16:17 Well that's it from Ascot's first fixture of 2009, a good afternoons racing with, perhaps, a few pointers for the festival.
Tomorrow, by contrast, we shall be at Towcester.
Until then good afternoon.
16:06 As is often the case this time of the year the finale was run in failing light, although not as bad as at Fakenham last Monday.
This was one of those races where the market almost got it right. Kangaroo Court was sent off the 5/4 favourite with Karabak the 5/2 second choice.
The pair were the ones fighting out the finish between the final two flights before Karabak ran on increasing his lead with every stride on the run-in.
The pair ran contrasting races with Karabak settled mid-division before tracking the leaders four out. Kangaroo Court on the other hand sat almost last before running on after three out.
The final winning distance of 14 lengths just showed the gulf between the first two and there is little doubt the winner will be visiting the winners enclosure again in future.
The runner up should not be written of, he was just beaten by a much better horse on the day and even the third placed Somersby, a further six lengths behind, could well pick up a race.
All in all a good novices’ hurdle.
15:38 An seventeen runner handicap chase over 2m 5f to sort out in our sixth contest.
Saunders Road, in the McManus colours, was the well backed 7/2 favourite, but it wasn’t to be his day. I had to go back and have a look at his form as he seemed very tired in the home straight, wondering under pressure. I was wondering if the 2m 5f was pushing his stamina but it transpires he won over the same distance at Cheltenham last time out.
The early pace was set by Harris Bay and Oceanos Des Obeaux, until Miss Mitch joined the leaders and took up the running ads they passed the judge for the first time.
Indeed once in front Miss Mitch was never headed. Although behind her the running order changed as quickly as a weak politician changes policy. It may be easier to say which of the runners didn’t start tracking the leader.
Turning for home Miss Mitch was still dominating and it was Something Wells who emerged as the nearest challenger, although never able to get within nine lengths of the winner. Oracle Des Mottes took third with a tired looking favourite back in fourth.
15:17 Well the sun has gone in and the wind is picking up and I can tell you it is a very cold wind. Not very nice at all. However the rain is holding off which is a big plus.
15:00 Back to the smaller obstacles for race five, a 3 mile handicap.
Eight went to post with United sent off the even money favourite. As in the opener the favourite had to be stoked up to take the race and it wasn’t until approaching the final flight that Dominic Elsworth was finally able to shake off the determined challenge of Mattie Batchelor on Sweetheart who looked as though she was going to spoil the party.
As they turned for home it was only this pair, along with Doubly Guest, who had any chance, barring accidents, to win the race. Although Doubly Guest’s challenge quickly evaporated, having been in the van throughout.
Another early pacesetter was Magical Legend but she quickly dropped out at Swinley bottom and was eventually pulled up.
Of the others nothing really caught the eye.
14:37 The Tote have responded by clipping Master Minded from 2/5 to 4/11 for the Champion Chase, whilst Stan James are now 2/5 from 1/2.
14:20 Not so much a race, more a demonstration of how to fence. Apart from very slightly brushing through the top of one of his fences Master Minded almost turned the contest into a schooling round.
Reunited with regular rider Ruby Walsh, after Tony McCoy rode him to victory in the Tingle Creek, Master Minded was not allowed to dictate in his usual manner as Petit Robin took him on for the lead. Not wanting to turn the race into a tactical battle Walsh was happy to sit wide in second place avoiding the front runner.
Once on the second circuit Master Minded was in his usual front running position and thereafter the result was never in doubt.
Asked to run on turning for home he soon had a massive lead on his rivals and eventually came home sixteen lengths in front, despite being heavily eased in the run in.
Petit Robin filled second place with Mahogany Blaze in third.
Petit Robin looked well beaten two out but did rally in the final stages.
Or Noir De Somoza was with the pace for most of the contest but paid the price in the later stages and came home fourth.
Natal saw some decent each way money before the off but spent the entire contest looking at the rear ends of his rivals, although he may have required equine binoculars to have seen some of his rivals.
14:00 Panjo Bere has been put into the Arkle betting at 16/1 by Stan James.
All eyes here now focus on our next race the Victor Chandler, although the presence of the top rated chaser Master Minded has resulted in a disappointingly small turn out.
13: 46 Well something of a shock in our first chase of the afternoon, a novices’ event over 2m 1f.
Free World, from the Paul Nicholls yard was sent off the 4/5 favourite and despite setting off in a bold front running performance he seemed to hit a brick wall two out, perhaps indicating 2 miles is the absolute limit of his stamina.
Second favourite Calgary Bay had kept the favourite in his sights all the way round and once the favourite began to send out the distress signals it looked as though this could be his day. However coming with a late run was Jamie Moore on Panjo Bere , riding for his father Gary. Happy sitting well behind the front two for most of the contest he began to make headway coming down the far side and was soon on the quarters of the first two coming to the second last, which he jumped well and took up the running.
He was tiring in the final stages and Calgary Bay had one last attempt to grab the spoils but Panjo Bay held on to record a ¾ length victory.
