The trouble with swathes of abandonments (or at this time of year, a few) is that at the end of it, not only have a few meetings been missed, but the first ones on are rife with maximum fields, impossible betting opportunities and handicaps with a weight range of only a few pounds. And here we are, although an extra wrinkle was that the advance going of good to firm, good in places ruled out plenty of runners, a bleak weather forecast cast doubt on whether the weather would move the goalposts - like at Worcester, where the rugby and football ones in the middle of the course regularly float away to Gloucester. Today the amount of guff in the middle of the track badly restricted the view, and when fields are consistently 13 or 14 strong, only a third of the runners are in shot on the big screen. No rain came to wash away what was not needed.

The racing front, the move of the fences in the home straight is not looking to have worked. They caused several fallers today, and disproportionate problems at the last meeting. However, as this only occurs on the final lap, the manner in which they are ridden at that point must have as much bearing on the issue as the geographical location.

Coventry Telegraph Juvenile Hurdle [2m ½f]

1: Tension Point     2: Callisto Moon     3: Soliya

Winner owned: RER Williams, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Christian Williams

Come the autumn, these summer juvenile hurdles invariably make no greater mark on history than Albert Smeggin's stage classic from the fourteenth century, 'Ye Danish Weirdo,' which admittedly had a small influence on William Shakespeare. In fairness to Tension Point, he could have won much more easily but for a slight error at the first, which saw him bumped badly by a rival and almost crash through a rail. Allow for the damage that did to his position and he was clearly much the superior horse. Callisto Moon seemed not to stay, Soliya ran a very laboured race and Dansilver looks too small to lug round much more than a bag of flour. The horse that looked to have some scope, Marquee, was poised for a place on the home turn but weakened badly late in the race. His yard usually have them clued up for these sort of races first time, and he ominously also had a hind leg bandaged, suggesting an historic injury.

Birmingham Mail Handicap Chase [2m 1½f]

1: In Extra Time     2: Lake Imperial     3: Radbrook Hall

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

Travello sets a rather hectic pace early on...

Quite a smattering of these were debuting over fences, but as a 0-95 race, the vets lining up were hardly prolific winners over the years. Patiently ridden, In Extra Time nosed ahead between the last two, and his only challenger, Pongo's Nephew fell at the final fence. He had looked shoddy in his jumping in a couple of points during the season just gone, but he might be worth a try at staying hurdles. The ground was just about soft enough for In Extra Time, and he showed no signs of a right-handed bias - his previous career being conducted almost exclusively that way round. After a decent chase debut, Lake Imperial fell when dropped in class last autumn, and this was his first chase run since. The trip was a bit too sharp for him. Think Of The Money has shot up the handicap for winning two sellers and never got competitive in this, giving weight all round. She may build on it when dropped a few pounds. The first time visor looked to have a negative influence on Sieze - watch for attempts with different contraptions, such as a carrot dangling from a gnarly stick in front of his eyes. Although being ridden to do so, Neutrino was getting into contention when he fell five out, but winning is not always top of his priorities.

...so that two from home neither In Extra Time nor Pongo's Nephew are quite spot on as Lake Imperial lurks persistantly in the background.

Coventry Telegraph Handicap Hurdle for the Stratford Summer Salver [2m ½f]

1: Capitana     2: Orpen Wide     3: Lord Baskerville

Winner owned: PJD Pottinger, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Andrew Tinkler

This proved a very competitive race, despite being a 0-130 ratings band event. The pace was a bit pedestrian, which meant that at the third last, ten or so were still well bunched and in contention. After being pipped over course and distance in May, Capitana made no mistake this time, having too much toe for Orpen Wide (on top weight, over a stone above a rating at which he posted a course and distance win) and Lord Baskerville (now two wins and a place from four runs at Stratford), who also wins the best name prize: by Wolfhound, out of My Dear Watson. Moon Star, whose last run was made to look handy by Osprey View earlier in the week, ruined his chance with a bad error three from home, but did rally into fifth. Can do better if feet behave themselves. 

The first three take the final hurdle in order, nothing amiss happened on the run in

Birmingham Mail Handicap Chase for the Stratford Summer Cup [2m 4f]

1: Lord Ryeford     2: Slaney Eagle     3: Return Home

Winner owned: Five Valleys Racing Partnership, trained: Tom George, ridden: Paddy Brennan

Before this race, a WW2 bomber flew low over the track, although not being able to say which type it was prevented suitable omens being derived from the sighting. Despite the plane's age, it looked much more spritely than some of the runners in the 3 year old's hurdle... Anyone who emails in to say it was clearly a Hawker Ryeford, should be aware that it is neither big nor clever to do that.

