17:20 That's all from day one here at Ascot, I think overall the punters are just about up on the old enemy.
The forecast is set fair for the remaining two days and tomorrow we have the Queen Elizabeth II to look forward to.
For tonight have a very good evening and we will be back here tomorrow.
17:09 Well what an unbelievable race for our finale in a strange tactical race.
For the first mile Rapid City lived up to his name, out of the stalls like a rocket he took them along a fair clip before fading half a mile from home.
As they came into the straight Alsadaa was taken into the lead at a rapid rate of knots, leaving the field flat footed, soon establishing a seven length lead. This move seemed to mesmerise the opposition as nobody seemed keen to follow, until Overrule emerged from the pack to launch a challenge far too late.
The leader was tying up in the final strides but he had shot his bolt and a very enterprising ride by Mr B Toomey.
Overrule retained the runners up spot with Oldrick and Optimus taking the minor honours.
Favourite Meneur ran on briefly three out but then faded. However rider Joshua Moore emulated his brother Ryan and took the Bollinger Champagne Series title.
16:41 The finale is no getting out stakes – it looks to be an absolute nightmare. No more than a pin stickers choice but I lean towards Meneur.
16:38 Oh dear the bookies really are on a bad run now as another favourite romps home and as predicted the handicapper did seriously underestimate Mawatheeq.
The Marcus Tregoning trained colt recorded a facile six length victory, winning as he pleased under an assured Richard Hills ride.
Tracking the leaders from six out, approaching the two marker the leaders were almost four abreast with Cigalas, Messias Da Silva, Dunn’o and the eventual winner all to the van.
One out it was down to two with the winner and Dunn’o but as soon as Richard Hills asked for an effort the race was over as a contest.
Thunder George and Oceana Blue both ran on to take minor honours.
16:12 A mile handicap for our fifth event. This is another race where the handicapper could have given a runner an excellent chance. In this case Mawatheeq is the beneficiary. It looks as though the handicapper has underestimated his first two runs. The downside is the bookies have also latched on so no great price available.
16:05 I could have sworn I saw white flags fluttering above the betting ring after our fourth race as another favourite comes in.
This time it was Sir Michel Stoute’s Crystal Capella who took the Princess Royal, today’s listed race, over 1½ miles.
There was some very interesting betting with a couple of horses being well backed, amongst them Hobby backed from 15/2 into 5/1, at a longer price Under The Rainbow was backed from 25’s into 16’s.
It was the latter who almost caused a shock, making the favourite work all the way to the line to record a ½ length victory.
The other well backed runner was also involved in the action by setting the pace and leading for the first mile before fading to finish amongst the also rans. Elmaleeha was also with the pace but faded in the closing stages.
The winner was happy to track the leaders before running on two out and leading inside the last.
The only challenger was the grey Under The Rainbow and although she made the winner work hard the favourite always seemed to have the upper hand.
Market drifter (9/2 out to 13/2) Ronaldsay took third place.
15:38 Only thirteen runners in our next. I am going to take a big chance with Ragdollianna. On the upgrade and unexposed. A major improvement will be required but it is no forlorn hope.
15:30 This race did become the commentators nightmare as the field split into two groups with a small number crossing to the far side and the majority keeping centre / stand side.
In a 28 runner race it could be said going 15/8 the field is not very generous, however these bookie chaps are not that stupid and the favourite, Penny’s Gift duly obliged although the decision did have to go to the judge Di Clarke, however few were in any doubt as to the winner.
Penny’s Gift was one of those in the main group as was the runner up Rosy Mantle, with far side leader Golden Destiny taking the third spot.
The favourite was happy to track the leaders in the early stages before launching a run approaching the furlong marker, along with the runner up. It may have been an optical illusion and I won’t get dogmatic about it, but it looked as though the far side and Golden Destiny had the advantage passing the one pole. However Golden Destiny was effectively on his own on the far side, whilst the other two had each other to battle with.
The favourite had to battle hard for victory but it was a shocker for the layers.
Those who backed the fourth, Accede, must really feel hard done by as teh layers only paid out on the first three. It seems a bit unjust in such a large field, competitive contest which was a handicap in everything but name.
Trainer Richard Hannon rates the winning filly, "The two-year-old's have been good all year but this filly is something different.
"She is in the Cheveley Park and we might well go down that route."
14:58 Race three sees 28 charging down the straight course over the unusual distance of 6½ furlongs. Penny’s Gift will be sent off a very short priced favourite but would you want to take 6/4 in an event like this? Plus she has a very poor draw as I can see this going to high drawn runners.
The trouble is none of those drawn very high particularly appeal. Crystal Moments (16) has done little wrong and should, at least, get placed. Impressionist Art (18) is from an in-form stable and will have to improve to be a factor, although the drop in distance will be of assistance. Positivity (17) has been placed in both outings but the question mark is can she step up in distance.
14:50 Eighteen runners down the straight six furlongs, a nightmare race to read. The field, at least did not split and they stayed centre course.
Laddies Poker Two was sent off favourite after battling it out with Speedy Dollar in the ring.
The punters got it right as Tom Queally tracked the leaders before launching a decisive run approaching the furlong marker. Once in front the filly kept to the job in hand to record a comfortable 1¾ length victory.
