Racegoers travelled from far afield to watch the Clydesdales race at Exeter on Sunday, and as their thundering hooves flew down the home straight, the applause was rapturous for the gentle giants.

Ian Popham, Andrew Thornton, Nick Scholfield, James Best, Hadden Frost and Sam Twiston-Davies were on board the horses, who paraded for half-an-hour in the paddock prior to the race in front of an appreciative audience.

They set off in a line over the two furlong trip, and for a while it looked like Frankie Doodle, a five-year-old having his first start on a racecourse, would prevail in the colours of Bathwick Tyres, but it was Midge who came through to win in the closing strides under a driving ride from Cornishman James Best.

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