18:00 That's it from an enjoyable afternoon's racing here at Ascot. Certainly less frenetic than when I was last here at the Royal meeting.
There has been some good racing and the highlight for me was Archipenko's win in the Plymouth Gin Mile.
By contrast our next live coverage will come from Great Leighs on Tuesday. Until then good evening from a sunny Ascot.
17:50 The betting told it all in our last race. Cheverton, looking for a three timer came into the race the well backed even money favourite.
The fact the remainder of the field were 11/2 and above tells it all.
So it came to pass the favourite duly obliged to thwart the handicapper once again, it seems the move to drop him in trip to five furlongs has worked the oracle.
Promising claimer David Probert set the pace on Blessed Place and this time there were no maverick moves to the centre of the course as they all stayed stand side.
Jim Crowley was more than happy to keep the favourite covered up before making his move 1½ furlongs out and it proved to be a decisive move and once in front he never looked to be in any danger.
The old timer Digital, who keeps winning in his turn, ran on well along the stands rail to grab second place from Efistorm.
17:15 A very strange race from a tactical perspective. There were only eight runners in this event over the straight mile yet they ended up spread three quarters of the way across the track.
Polar Annie set the trend as Kerrin McEvoy took the filly further across the track than any other rider has so far this afternoon. By mid-race it looked as it may have been a successful tactic as the pair were leading.
Earlier in the race it had been Sayyedati Symphony who had the lead, just off the stands rail.
Two out the majority of the runners were stand side to middle, with Polar Annie furthest across and Sayyedati Symphony ploughing a lone furrow against the stand rail.
There wasn’t much covering the field when the grey Nutkin launched her challenge under Jamie Spencer and it proved to be decisive with only the favourite Badalona offering any challenge.
The grey ran on, however, to give Jamie Spencer a treble on the afternoon.
16:40 Yet another contrast as we move from a two mile slog to a five furlong sprint and a good result for favourite backers.
Strike Up The Band played the field along, taking an early lead and looking to try and run a pillar to post race. It almost worked.
Yes almost. Crimson Fern was sent off the favourite and veered markedly right coming out of the stalls. Settled in last place by Richard Hughes he looked to be in trouble two out until a gap appeared which he willingly took.
Running on like a banshee he passed all his rivals with a devastating turn of foot to beat the front runner by a neck on the line.
If you drop the “f” from Sirens Gift’s second name you will have an idea of how he behaved.
On his toes in the parade ring he was also playing up in the stalls and in the race itself he made Francis Norton earn his fee. Eventually running on well 1½ from home he looked booked for second until the favourites late attack.
16:05 After the frenetic six furlong spring it was time for a two mile marathon.
Last time Ascot raced on a Saturday, it was the final day of the Royal Meeting and the roof was almost bought down when The Queen’s Free Agent won the first. This afternoon the roof was raised again as the Royal Ascot Racing Club’s Metaphoric took the race.
The press room is next door to the Royal Ascot lounge and it can safely be said the celebrations are under way.
Pocket Too set the pace leading from the start until ¾ from home. He was kept company by Classic Punch, in the same colours as Ascot hero Persian Punch, along with Bogside Theatre.
As they turned for home only Bogside Theatre of the pacemakers was still in contention with Gee Dee Nen keeping him company.
The two market leaders Whenever and Sanbuch had been settled near the rear ready to move to the centre of the course in the home straight.
Metaphoric made a move inside the final furlong with Bogside Theatre still in the van.
Sanbuch and Whenever both made challenges down the centre but were never dangerous.
To ecstatic cheers Metaphoric romped home with La Vecchia Sculoa just nicking second from Bogside Theatre.
15:30 A very interesting and tactical six furlong sprint, where the first three were all held up to launch late challenges, none more so than the winner Talking Hands.
The most experienced runner in the field, Klynch, was the most troublesome at the start – unshipping Frankie Dettori. But with his years of flying dismounts he landed on his feet.
Unlike the first race the runners stayed in a single group, running into the light rain that was falling on Ascot Heath.
Roly Boy and Rio Royale set the early pace with Talking Hands very much in the rear.
Two out Jamie Spencer bought Talking Hands to the centre and launched a challenge. Once level the colt showed a distinct tendency to hang left and he almost interfered with Rio Royale – it would be no surprise to see the winner in blinkers next time out.
