15:57 That is it from Ascot today. Join us tomorrow for a cracking days racing. Meanwhile from a chilly Ascot good afternoon.

15:56 The result stands in the last, no great shock really.

15:51 A very tight 16 runner handicap hurdle for our finale and some consolation for our tip, which came in fourth for each-way money.

Rebel Melody and at The Money were the pacesetters (and I have not mistyped the latter horses name the “a” in at is deliberately lower case)

Rebel Money looked as though he would be putting a pillar to post victory until the charge as they turned for home in the gathering gloom (don’t be fooled if you saw the race on TV – the pictures are very much enhanced to make it look nice and bright).

Cruchain had made eye catching late progress down the far side to come from a held-up position to challenge for the lead. The same can also be said of the favourite Busker Royal.

The pair jumped the second last together and a dour battle ensued. On first viewing it did look as though Cruchain came across the favourite and as the favourite only lost by half-a-length the Stewards are taking a look.

Cathedral Rock and Pocketwood filled the minor places.

15:21 So the score is three wins two losses and one race to go – the selection in the last will be Pocketwood.

15:18 I was always taught as a child that if you are greedy you will end up with nothing at all and so it happened – there were three I fancied in the race and the best I managed was one of them finishing third, another fourth and the other out with the washing.

One of the three Laoch Dubh set the pace, as he normally does, but was not allowed to have things his own way as Dev stuck with him limpet like. They also set off at a blistering pace so it was no great surprise that neither were involved at the finish.

Indeed as they turned for home and Laoch Dubh ceded the lead it looked as though the old boy Oneway, now eleven years old, was going to claim the race as he looked most comfortable in front, belying his years.

However Robert Walford on Master Medic, had ridden a patient race, settling near the rear in the early stages before making progress on the final circuit. Coming clear of the remainder he jumped into the lead at the last and held on to record a three length victory over Oneway, with Boomshakalaka a running on third.  

14:46 Well three out of four so far - the next race is far more tricky and it can be any one of three for me - with Boomshakalaka, Laoch Dubh and Its Crucial all in with decent chances. I'm going for a combination forecast but if my arm is twisted I will side with Its Crucial.

14:41 Only five runners but it was an interesting chase all the same.
Buck The Legend was sent off the 7/4 favourite with our selection Deep Purple sent off the 9/4 second favourite.

It was this pair who se the pace with Deep Purple, as was his wont over the smaller obstacles, having his head in front from the outset.

They passed the judge in Indian file the first time round with Deep Purple leading by three from Buck The Legend, with Panjo Bere a further three back in third, Naiad Du Misselot two back in fourth and Turkish Surprise another two back in last.

It was on the second circuit that some of the jumping went to pot. Most notably Naiad Du Misselot who began jumping to the left at the fences until, as course commentator Richard Hoiles succinctly put it, he was jumping at right angles.

The favourites jumping was also becoming suspect and mistakes at the seventh and tenth in particular did little to help his cause and it was no great shock when dropped out of contention approaching three out.

This left Deep Purple with a decent lead and with Turkish Surprise and Panjo Bere battling it out for second, Deep Purple looked nailed on.

However at the last he seemed to do his very best to throw the race away by jumping violently to the left, almost running down the fence. It was fortunate jockey Paul Moloney was wearing the extra strong Velcro.       

14:11 A minor setback in the last - let us hope Deep Purple can burn the opposition in the next.

14:05 Of course it is all well and good the betting saying it is a three horse race – unfortunately the horses aren’t aware of where they are in the betting.

So it was we had a 14/1 winner in the shape of Medermit, who was given a short head verdict in a battling finish with the favourite Dee Ee Williams.

The closeness of the finish belies just how close the contest was, just before they turned for home there was only two lengths separating the entire field and none of the runners could have been ruled out.

Our selection Golan Way set the early pace, although he never had a great lead. Indeed turning out of Swinley bottom the field had bunched and there was a three way go for the lead with the diminutive Golan Way between Wendel and Bergo.

As they approached the second last there was still a three way go, this time Wendel, Dee Ee Williams and Medermit with Golan Way just behind and seemingly running on again.

Wendle was the first to crack and we were left with two duels, both almost impossible to call. The first between Medermit and Dee Ee Williams  and the second between Wendel and Golan Way.

13:46 As in the last nothing really stands out in the parade ring. The betting has it as a three horse race with Dee Ee Williams 5/2, Bergo 100/30 and Golan Way 4/1.

13:34 Let us see if we can get the hat trick now and our tip in the next is Golan Way.

13:28 I would like to think it is just my tipping that is having such an impact in the betting ring with Baseball Ted being backed in from 9/2 into 100/30 – however I expect I am not the only reason.