Whilst the first tow home could be called battlers the same most certainly cannot be said of Roman Villa. Reluctant from the start and soon ten lengths behind his rivals, Mattie Batchelor did manage to get him up with his rivals as they passed the post for the first time. However as they turned out for the second circuit Roman Villa just downed tools and refused to go any further, pulling himself up.
13:14 What a horse? Nothing much else to say.
Our second contest was a 2m 3f limited handicap hurdle, with the weights headed by the tough old cookie Lough Derg, who was conceding 8lbs plus to a good quality field.
As is customary he set off in front but as they turned for home the cavalry were lining up to attack, led by Chief Yeoman and quickly followed by Group Captain, Working Title and, most impressively, Scriptwriter. The latter named had beem plum last for most of the contest.
Jumping the second last it was Lough Derg and Chief Yeoman in the box seat but David Pipes charge is a battle and is difficult to pass when he is in the mood, even more so when, as today, Tom Scudamore is on his back.
Chief Yeoman was soon under pressure and it was Group Captain and Working Title who emerged as the main challengers, however try as they may Lough Derg was not for passing and the brave gelding held on to take the race for the second year running.
Group Captain came home second, 1½ lengths behind with the well backed favourite Working Title third and Chief Yeoman fourth.
As in the last a mixed reaction from bookmakers with the Tote cutting the winner from 33’s into 25’s for the World Hurdle but Stan James staying on 33’s.
Good as he is I think the World Hurdle is now beyond the limits of his stamina and it is a very strong division this year.
12:44 The bookmakers were not that impressed with the winner of the first with his price generally remaining unchanged for the Triumph Hurdle, Stan James 3/1 and the Tote 7/2. Although Sky Bet have actually moved him out to 4/1.
12:36 Well racing is under way and we started with a 2m 1f hurdle in which Cheltenham prospect Zaynar was sent off the 1/5 favourite.
The Nicky Henderson runner duly won the contest but jockey Barry Geraghty had to get to work to stoke his charge up between the final two flights and although the winning margin of eight lengths looked convincing on paper, he will have to be more resolute come March.
The pace was set by Amore Mio and as they turned for home it seemed he had run his race as he was challenged by both the favourite and Stow and it looked as though it was going to be a two horse race.
However Amore Mio was nothing if not a battler and he rallied under 3lb claimer Jack Doyle to still be in with a chance two out.
As the favourite eventually ran on Stow looked tired and Amore Mio retained second place, a position he held as they crossed the line despite a late rally from Stow.
None of the other runners looked to be that impressive and they all completed in their own time, apart from House Of Lords who was pulled up before the last.
11:23 Good morning from Ascot where the sun is shining but rain is forecast later this afternoon, let us hope it arrives after racing.
The officila going is Good, good to soft in places
We currently have two non-runners and the action gets under way at 12:30.
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Non-Runners
2:50
2 Aimigayle (going)
3:25
15 Cossack Dancer (going)
Results
12:30
1st 4 Zaynar 1/5 fav
2nd 6 Amore Mio 25/1
3rd 3 Stow 11/2
9 Ran
Distances 8 & 1¼
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.20
Places £1.02 £3.40 £1.40
Exacta £10.10
CSF £12.24
Time 3' 59.94"
1:05
1st 1 Lough Derg 9/1
2nd 4 Group Captain 9/1
3rd 14 Working Title 6/1 fav
4th 10 Chief Yeoman 15/2
18 Ran
Distances 1½, 1¾ & 2
Fav third
Tote
Win £8.40
Place £2.00 £2.60 £2.70 £2.60
Exacta £75.70
CSF £86.27
Tricast £544.65
Time 4' 48.6"
1:40
1st 3 Panjo Bere 16/1
2nd 1 Calgary Bay 13/8
6 Ran
Distances ¾
Fav 4 Free World 4/5 (3rd)
Tote
Win £13.20
Place £3.60 £1.40
Exacta £35.20
CSF £43.78
Time 4' 15.7"
2:15
1st 2 Master minded 1/2 fav
2nd 5 Petit Robin 6/1
5 Ran
Distances 16
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.20
Place £1.10 £1.90
Exacta £2.20
CSF £2.53
Time 4' 16.2"
2:50
1st 9 United evens fav
2nd 7 Sweetheart 12/1
3rd 5 Doubly Guest 9/2
8 Ran NR 2
Distances 5 & 19
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.90
Place £1.30 £1.80 £1.70
Exacta £13.20
CSF £14.76
Time 5'; 59.1"
3:25
1st 14 Miss Mitch 8/1
2nd 2 Something Wells 17/2
3rd 10 Oracle Des Mottes 10/1
4th 18 Saunders Road 7/2 fav
17 Ran NR 15
Distances 9, 3 & 12
Fav Tote
Win £9.20
Place £2.20 £3.00£3.00 £1.60
Exacta £81.30
CSF £70.43
Tricast £703.82
Time 5' 29.2"
3:55
1st 2 Karabak 5/2
2nd 4 Kangaroo Court 5/4 fav
3rd 6 Somersby 5/1
14 Ran
Distances 14 & 6
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.60
Place £1.50 £1.50£2.00
Exacta £9.00
CSF £8.52
Time 4' 54.10"
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