The big end of season hunter chase meeting used to be an afternoon meeting, which meant that those wishing to attend and have a beer could still fit in with the city’s rather occasional train service. By coincidence, or perhaps not, the crows for the afternoon option seemed much larger.

Standards in the big race were as good as ever, where either it produces a close thriller or a spectacular individual performance, but in addition to one other hunter chase, the card (most valuable ever at the track) had five populous handicaps, with not even a sniff of no-hopers out of the handicap

Knight Frank Handicap Hurdle (for the Clairefontaine Challenge Trophy) [2m ½f]

1: Pearl King     2: Capitana     3: Festive Chimes

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

As was the theme for most of the meeting, the field was fairly well bunched in the middle of the back straight, only for three or four serious contenders to sweep into command entering the final turn. Cruising most serenely at the time was Capitana, and she led two out with the race at her mercy. However, whilst this was going on, Tony McCoy was getting one of his routine miracles out of Pearl King who had not travelled entirely sweetly throughout. Upsides at the last, Pearl King was able to run on the stronger of the pair. The likeable Festive Chimes ended up third. She has the sort of stocky, power-packed build that is juts right for jumping, but squeezed into a frame that is just small enough to discourage the idea of her going over fences with inevitable excellence. Having set a fierce pace, Norma Hill held on to a distant fourth, which suggests that some of the also rans posted rather feeble pursuits. Tysou might have been a little lame afterwards, Take A Mile has been off form anyway, Wee Dinns was not really up for it today etc etc etc.

Pearl King, who was not exactly an immediately overwhelming success as a hurdler, sees off Capitana, to prove he has well and truly got it sussed now

George Pragnell Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle [2m 3f]

1: Loita Hills     2: Baloo     3: The Glen

Winner owned: RT Kanter and AJ Scrimgeour, trained: Philip Hobbs, ridden: Joe Guerriero

Loita Hills loiters over the line as Baloo and The Glen suffer the bear necessities of the minor places

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Chase [2m 1½f]

1: Forest Green     2: Salinas     3: Neltina

Winner owned: Ged Mason, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Nick Scholfield

With six of the thirteen runners flying the sponsor’s proverbial flag, being bred in Ireland, the cosmic joker struck to ensure that the placed horses were French, German and British-bred respectively. Benefiting from a very composed ride from his youthful jockey, Forest Green defied a rise in class to complete the hat trick. Rounding the turn for home, his biggest danger was Sunley Shines (Ruby Walsh in the very unusual situation of riding for another UK yard when Paul Nicholls had a runner in the race), but she was beaten at the second last, and fell at the next when down to third. Over what might be about his ideal combo of distance and going – good, with very light drizzle – Salinas battled hard and just was not quite good enough. He, and third placed Neltina, were tackling a bit better class than they are used to, and back at their normal grade will be serious contenders. Unbeaten in two chases, winning both impressively, Lord Henry hit the deck at fifth, whereas Alph, unable to finish in four chases, unseated at the second. The earth can be a great leveller. As indeed can be a bulldozer, and Alph needs to learn that he is not one. Marcel does not shine in tough, big fields, and had top weight also to contend with tonight and Bonus Bridge did not seem at home on the sharp track – he has mostly avoided them previously.

Forest Green wins so comfortably that he even has time to try out the Hitler Jig as a victory celebration

49^th Running of the Pertemps Cup Champion Hunter Chase (for the Horse & Hound Cup] [3m 4f]

1: Joe Blake     2: Coomakista     3: Coolefind

Winner owned: RA Bartlett, trained: Ian Ferguson, ridden: Derek O’Connor

Quite a tussle for the title, which saw the ex-Ferdy Murphy handicapper Joe Blake follow up his win at Punchestown last month. Best of the real pointers was Coomakista, who won the novice equivalent in 2006. Leaving the back straight, she seemed the most likely winner, but Joe Blake was relishing every extra yard whilst Coomakista was tolerating them. She should have another good year in 2008 providing she is not despatched to stud, and connections seemed no less delighted with second than those of the winner. Coolefind stole third on the line from Le ‘Not-too-keen-on’ Passing, and might have been even more dangerous had he jumped with more fluency. Despite returning to form last time, and his yard being in a hot streak, Knife Edge could not double up on last year’s success. Winner of 16 jump races, including a grade one, and seven grade two or threes, has age caught up with him? He did not seem to have the energy to get over some of the fences. Given his highly suspect stamina, favourite Scots Grey surprisingly began bowling along in front, and more predictably it caught up with him three out. The adaptable Vinnie Boy had a real off day, but there is a suggestion that he does not go left-handed as effectively as right, and sharp bends like these cannot help.

