16:00 That's it from Ascot small fields but some excellent racing nonetheless.
Weather permitting we will be at Aintree tomorrow, until then a very good evening.
15:50 A bumper for our finale and a very open betting heat with three runners going off the 4/1 co-favourites.
We ended up with a thrilling finish but only one of the favourites involved.
It turned out being some consolation for Paul Nicholls on, what by his high standards, has been a poor afternoon.
Red Harbour, settled tracking the leaders, became involved in a dour battle with Pearlysteps in the home straight and it looked as though an upset could have been on the cards.
15:16 Another interesting chase and another good result for favourite backers.
Unlike some of the earlier races the field were pretty well bunched for most of the race with no runner really dominating in what became a tactical affair.
Oceanos des Obeaux set the pace along with the white faced Mahogany Blaze, from the in-form Twiston-Davies yard.
Oslot, The Hairy Lemon and My Petra were virtually line abreast behind the leading pair, changing places as the race progressed.
As they turned for home Barry Geraghty bought My Petra into second place behind Mahogany Blaze, running on into the lead between the final two fences.
In the home straight Geraghty kept the favourite to her task recording a six length victory over Oceanos Des Obeaux who rallied to take the runners-up spot.
Mahogany Blaze took third with Oslot fourth.
14:45 After the shock of Kauto Star falling at Haydock there was a lesser shock here at Ascot when the classy Paul Nicholl’s chaser Poquelin only managed to finish third of five in the Novices’ Chase.
Beheryan set the pace until falling at the fourth, leaving Psychomodo and Cheating Chance to trade places for the lead, with Poquelin tracking in third.
As they turned for home Psychomodo held the advantage but Cheating Chance was on his tail. The favourite was still some way back in third and the mistake he made at the second last ended any remote chance he may have had of taking the race.
As they approached the last it was Cheating chance under Mark Grant who stripped fitter and he ran on to record a six length victory
Peak Seasons was always tailed off but came home for the fourth place money.
14:00 Our big race of the afternoon was the Coral Ascot Hurdle over just short of 2½ miles.
A cracking betting heat with Chomba Womba and Crack Away Jack sent off the 2/1 joint favourite.
Add into the mix Lough Derg and Franchoek and it was a cracking race.
No surprise, of course, that the pace was set by Lough Derg, a position he held until three out.
Kawingo was with the leader until fading a mile from home and Bullhill Flyer was always last.
Chomba Womba and Crack Away Jack were both settled mid-division.
Once Lough Derg ceded the lead it was Elusive Dream and Chomba Womba who were in the van with Crack Away Jack hovering menacingly in third. Franchoek was settled in fourth, a position never bettered at any time.
Coming to the second last Chomba Womba was a fractional leader with Elusive Dream still hanging on but Crack Away Jack was looking very menacing in third.
It could be argued the whole complexion of the race changed at the second last as Crack Away Jack hit the flight and lost momentum and this left Chomba Womba in the lead from Crack Away Jack who looked to be running on.
In the run in it looked a battle of attrition as Chomba Womba looked to be tiring but Crack Away jack was unable to close the gap significantly, the mistake at the second last seemingly to have hit his momentum.
Come the line Chomba Womba passed a diminishing length ahead of Crack Away Jack with Elusive Dream back in third.
13:30 Our first chase of the afternoon saw a well backed favourite, and many punters banker of the afternoon, Jack The Giant take the 2 mile 1 furlong event with comfort.
Although supporters may have skipped a few heartbeats as he showed a distinct tendency to jump left in the final stages.
Enlightenment set the pace, accompanied by Lord Henry., whist Barry Geraghty was happy to settle the favourite nearer last than first.
As they passed the judge for the first time the leading pair had a good lead on the field but none of their rivals seemed too perturbed.
Sure enough the came back to the field and as they turned out of Swinley Bottom Geraghty had bought the favourite into third and Andreas also came into the picture but dropped back just as quickly as he appeared.
Enlightenment was the first of the leaders to drop back leaving Lord Henry in front but the favourite was closing the gap with every stride.
At the second last the favourite jumped into the lead which he extended as the race progressed, winning by 11 lengths with the two front runners taking minor honours.
Thirteen-year-old Bleu superbe probably did the best he could in finishing fourth.
