17:50 Well that's it from a fantastic afternoons racing here at Ascot. We have seen a potentially great filly in the shape of Rainbow View and another great clash between Raven's Pass and Hevrythenavigator.
We will be back here again tomorrow until then good evening.
17:38 A nice two mile handicap to end proceedings this afternoon and it provided another tight finish with judge Di Clarke called upon to separate the first paie.
It has to be said they went a fair clip for a long distance race and by the time they started the final circuit the thirteen runners were almost in Indian file. It was the grey Kasthari who was setting the pace and by Swinley Bottom he had a commanding lead.
However the top two in the betting Ascalon and Victoria Montoya, along with Greenwich Village made sure the gelding did not slip the field by tracking him.
It was just before they turned for home that the grey finally ran out of steam leaving the principles to fight it out.
Downhiller, ridden by man of the day Jimmy Fortune decided to join in the fun taking up the running whilst, at the same time, favourite Victoria Montoya started to wave the white flag.
With Downhiller making what appeared to be a decisive run, Alan Munro on Ascalon decided to make a race of it and was soon alongside. It looked as though Downhiller was going to hold on but Munro was not going to be denied and he got the colts head in front on the line.
Grande Cayman ran on to take third.
17:05 Back to the straight course for another seven forlong charge.
There were some shenanigans in the stalls before the race started but the stalls handlers did their usual sterling work.
Majestic Roi was sent off the 5/2 favourite but Darryll Holand had his hands full with the filly wanting to hang her head to the left throughout.
Meydan Princess has a tendency to be sluggish out of the stalls and today was no exception, although she was not as slowly away as she can sometimes be. Shane Kelly, however managed to overcome the slow start and overtake all his rivals to claim a comfortable three length victory.
Medicea Sidera under Tom Queally led for most of the way but had to settle for second place in a tight battle with Francesca D’Gorgio and Crystany.
16:26 Well what a race with an absolute thrilling finish and the day that Raven’s Pass finally got one over on his old adversary Henrythenavigator.
In a race with two pacemakers the tactics seemed to go horribly wrong as the two pacemakers took each other on in the early stages setting too fast a pace for the remaining runners.
Olivier Peslier on the French pacemaker Racinger realised what was happening and slowed down in an attempt to give Tamayuz a pull, but the damage had been done.
Come the home straight the pacemakers were out of it and it was race on. Raven’s Pass got first run under Jimmy Fortune and that proved decisive. Henrythenavigator launched a challenge in an attempt to give Ballydoyle their 21st Group One of the season.
However the new tactics on Raven’s Pass worked and he held on to win by a length.
Speaking after the race, winning trainer John Gosden said, "It all went wrong in the Guineas from the draw but he ran a blinder in the St James's Palace.
"We knew this time we would be a little handier, that was the only plan - be handier.
"The plan is now to go to the Breeders' Cup, whether that is for the Mile or the Classic we will have to see - he sees his races out much better now.
"He has been on the go since February, but he looks great in his coat."
Winning pilot Jimmy Fortune added, "Earlier on in the year he was a bit hot and we needed to get him relaxed.
"I probably got it wrong in the Sussex, I should have kicked a little earlier but we always thought he would pull up when he got there.
"I was trying to sit and sit, but I sensed Johnny on my quarters and I knew it was time to kick then.
"He really stuck his neck out."
Aiden O'Brien was not too downbeat with Henrythenavigators performance, he commented, "He ran a stormer but the ground was quite loose and he's better on a fast surface.
"I'm not putting that up as an excuse and hopefully we'll have a look at theBreeders' Cup, although I'm not sure which race yet."
French trainer Freddie Head was disappointed afterTamayuz only managed to come home fourth.
"He ran a bit flat and was beaten a long way,
"It was a bit hot today and he got a bit excited before the race."
15:52 An easy 29 runner handicap over the straight seven furlongs and commentator Richard Hoiles did an excellent job to unravel all the action as the field spilt into two.
Unlike yesterday’s contest where the split was mainly centre / stands the spilt today was 50/50
Also unlike yesterday it was the far side who took the honours with the first four home all being on the far side.
They were led home by 12/1 shot Furnace, trained by Michael bell and ridden by Hayley Turner, although I have little doubt the stewards will take a look at a manoeuvre she undertook two furlongs from home and it will be no surprise if she picks up a couple of days holiday.
Favourite Relative Order was a running on second but failed to peg back the winner by a head.
Minor honours went to We’ll Come and Dhaular Dhar.
The well backed Mastership trailed in a virtually pulled up last. Jockey Johnny Murtagh looked down at the horse a furlong out and eased him immediately.
15:16 The Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile saw John Gosden’s promising filly Rainbow View sent off the very short priced 4/7 favourite.
There may have been some concerns for those who saw her in the parade ring as she had two handlers and was being a bit skittish.
With eight runners the betting said it was only a two horse race with Rainbow View, the well backed Fantasia from the Luca Cumani yard (11/2 into 7/2)
The royal runner, Golden Stream set the pace, tracked by Frankie Dettori on Fantasia with Jimmy Fortune on the favourite happy to settle nearer last than first.
As the came down the home straight Frankie launched Fantasia on her run and she quickly ran away from the field. All the time Fortune was biding his time, bringing Rainbow View through the field before launching a decisive charge at the furlong marker, taking the lead at the half and winning easily.
For the Ballydoyle runner Dreamtheimpossible it turned out to be an impossible dream, finishing a never better third.
Rainbow View has now strengthened her position at the head of the Guineas betting, now into 7/4 whilst the runner up has been cut from 25/1 to 12/1.
14:38 The Royal Lodge Stakes was slightly devalued by the non-appearance of the Ballydoyle duo Indian Ocean and Set Sail – their arrival delayed by the fog.
