the Triumph Hurdle. He was a flop with no obvious reason. Napoletano, a regular flat winner, will probably only see out the trip on better ground. Invention's ginormous stablemate The Jolly Spoofer was not fit, pulled too hard and called it a day before the last. If he has ability, he looks a long term prospect.

Freephone William Hill on 0800 444040 Novice Hurdle [2m 7f]

1: Hennessy     2: Corker     3: Cave Of The Giant

Winner owned: Malcolm Denmark, trained: Carl Llewellyn, ridden: Paul Moloney

After a couple of let downs last season, ending in a win in the Spring, Hennessy doubled up moderately impressively, in that he made all and repelled all boarders, being helped by the enemy letting him dictate at a fairly steady pace. The challengers dropped away one by one, leaving Corker to make a belated run from the rear of the field, with only a glimmer of hope at best. This was Corker's ninth place in eighteen winless runs, which tells the entire story, but he is a good yardstick for the form, and suggests Hennessy has the makings of a decent handicapper at least. Bali Bay hung on to the winner longest, but was very tired from the turn for home, losing third to enduring maiden Cave Of The Giant. That horse is another placepot hero (eight times in the frame from thirteen runs), but he is hard to fathom as do his close defeats on fast ground count for more than bigger beatings on soft in better company. Whatever the case, it is still zero wins.

Hennessy skips out for another lap. chased by the grey Baker's Girl, Himba (10), Bali Bay (2) and the hiding Sarrococca

Every Minute, Every Match Betlive @ Williamhill.com Novice Handicap Chase [3m]

1: Junctiontwentyfour     2: Grenfell     3: Garston Star

Winner owned: DR Mead, trained: Nigel Hawke, ridden: Daryl Jacob

It was another case of every post a winning one, or almost, as Junctiontwentyfour was headed for a few strides after three from home. Even in first time blinkers, Grenfell decided that she could not really be bothered with it all, and after she hung right between obstacles, the winner had a chance to assert again and took it. An ex-pointer, Junctiontwentyfour's Rules career had been notably lacking in promise until he was third last time out at Plumpton, and if it is a case of the penny having dropped, he could still be well handicapped. Garston Star, for whom the trip was an unknown, lost his pitch with a bad mistake after two miles, but at least rallied a bit towards the end, although a clear round may not have seen him better his placing. Two chase debutants with some hurdles form of interest lined up, Sintos and English Jim, but they both jumped badly and were detached early before pulling up.

Go On, Try And Bluff Me @ Williamhillpoker.com mares' Handicap Hurdle  [2m 3½f]

1: Gaelic Gift     2: Jades Double     3: Papeete

Winner owned: Leith Hill Chasers, trained: Brendan Powell, ridden: Sam Jones

With the eight runners producing a 7/2 favourite and only one rag longer than 10/1, this looked a competitive heat, and the first two served up a super finish. Gaelic Gift was in and out of the lead until she attacked three out, way over on the far side. The move looked decisive, until Jades Double emerged from the pack to pose a serious threat. She failed by the shortest short head, and had she been able to keep a straight line over the last two furlongs, then she would have won. Gaelic Gift is herself somewhat inconsistent, and as such is probably still ahead of the handicapper when she is in the mood. Papeete has yet to quite live up to her win here on her debut, and today she surprisingly had lots of trouble coming down the hill and handling the sharp home turn. Having lost all chance, she ran on well once straightening up. Like Papeete, it seems that Spinning Coin peaked at the start of her career over jumps, and she again was disappointing, under pressure before halfway.

Eight mares spread out unnecessarily far. Front to back they are Ballyhoo, Gaelic Gift, Festive Chimes, Spinning Coin, Jades Double, Papeete, Tirailleur and Alpha Juliet

Even More Live Sports Betlive @ Williamhill.com conditional jockeys' Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Rowdy Yeats     2: Master T     3: Vibe

Winner owned: Hamsard Ltd, trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Dave English

Even after his jockey took off three pounds via his claim, Rowdy Yeats had 12 st 2 lb to lug around. The ground was a touch easier than he was proven on, and he was also lacking form on a sharp track. All in all, he looked a good favourite to get turned over, except that there was not much inspiration to be found amongst the opponents. Again mostly in front, he had Master T challenging in the straight, with predictable results, as that horse wins rarely, and then only when kidded home by Philip Hide. The other minor threat came from Vibe, who does not appear to stay two miles. There was some support, presumably each-way, for Golly, who was inevitably fourth. The busy but unprolific Jupon Vert (7 wins from 75, but has tackled many soft races) wasted a good opportunity with a lacklustre effort, and even from five pounds out of the handicap, Macgyver missed out on one of his better chances, and is three years without a win now. Chasing newcomer Silvo took a heavy fall at the seventh.

Get Your Chips @ Williamhillcasino.com Selling Handicap Hurdle [2m 7f]

1: Roaringwater     2: Better Moment     3: Smiling Applause

Winner owned: Rip-Roarers, trained: Richard Phillips, ridden: Warren Marston

For a seller this was below par, but there are not many staying sellers to go round, so perhaps the runners are under provided with chances to excel? Roaringwater was miles clear descending the hill, and with the race in bag, he had a sense of humour failure in the straight, teasing Better Moment that he had a squeak. With nine wins to his name, Better Moment at least looked afterwards as if he had put heart and soul into the race, and his recent placed runs in sellers is as good as he is. This might also have been too far. Roaringwater won on his bumper debut, but had enjoyed, and that does look to be the right word, fifteen defeats on the bounce before today. Having managed just one run in each of the last three seasons, Smiling Applause showed promise for this level if he can just make that extra run.

Making Sport More Exciting Betlive @ Williamhill.com Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m]

1: Lord Crewe     2: Knightsbridgelives     3: Gemini Ahhs

Winner owned: RE Baskerville, trained: Karen George, ridden: Eamon Dehdashti

 Back to normal, with a dull all weather bumper to end? Not completely true, as it was all weather, the two favourites were the paddock eye-catchers and the race was run at a crawl early on. But it certainly livened up at the end. With just a furlong left, Knightsbridgelives was clear, home and hosed, it appeared, but he tied up badly afterwards, and the body language from the saddle was that he realy had nothing left to give. Gemini Ahhs closed the gap, but it was Lord Crewe that got up right on the line. It did look to the naked eye as if he had just failed, but the judge's verdict came through quite quickly. Only the general lack of interest in the lowest of bumper races prevented it generating some controversy. Newcomers from Pam Sly (Pikasso) and Gary Moore (Louvil) looked alright beforehand. Pikasso was a so-so fifth, Louvil a more disappointing last.

Ones to Note

Invention: It would be rash to assume every tenderly handled horse from the Lavelle yard is a winner in waiting - there are too many of them - but this one looks interesting.

Sergheyev: Another chance earned when up in trip

Clifden Boy: A lump on the upward curve

Baker's Girl: Is bred to stay but in her longest race yet she made no show behind Hennessy. A little handicap will be more her buttered bun.

Gaelic Gift: Will cause supporters some agonies along the way, but tends to win at prices that ease that suffering

Smiling Applause: Last ran twice in a season when Disraeli was Prime Minister, but if he can stay sound, sellers are within his talents.

Ones to Avoid

Counting House: Was his Sandown run a fluke?

Grenfell: Had every chance and she did not fancy it one bit

UK-Jumping Selections

Garston Star: Top weight over three miles was a challenge, but a blunder mid race did more damage. And he was not able to make the running as he usually seems to prefer.