Another last fence fall left the winner clear, although Lord Ryeford was not going to be beaten anyway at the time, and apart from one error five out, he jumped reliably. Fier Normand was the victim, and he was not responding to the lightning flashes groomed into his fur (go faster stripes, or had he joined the SS?) when the incident happened. Slaney Eagle was not near enough to have entertained thoughts of second, so the winner had no pressure on the run-in. Return Home came from nowhere to nick third on the flat. In nine chases, his worst result is a fourth, but on the other hand, one win is not a grand return for those at home. Occasional winner Cheeky Lad took a heavy fall at the last as well, laying winded for a while. He is best treated warily until proving that this has not demoralised him too much. 

Alan Grinsill 50th Birthday Novice Hurdle [2m ½f]

1: Hot Zone     2: Maree Hall     3: Loita Hills

Winner owned: Mrs Gay Smith, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

The market opened as if it was a two horse race, and moved as if it was bit one to consider. That was Hot Zone, who showed marked improvement on some so-so form up until now, winning easily, although he was getting a stone from main rival Loita Hills, who is no world beater himself. The burden told as he lost second to Maree Hall, a horse blessed with a second place at Sandown (no obvious luck or fluke involved) but unable to replicate the run until now. Three runners were qualified for a handicap mark after today. Two appear in 'ones to note' below, but slightly less encouragement came for Longwood Law. He was well placed three from home but proved woefully one paced. A long term, three mile plan looks likely - he did win once in three Irish pointing runs - but he may not be ready yet for that step.

With victory assured, Hot Zone's composure wobbles at the last

Coventry Telegraph Novice Chase [2m 5½f]

1: Sultan Fontenaille     2: Champagne Harry     3: Lawyer Des Ormeaux

Winner owned: D & P Mead, trained: Nigel Hawke, ridden: Daryl Jacob

Like all of the chases today, the last fence was critical. Sultan Fontenaille and Cresswell Willow jumped it together, and the latter fell, leaving Sultan Fontenaille in command of a disappointing Champagne Harry. Cresswell Willow has been pretty solid in her skills so far and did not deserve to lose out in such a manner, although she did look likely to come off second best at the time - just. Long time leader Seafield Bogie ran and jumped well, but also unfortunately fell, in this case two out as the main three sped away from him. If the experience does not get to him, a bounce back is realistic.

Birmingham Mail conditional jockeys' Handicap Hurdle [2m 6½f]

1: Orion Express     2: Adlestrop     3: First Boy

Winner owned: Barley Mow Syndicate, trained: Sue Gardner, ridden: Robert Lucey-Butler

At face value this was yet another tight race, but Orion Express, back on his last winning mark, found his form of last summer to win by further than winning distance sellers may have foreseen for the race. Adlestrop and First Boy had a rather nifty set to for the minor honours, as Orion Express scoffed at them from the front. The Glen, after pulling hard early on, made a promising move three out, which petered into scotch mist on the home turn, and without the excuse of the ground this time Dizzy Future ran a stinker, pulling up at halfway. The recent runs of That Man Fox (second two runs ago, between a pair of subsequent winners) caught the eye, but he fell at fifth, too early to see if the enforced move from Phil McEntee's yard had made any difference to the horse's willingness, or lack thereof, to lose his maiden status. With two wins and place from three runs here, Dazzling Jim looks a course specialist, but one win came when the clear winner failed a drugs test, and in other runs he has at times looked very dodgepoteristic. No surprise, then, that the run of good results in the location came to a sudden halt. 

Ones to Note

Lake Imperial: Jumped reasonably and is one to look out for over 2½ miles or so

Moon Star: Recent form is sound, and blundered his way out of the frame today, is capable of better

Kerry's Blade: In race four, he made an awful mess of the seventh, and got over the close up eighth without Barry Keniry having use of any stirrups. Schooled round at the back after this, he could show marked improvement, although recent runs were of limited encouragement.

Shannonvale: Looked a real plodder in points, even though he won one, and pulled up in two previous hurdle runs. Today he was fourth when the pace quickened and immediately blundered when trying to respond. From that stage he had only a smattering of gentle nudges, and still held that fourth spot at the line. Should have been nursed to a workable official rating.

Legends Lass: Had a quiet amble round in the fifth without being subject to too much (or any) stress, and can now go into handicaps. 

Ones to Avoid

Soliya: Two hurdle wins already but looks very limited

Shaman: Has been going the wrong way mentally, and a new yard and switch to fences had no benefit to him

Dizzy Future: Ground was surely fine, and form looked sound in the context of the last, but took very little interest and pulled up with a lap to go

UK-Jumping Selections

Romany Dream: Posted a fairly lacklustre show in the main chase of the day

Jokejoker: Looked set for a place behind Lord Ryeford but tied up badly late on, ending in fourth. After eight weeks off since his comeback run, he may have just needed this again.