Champion - Joe Blake and Derek O'Connor

George Jones Memorial Handicap Chase (for the Gambling Prince Trophy) [2m 5½f]

1: Iron Man     2: Pak Jak     3: Tommy Spar

Winner owned: R Owen & P Fullager, trained: Peter Bowen, ridden: Tom O’Brien

At the third last, it took a bit of imagination to see anything other than jumping errors or stamina problems stopping Pak Jak, poodling along happily in third as the others toiled. That ignored one vital stat – in 18 previous runs, he has one win and seven seconds. On the other hand, Iron Man, despite some imperfect but not dangerous jumps, tries his heart out, and that was enough for him to defy faster ground than he has previously won on, plus heavy boots of lead and icicles within his head. Tommy Spar nearly made it a 1-2 for Peter Bowen, but he his two stone higher than he started last season and also has only won on good to firm. If there was a hard luck story at the meeting, it was Tonic Du Charmil, who was seventh but well in touch when he fluffed the open ditch four out and unseated his rider. After early chasing mishaps, this was the kind of misbehaviour that we all thought he had put behind him.

Jon Pinfold Ladies’ Hunter Chase (for the Stratford Millennium Rose Bowl) [2m 7f]

1: Twenty Degrees     2: Kilrogan     3: Red Brook Lad

Winner owned: Michael Hawker, trained: Alison Dare, ridden: Polly Gundry

This was the most bemusing outcome of the day, as Twenty Degrees was at the back and under pressure seven out, looking a highly unlikely winner. By the fourth last, he was in touch and going as well as any – the sort of splendid mood swing that he demonstrated for Gary Moore but usually in the other direction. In his new career, four pointing wins had been encouraging, but what of two seconds and two unseateds? The ex-Irish Kilrogan had won a race of little lustre at Folkestone, but gave some better guidelines to his ability by finishing in front of Red Brook Lad, who won on the all weather back in 1999, but has made quite a name for himself in this sphere and has no less than 11 hunter chase wins to his name. Until last time, Red Brook Lad had not won on a sharp track and the uncharacteristic lack of fluency in his jumping was very expensive. After losing his way under Rules, Keltic Lord – a dual course winner – went pointing only to get a walk-over in his one declaration in the field of racing in fields. He set a good pace out front, after well backed favourite Benrajah departed at the first, but the Keltic goose was cooked when a loose horse stalled him at the eleventh and left the pack close enough to, like, really hassle him, man.

Jenkinsons Caterers Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m ½f]

1: Linden Boy     2: Celticello     3: Jack Rolfe

Winner owned: G Richards, trained: John O’Shea, ridden: Eddie Nolan

Although there was just one hurdle winner amongst the field, this was probably a decent race of it’s type, and could throw up some future successes, even though the first three home ended up well clear. Two from home, Linden Boy had the lead and was cantering all over his rivals. His rider looked round as much in disbelief as anything and noticed that Celticello was in no mood to have the mickey taken. In the end, Linden Boy had to work hard, but Celticello would have needed quite a bit further to have reeled the winner in. Jack Rolfe made his hurdle debut in being fourth of twenty-four in a novice hurdle behind Detroit City, only to not live up to it in two further tries. A recent 1m 6f flat win suggested he might not find this far enough. The opposite looked true as he had every chance turning for home but faded out of it. The rest sort of finished in a heap.

Ones to Note

Smoke Trail: The going had gone against him and he ran accordingly, but on really fast ground, he can bounce back.

Iron Man: Goes up the handicap, but horses that try like he does can keep defying it

Jack Rolfe: Either does not stay, or wants further, or this trip and less good oppo. Or something else?

Marigold’s Way: Was in rear and outpaced most of the way in the closer, only to stay on in the last quarter of a mile. She failed to land the classic 'three-runs-and-into-handicaps' routine, but something that causes them to travel half a stride slower (further or mud) will help.

Celticello: Inconsistent but now has shown ability on several occasions.

Final Promise: Is amassing a slightly chequered hurdles career but with a fairly inexperienced rider, and should have a little handicap in him somewhere

Ones to Avoid

Come Out Firing: Flatters to deceive, although it may be a jumpy nature rather than inherent evil that is the problem. There seems nothing too trivial to distract him.

Sunley Shines: Has not been foot perfect in chases, and even adding Ruby Walsh to the formula did not help.

Pak Jak: Iron Man was gutsy, but Pak Jak still should have pipped him, had he wanted to.