Runners up spot went to sprint king Dandy Nicholls with Van Bossed who was also running on impressively to lead the remainder who were, not unexpectedly well bunched.
Minor honours went to Great Charm and Masada respectively.
Speedy Dollar was slow out of the stalls and never really featured in the race.
Early pacemakers Film Maker and Berbice both finished in the main bunch.
14:33 We now have a change to the official going - it is now Good
14:25 A potentially tricky handicap for our second contest, although the favourite Speedy Dollar looks to have been given a decent chance by the handicapper. By no means a gimmie but if he runs to his best he should have the beating of this field. The high draw is also a positive. The biggest challenge should come from Spanish Bounty.
14:16 Well the opener turned out to be a cracking little contest. Australia Day was sent off favourite but only just as Bandama did challenge for favouritism as well.
As expected Australia Day set off in front under Marti Dwyer and he took the field along at a fair pace. Amanda Carter kept the front runner company for most of the race before fading in the home straight.
Amanjena, under William Buick tracked the front two, along with Fair Gale.
It was Fair Gale who became the first challenger to the leader almost coming upside a furlong out.
However Amanjena came with an even more impressive run down the centre and as Fair Gale was seen off the filly took the lead half a furlong from home. To his credit Australia Day did battle back and the two passed the line together but Amanjena had done enough to take the money.
If the rest of the races produce finishes this exciting then we are in for a cracking weekend.
Bandama was disappointing, never really in the race and finished only eighth of nine.
Winning trainer Andrew Balding said afterwards "She has done a lot of strengthening up and she was only a shell at the start of the season.
"She had a couple of little problems which kept her off the track recently, and she doesn't operate on soft ground so we have had to miss a couple of engagements.
"That's her finished now but thankfully she stays in training next year."
13:50 Our opener is a close looking race on paper but for me the stand out runner is the top one Australia Day. It took a couple of runs to realise he benefits from front running tactics and in todays smallish field he should be able to dominate (last race can be forgiven as he was unable to dominate).
Although I now have to say he looks on his toes in the parade ring.
12:36 Another non-runner added.
12:10 Good afternoon from Ascot, where the sun is shining as we await the first day the three day festival.
It was this meeting twelve years ago that Frankie Dettori rode his magnificent seven, it is highly unlikely we will see the feat repeated this year but we have some high quality racing nonetheless.
Good luck to Richard Hoiles this afternoon – he has the unenviable job of calling the big fields – none worse than the 3:20 which sees 28 runners charging down the straight six and a half furlong course.
We have three non-runners so far – details on the right.
Return to race archive |
Non-Runners
2:10
7 Folly Lodge (Going)
3:20
2 Ballyalla (Temperature)
3:55
2 Sell Out (Going)
13 Silk Affair (Stiff)
5:05
8 Venir Rouge (Pulled Muscle)
19 Fisby (Lame)
Results
2:10
1st 10 Amanjena 10/1
2nd 1 Australia Day 9/2 fav
3rd 8 Fair Gale 8/1
9 Ran NR 7
Distances Short Head & 4L
Fav Second
Tote
Win £12.60
Place £3.10 £1.80 £2.40
Exacta £65.90
CSF £53.36
Time 2' 07.78"
2:45
1st 8 Laddies Poker Two 9/2 fav
2nd 4 Van Bossed 20/1
3rd 13 Great Charm 14/1
4th 15 Masada 12/1
18 Ran
Distances 1 3/4L & Neck
Fav Winner
Tote
Win £5.60
Place £1.70 £5.70 £3.90 £2.60
Exacta £128.40
CSF £104.46
Tricast £1,241.65
Time 1' 13.10"
3:20
1st 18 Penny's Gift 15/8 fav
2nd 19 Rosy Mantle 12/1
3rd 23 Golden Destiny 16/1
28 Ran NR 2
Distances Neck & Head
Fav Winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Place £1.60 £4.30 £6.20
Exacta £30.20
CSF £21.40
Time 1' 21.15"
3:55
1st 7 Crystal Capella 9/4 fav
2nd 6 Under The Rainbow 16/1
3rd 1 Ronaldsay 13/2
13 Ran NR's 2 & 13
Distances 1/2L & 2 1/2L
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.00
Place £1.60 £5.60 £2.00
Exacta £42.40
CSF £38.53
Time 2' 31.50"
4:30
1st 5 Mawatheeq 11/8 fav
2nd 1 Dunn'o 16/1
3rd 15 Thunder George 33/1
4th 14 Oceana Blue 20/1
16 Ran
Distances 6L & 1/2L
Fav Winner
Tote
Win £2.30
Place £1.30 £3.70 £5.20 £4.30
Exacta £30.40
CSF £24.71
Tricast £580.57
Time 1' 39.38"
5:05
1st 18 Alsadaa 10/1
2nd 16 Overrule 5/1
3rd 9 Oldrik 12/1
4th 10 Optimus 20/1
17 Ran NR's 8 & 19
Distances 3 1/2L & 4L
Fav 13 Meneur 4/1 (Unpl)
Tote
Win £16.40
Place £3.30 £1.80 £2.80 £3.60
Exacta £110.50
CSF £53.33
Tricast £628.35
Time 2' 35.02"
|