Once again the money was right as Richard Johnson put in a front running performance on Baseball Ted, whose only threat looked to be Quillan Hill, who was running loose, rather than any mounted challenger.

The challengers came and went and approaching Swinley Bottom there were almost three abreast with the winner just heading Fit To Drive, Red Man Ray.

With the favourite High Jack having unseated AP McCoy at the previous fence when in fourth place, Baseball Teds main rival was out of the race.

Turning for home Fit To Drive was with the leader and looked to be the most serious challenger with Hope Road and the running on Royal wedding also looking possible challengers with none of the efforts coming to nothing.

Approaching the last Baseball Ted had a good lead and with a clear jump the result was not in doubt. Fit To Drive held on for second and Hope Road falling when in third at the last, third spot was handed to Royal Wedding.

13:14 It is very disappointing after all the hoo-ha to have the race re-arranged that only five will go to post in tomorrows Boylesports.com Hurdle.

It does raise the question as to whether it was worth all the effort.

13:12 Nothing really stands out in the parade ring and it is no shock to see High Jack trading at around 7/4 in the ring.

Our selection is around 9/2.

It has to be said we don't have the largest of crowds here today so it will not take much to cause a rick in the betting.

13:02 Flushed with success in the first our selection in the second is Baseball Ted from the Hobbs yard.

12:53 Well a 2m 6f hurdle to get us under way and they did not finish as strung out as I had expected.

They also went a reasonable pace in the circumstances. Our paddock pick Midnight Sail was well supported in the ring being backed in from 5/2 into 7/2.

Bruff Academy was the pace setter, at one point having a fairly decent lead at one point.

As often happens the race did not develop until they began the sweep for home. Where Fistral Beach  took up the lead with Emperor Concerto looking to be the challenger and Midnight Sail tracking the front pair.

Midnight Sail looked to have blown any chance by making a mess of the last, leaving the favourite Fistral Beach in front.

However Robert Thornton managed to rally Alan king’s charge and with a perfect jump at the last he took the lead to record a comfortable victory, despite the favourite making a valiant attempt to fight back.

The pair finished nine lengths ahead of Emperor Concerto back in third..  

12:36 After a quick visit to theparade ring my money is on Midnight Sail.

11:31 Good morning from Ascot where the weather is overcast and there is a slight chill in the air, still only the brace of non-runners at the moment.

09:17 And another non-runner

09:00 The official going is good to soft, soft in places and we currently have just the one non-runner.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

1:20
1 Classic Role (going)

3:40
15 Isle De Maurice (Not eaten up - SC)

Results

12:45

1st 8 Midnight Sail 7/2
2nd 6 Fistral Beach 13/8 fav
3rd 5 Emperor Concerto 16/1
16 Ran
Distances 1 3/4 & 9
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.70 £1.40 £4.50
Exacta £11.90
CSF £9.55
Time 5' 27.8"

1:20

1st 14 Baseball Ted 100/30
2nd 5 Fit To Drive 10/1
3rd 10 Royal wedding 20/1
13 Ran NR 1
Distances 6 & 1 1/4
Fav 9 High Jack 13/8 (Unseated)
Tote
Win £4.20
Place £1.60 £2.70 £4.50
Exacta £49.60
CSF £34.56
Tricast £593.46
Time 4' 18.2"

1:55

1st 4 Medermit 14/1
2nd 2 Dee Ee Williams 3/1 fav
3rd 5 Wendel 14/1
8 Ran
Distances short head & 3 3/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £15.40
Place £3.40 £1.70 £2.40
Exacta £65.00
CSF £55.76
Time 3' 46.9"

2:30

1st 3 Deep Purple 9/4
2nd 5 Turkish Surprise 9/1
5 Ran
Distances 3 1/2
Fav 1 Buck The Legend 7/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £3.30
Place £1.60 £2.50
Exacta £29.20
CSF £17.36
Time 4' 48.4"

3:05

1st 7 Master Medic 5/1
2nd 6 Oneway 16/1
3rd 8 Boomshalalaka 5/1
13 Ran
Distances 3 & 3 1/4
Fav 4 Something Wells 4/1 (Upl)
Tote
Win £6.20
Place £2.30 £4.70 £2.30
Exacta £90.50
CSF £72.78
Tricast £425.80
Time 4'15.4"

3:40

1st 8 Cruchain 10/1
2nd 2 Busker Royal 5/1 fav
3rd 12 Cathedral Rock 25/1
4th 17 Pocketwood 7/1
16 Ran NR 15
Distances 1/2 & 3
Fav second
Tote
Win £10.20
Place £1.90 £1.80 £5.10 £2.60
Exacta £53.60
CSF £57.85
Tricast £1,254.54
Time 5' 28.13"
Result Stands