Also running on from the rear was Heliodor under Ryan Moore, closely attended by Jimmy Quinn on Rich Red. Resulting in three of the last four early on taking the first three places.
15:00 Trainer Mike De Koch is South Africa’s best and, arguably most well known trainer.
He has been the top overseas trainer in Dubai for the last few years. Yet he has never trained a winner in this country.
Until today that is as his Archipenko took the feature Plymouth Gin Summer Mile here at Ascot.
Archipenko was trained by Aiden O’Brien last season before moving to De Kock, who seems to have transformed the cold beyond recognition.
Although there were only seven runners the field was oozing class, including last years winner Cesare and the Godolphin star Ramonti, making his seasonal debut.
Kandidate seems to have been around for years, yet he is only a six-year-old and as expected he went off as the pacemaker. Both Archipenko and the rank outsider Barshiba.
Ramonti was settled mid-division whilst Cesare was, as usual, held up.
As always the action cranked up in the home straight.
Archipenko took a few lengths out of the field, whist the big two launched their challenges with differing results. Ramonti just didn’t respond to Frankie’s whilst Cesare made menacing progress on the outside looking to be the biggest challenger to the winner.
Fifty yards from the line Cesare was second and closing the gap on Archipenko but the South African leader had enough to hold on and to rub salt into the wounds of last years winner Barshiba got second wind and grabbed second on the line.
Trainer De Kock said: "I've not run too many horses in England and to be honest, I've not had that many to run.
"It's nice to win with a horse like this.
"I owe Archipenko a lot and he's a fantastic horse. I'm lucky and privileged to get a horse like him.
"He's an intelligent horse - he can almost read and write but just can't talk.
"We'll reassess plans now. He has been left in the Sussex but we are thinking of taking him to Chicago for the Arlington Million."
14:25 A very interesting opening heat which featured three debutants and three experienced runners.
There was some very interesting betting before the off with the favourite Markyg opening at evens before touching 2/1. There was interesting support for two of the newcomers with Michael Jarvis’s Sixties Swinger being backed from 6/1 into 7/2 joint second favouritism and Eve Johnson Houghton’s The Cheka from a tissue 25/1, an opening 10/1 into 8/1 at the off.
There was drama from the start as Fisher King jinked right resulting in Jamie Spencer losing an iron.
A furlong into the race both Fisher King and Rio Del Oro, under Richard Hughes made a deliberate move to the centre of the course with the remaining runners opting for the stands rail.
On the rail it was Mark Johnston’s Pegasus Lad who set the pace tracked by the favourite, The Cheka and Sixties Swinger.
Approaching the furlong marker it was clear those who had opted for the centre option had made a mistake as all the action was on the near rail.
The favourite Markyg had taken the lead but Richard Quinn suddenly set The Cheka on a decisive run, leaving the opposition flat footed going on to win by an increasing 10 lengths.
Pegasus Lad rallied to deny the favourite second place.
The winners victory was all the more impressive as he looked singularly unimpressive in the parade ring, being on his toes and needing two handlers.
The winner, owned by comedian Mel Smith, will probably be aimed at the Dewhurst.
13:45 It looks to be reasonable size crowd here today, although after the crowds at the Royal meeting it seems relatively quiet.
At least the ladies here will be happy as the queues for the facilities should not be so bad today.
We don’t have very large fields this afternoon but, arguably, what we lack in quantity we certainly make up for in quality.
Our second race featuring Archipenko, Ramonti and Cesare over the Old Mile certainly whets the appetite.
13:05 The going this afternoon is good to soft on the straight course. Good to soft (soft in places) on the round course.
The sun is currently shining across the entire course and there is a gentle breeze.
12:50 As well as the racing, which is clearly more important. Ascot is also a petrol heads delight as it is hosting a motor show as well.
Of course being Ascot we are not talking Ford Fiesta’s or Vauxhall Astra’s here.
Oh no we are talking Porsche, Aston Martin, Maserati , Ferrari and the ilk, the sort of cars I don’t think I could even afford to look at, never mind purchase. Not that I would particularly want one even if they were within my financial means.
12:10 Good afternoon from a slightly overcast Ascot.
Just the two non-runners so far.
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