Roger Charlton’s Cityscape was sent off the 15/8 favourite and when Steve Drowne sent him into the lead a furlong out favourite backers were starting to form an orderly queue at the bookies.
However there was a fly in the ointment in the shape of Jukebox Jury from the Mark Johnston stable. Slowly away after missing the break the colt did not seem too enthusiastic in the early stages and was making Royston Ffrench earn his riding fee. Then suddenly inside the final furlong the penny suddenly dropped and he ran on like a horse possessed to take the race by three parts of a length.
On Our way, who had been up with the pace throughout, took the third spot.
Winning trainer Mark Johnston said afterwards the colt may go to the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf next, where William Hill are fffering 10/1. The same firm are offering 33/1 for the 2009 Derby.
Roger Charlton, trainer of the runner-up said, "It is disappointing when you look like winning but lose it in the last 50 yards. But he has run a very good race and is still inexperienced.
"He has come a long way in a short space of time and there's absolutely no reason why he won't continue to improve."
14:05 Not a particularly satisfactory race for our opener, with seventeen runners on the round mile course there was always going to b e some bunching and plenty of hard luck stories – as well as some tactically poor riding.
The ride of Ryan Moore on the second favourite Jamboretta falls into the latter category. Missing the break he was always at a disadvantage and as they turned for home he was surrounded by horses with nowhere to go. When a break did eventually materialise it was far too late.
It could also be argued that had the eventual favourite Ghidaa met more luck in running the filly may well have finished better than the running on third she eventually finished after having to be switched wide by Richard Hills.
There were no such hard luck stories for the winner, Eva’s Request, on whom Edward Creighton rode a tactical race, keeping out of trouble and running on well in the final stages to record a comfortable length victory.
Runner up Mekong Melody, who had been with the pace for most of the race, just help off the late charge of the favourite to keep second pace.
Don’t Forget Faith claimed the final place for betting purposes.
An exciting race but not much for the form book as there were too many hard luck stories.
13:00 With just under an hour to our opener we already have a decent size crowd here, the fine weather is helping but the prospect of some high quality racing is also a major draw.
12:11 Good afternoon from Ascot where the mist has cleared and we look set fair for another fine day.
Two Group One's this afternoon - the Fillies Mile where John Gosden's Rainbow View will be sent off a very short price favourite.
For many though the hihlight is the tri-nations clash in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Where Ireland's Henrythenavigator, France's Tamayuz and Britain's Raven's Pass go head to head.
Throw in a 29 runner seven furlong handicap and a couple of listed races and we have a good afternoon's racing to look forward to.
The official going is officially Good
We have one non-runner, Colloquial in the finale.
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Non-Runners
2:30
5 Indian Ocean (Travel)
10 Set Sail (Travel)
5:25
2 Colloquial (Lame)
13 Daylami Dreams (Going)
Results
1:55
1st 4 Eva's Request 12/1
2nd 17 Mekong Melody 12/1
3rd 5 Ghaidaa 11/2 fav
4th 12 Don't Forget Faith 25/1
17 Ran
Distances 1L & Short Head
Fav Third
Tote
Win £14.90
Place £3.00 £3.00 £1.90 £8.20
Exacta £200.20
CSF £138.10
Tricast £922.93
Time 1' 41.09"
2:30 Royal Lodge Stakes
1st 6 Jukebox Jury 8/1
2nd 4 Cityscape 15/8 fav
3rd 8 On Our Way 5/1
10 Ran
Distances 3/4L & 3 1/2L
Fav Second
Tote
Win £10.00
Place £2.10 £1.80 £2.70
Exacta £29.00
CSF £23.97
Time 1' 40.59"
3:05 Fillies Mile
1st 7 Rainbow View 4/7 fav
2nd 4 Fantasia 7/2
3rd 3 Dreamtheimpossible 8/1
8 Ran
Distances 2 1/2L & 3 1/4L
Fav Winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Place £1.10 £1.40 £1.70
Exacta £3.10
CSF £2.90
Time 1' 40.82"
3:40 Challenge Cup
1st 28 Furnace 12/1
2nd 19 Relative Order 9/1 fav
3rd 20 We'll Come 16/1
4th 5 Dhaular Dhar 16/1
29 Ran
Distances Head & 3/4L
Fav Second
Tote
Win £15.30
Place £3.40 £2.40 £5.70 £3.60
Exacta £48.60
CSF £93.94
Tricast £1,806.26
Time 1' 26.64"
4:15 Queen Elizabeth II
1st 5 Raven's Pass 3/1
2nd 4 Henrythenavigator 11/8 fav
7 Ran
Distances 1 length
Fav Second
Tote
Win £4.90
Place £2.60 £1.80
Exacta £12.00
CSF £7.12
Time 1' 38.94"
4:50
1st 14 Meydan Princess 9/1
2nd 3 Medicea Sidera 16/1
3rd 10 Francesca D'Giorgio 12/1
16 Ran
Distances 3L & Head
Fav 2 Majestic Roi 5/2 (6th)
Tote
Win £11.90
Place £3.40 £6.10 £3.20
Exacta £142.60
CSF £141.01
Time 1' 27.69"
5:25
1st 1 Ascalon 11/2
2nd 11 Downhiller 8/1
3rd 7 Grande Caiman 20/1
14 Ran NR 2 w/d 13
Distances Head & 2 3/4L
Fav 15 Victoria Montoya 5/1 (5th)
Tote
Win £6.60
Place £2.60 £3.40 £5.70
Exacta £53.80
CSF £49.50
Tricast £840.22
Time 3' 28.07"
No Rule 4 deductions
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