It's been an exciting week so far for the Coral Racing Club with not one, not two, but three runners already seen in action at Market Rasen, Sedgefield and Southwell.

It was just over two weeks ago that we were celebrating achieving 100 runners for the Club following Diamond Days' debut, and now we're already on 107 and counting.

The midweek action kicked off at Southwell on Wednesday, so that's where our midweek round-up begins...

Ribbon Is A Dancer

Our two-year-old colt Ribbon Is A Dancer made his belated debut for trainer Hugo Palmer the other night after joining the Club back in July earlier this year.

It's taken a while for the Manor House team to get him racecourse ready, but in recent weeks he'd been showing positive signs on the gallops and Hugo thought he'd found a good starting point for his debut. Frustratingly, his task was made much more difficult before the race had even started after he was given the widest gate of all in 11.

Young apprentice jockey, Liam Wright, was having his first ride for the Club onboard Ribbon Is A Dancer, and his task was made a little more difficult after he was slowly away which meant that Liam had to roust him along in the early stages to try regain some of the lengths he'd lost at the start. Despite that, it looked as though the pair might be able to pick up a couple of places when coming down the home straight, but unfortunately it was just too much to ask for our two-year-old on just his first ever start.

WATCH: Post-race interview with jockey Liam Wright

Hugo Palmer shares his thoughts on Ribbon Is A Dancer's debut effort:

"Ribbon Is A Dancer completely fluffed his lines at Southwell last night. It is always tough when you are drawn widest of all on debut and having been in the gate for a long time, he jumped slowly, was slow into stride and was always behind. He didn’t drop away though and carried on plugging on.

He will be all the wiser for the experience and I except we will win run him over 7f next time. I hope that he will be sharper for the run."

Next up was our double header for the week which took place yesterday as the girls, Hey Day Baby and Lady Mendoza, headed to Market Rasen and Sedgefield for their latest starts over fences.

Hey Day Baby

Our six-year-old mare was having her fifth chase start yesterday at Market Rasen as she headed back to the scene of her sole victory for the Club so far. After she'd been pulled up the last twice, she was on a mission to prove that previous win wasn't a fluke, and all things considered, she put in a much improved performance for the Jonjo & A J O'Neill team.

The race had several who wanted to lead from the start, and that suited our girl as she wants a strong pace because it allows her to settle better. Throughout the contest she jumped as well as she probably ever has, and she travelled nicely for the most part until she looked to hit a flat spot. Jockey Ben Macey promptly reacted to this and did a great job to get Hey Day Baby back on the bridle. 


Hey Day Baby's owners with Ben Macey and Jonjo O'Neill

However, after the pair jumped the third last, it appeared that Hey Day Baby had given all she could as she was unable to gain any more ground on the leading pack, and she eventually came home in 6th place. The ground was forecast Good at Market Rasen, but as the field went round you could clearly see some underfoot, and from what we've seen from Hey Day Baby so far, she possibly would've gone closer had it been a sounder surface.

WATCH: Post-race interview with jockey Ben Macey

Just 20 minutes later, the Coral Racing Club were back in action again, this time 134 miles north of Market Rasen at Rebecca Menzies' local track Sedgefield with Lady Mendoza.

Lady Mendoza

It was a beautiful day up at Sedgefield for this time of year as Lady Mendoza went in search of her first win over fences on just her third start over the bigger obstacles. The thoughts of Rebecca and Brian Hughes after her last run was that a step up in trip and a small field at a track like Sedgefield would be right up her street, so we were all looking forward to seeing what she could do given she got those conditions yesterday afternoon.

Lady Mendoza's Owners for the day, Gerald and Jackie, walk the track ahead of the first race

As the field headed towards the first fence, it was the two outsiders of the field Croagh Patrick (6/1) and Old Page (14/1) who lead the pack along, with Lady Mendoza back in third. As they went through the early stages of the contest, she was travelling well and jumping nicely, certainly much better than what she'd shown in her previous two starts. However, it didn't take long for her to need some encouragement from Ross Chapman as she seemed to just become a little lethargic.

As they approached the top of the hill with a circuit to go, Lady Mendoza had dropped to last place, but she was still well in touch with the field. Ross continued to urge her along, and at times it did seem as if he might pull her up, but to her credit she continued to fight back and cut back the deficit. However, her efforts were in vain as she just couldn't keep up with the three of her rivals who were clear in front, and as they entered the final furlong, it was clear Lady Mendoza was going to hit the line back in 4th place.

Despite the end result, Lady Mendoza's performance still managed to land her 10 owners £280 in prize money to share equally, and it looked like they all had a fantastic day where they got to meet trainer Rebecca Menzies, jockey Ross Chapman, and enjoy all the other perks that came with winning the Owner for the Day competition.

WATCH: Post-race interview with Ross Chapman

Rebecca and Ross sum it up perfectly in the above clip, with Ross saying 'as soon as you think you've got half a chance, she just backs away again' and with a slight tongue in cheek that 'only Lady Mendoza knows' when she's going to be ready to go on and win a race.

It's likely that the next time we see Lady Mendoza it'll be over a similar trip, but perhaps with the conditions slightly softer than they were yesterday.

Who's in action next for the Coral Racing Club?

We're heading to Fontwell next as Diamond Days is set to make his first start over hurdles for the Joe Tizzard team. Joe has been very complimentary of his schooling at home, so we're all excited to see what he can produce over flights come 12:20 on Sunday.

Join us from 10am to read our Raceday LIVE Preview page where we'll have all the latest updates ahead of the action.