12:56 Up a furlong for our second event and it ended up with a seven runner procession with an impressive winner and a disappointing favourite.
Let’s deal with the favourite first, who was Paul Hobbs Fairoak Lad. Sent off at 9/4 he may just have shaded fourth place at one point but his finishing position of fourth belies the fact he finished tired and well beaten.
The impressive winner was Brendan Powell’s Tora Bora, a 10/1 shot who set the pace with Arrayou, the two taking turns to lead throughout.
However as they turned for home Wilson Renwick kicked Tora Bora on to win as he pleased.
The official winning distance will tell you he won by eight lengths, that does not tell the whole story as he was heavily eased approaching the line and was probably good for double the distance.
Arrayou stayed on to hold second with the running on Distiller back in third.
Direct Flight was very well backed but never in contention and eventually tailed home last.
12:19 There may be small fields here at Ascot today but the racing is competitive nonetheless.
Seven runners for our opening three mile novices’ hurdle and three very close in the betting with Indian Pipe Dream, Barnhill Brownie and Toby Belch all near the top of the betting, the latter backed in from 9/2 to 7/2.
There was also a small plunge on one of the outsiders Lord Shark 33’s into 16’s.
Indeed Lord Shark was the early leader before Free World and the favourite Barnhill Brownie took up the running and they were leading as they passed the judge for the first time.
The pair took the field along until two out, when Toby Belch came and joined in the fun.
Approaching the last Toby Belch was running on and he jumped into the lead under Paddy Brennan and the favourite never looked to be a serious challenger and the 1½ length winning margin not telling the full story.
Free World held on for third.
Indian Pipe Dream never seemed to be that happy in the race and finished a disappointing fifth, even beaten home by 100/1 outsider Mceldowney.
12:02 The runners are just coming out for our the first and Indian Pipe Dream was the eye catcher in the parade ring.
11:10 Good morning from a sunny Ascot where it is sunny and the temperature is 5 degrees.
The official going is Good, although yesterday the jockeys were saying it was a bit on the soft side of good.
Just the one non-runner.
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Non-Runners
3:05
7 Possol (Running in 1st preference race)
Results
12:10
1st 3 Toby Belch 7/2
2nd 2 Barnhill Brownie 15/8 fav
7 Ran
Distances 1 1/2
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.60
Place £1.70 £1.60
Exacta £7.90
CSF £9.87
Time 5' 50.38"
12:45
1st 4 Tora Bora 10/1
2nd 2 Arrayou 14/1
7 Ran
Distances 8
Fav 1 Fairoak Lad 9/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £11.10
Place £3.20 £4.50
Exacta £82.90
CSF £118.27
Time 6' 06.6"
1:20
1st 3 Jack The Giant evens fav
2nd 2 Lord Henry 11/2
3rd 5 Enlightenment 10/1
8 Ran
Distances 11 & 24
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.90
Place £1.10 £2.00 £2.90
Exacta £7.30
CSF £7.73
Tricast £35.81
Time 4' 06.8"
1:55
1st 6 Chomba Womba 2/1 jf
2nd 5 Crack Away Jack 2/1 jf
3rd 3 Elusive Dream 7/2
8 Ran
Distances 1 & 2
Fav winner & second
Tote
Win £2.80
Place £1.20 £1.30 £1.50
Exacta £5.90
CSF £6.34
Time 4' 38.6"
2:30
1st 1 Cheating Chance 7/2
2nd 3 Psychomodo 11/4
5 Ran
Distances 6
Fav 1 Poquelin 7/4 (3rd)
Tote
Win £4.00
Place £1.90 £2.00
Exacta £7.20
CSF £13.14
Time 4' 12.2"
3:05
1st 5 My Petra 7/4 fav
2nd 6 Oceanos Des Obeaux 15/2
6 Ran NR 7
Distances 6
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Place £1.80 £4.10
Exacta £19.00
CSF £14.76
Time 4' 48.37"
3:40
1st 8 Red Harbour 4/1 cf
2nd 6 Pearlysteps 25/1
3rd 1 Bushwacker 18/1
14 Ran
Distances 3/4 & 7
Fav winner, No 3 (4th) & 11 (Upl)
Tote
Win £5.70
Place £2.40 £4.80 £3.90
Exacta £148.20
CSF £119.37
Time 3' 50.7"
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