A COLOSSAL crowd of 45,641 reinforced the popularity of Sunday racing on The Roodee last weekend.

Long before the first race was due off, the centre of the course was packed to capacity.

The action began with the Halliwell Jones BMW Nursery Stakes and a half-length win for 13-8 favourite Peak To Creek. The Alan Bailey-trained Miss Mytton finished second and was somewhat unlucky as she missed the break and had to go wide to get a clear run.

Punters backed the Barry Hillstrained Go Solo down to 1-3 favourite in the Cheshire County Council Foster Care EBF Maiden Stakes and jockey Kevin Darley made steady headway on the colt to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths from Come What July.

Kevin Darley was back in the winners' enclosure following the Mail On SundayTote Mile Handicap (Qualifier). The 10-1 shot Santisima Trinidad defied a late challenge by True Night to score by a neck.

The Sportingoptions.co.uk Curzon Park Rated Stakes resulted in a three-quarters-of-a-length win for 12-1 shot Sun Bird ridden by Paul Hanagan. The 9-2 favourite Vita Spericolata attempted to make all the running in the Cheshire Life Queensferry Stakes but was over-hauled inside the final furlong. Joe Fanning brought 7-1 chance Resplendent Cee through on the inside rail to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Late Claim lived up to his name to catch the Mick Mullineaux-trained Blue Star on the line in the North West Racing Club Handicap Stakes, giving Kevin Darley a treble and Barry Hills a double with a short head win on the 8-1 shot.

* A new season of jump racing at Bangor-on-Dee attracted a crowd of 3,328 fans last Friday. In the opener, Downtherefordancin set the pace in the Hollybush Juvenile Novices' Hurdle Race.

Tracking the leader was 7-4 shot Kavi ridden by Andrew Thornton. Two hurdles from home, Kavi hit the front pulling clear to win by one-and-a-half lengths.

'I really do like this course, the ground is brilliant and it's worth travelling here,' said trainer Lucinda Russell following a four-length win in the Johnstown Novices' Steeplechase with Sunday Rain.

The 5-1 shot outjumped Colquhoun down the back straight gaining the lead under Richard Johnson. Burundi stayed on to occupy second place.

Five lengths was the winning distance recorded by Whaleef in the Jewson Novices' Hurdle Race. Tom Doyle made ground throughout the race and despite going through the top of the last two hurdles, galloped clear of long-time leader Bentyheath Lane. 'He was disappointing in the winter so we gave him time and that win will have given him conf idence,' said trainer Paul Webber.

Jockey Dominic Elsworth brought Amptina, sent off at 9-1, with a well-timed run in the Higher Wych Novices' Handicap Steeplechase. Always up with the leaders, Amptina drew clear from the final bend to record a two-and-a-half-length win from Sharp Steel who came with a late run.

Starting at 9-2, Ambry was always in contention throughout the Wirral Handicap Race, passing the long-time leaders Rio Real and Green Go, and had the field well strung out with Sadler's Secret four lengths adrift.

The final race of the meeting was the Bettisf ield Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and resulted in a five-length win for York Rite, ridden by Douglas Costello and sent off at 9-2.