17:27 That's it from a dreak Ascot.

Our next liev coverage will be over the jumps at Worcester on Wednesday evening.

Until then good evening.

17:25 Well what a finale and an object lesson as to how to steal a race.

Mandura was out of the stalls like a bat out of hell under Richard Hughes, making a bee line to the centre of the course (where most of the winners have come this afternoon).

The other runners tracked to the stand side before realising their tactical error and moving to the centre of the track.

By now Mandura had a good ten length on his rivals and it was a case of catch me if you can.

Joint favourite Sharpened Edge’s chance was blown as Catherine Gannon was still holding onto the stalls when the gates opened and she came out stone last.

Mandura did begin to tire in the closing stages but had enough in hand to record a 3¼ length victory.

Esteem Machine and Even Bolder ran on to claim the minor honours.

The other joint favourite Ivory Silk came home stone last.

16:49 Race six was the first of a pair of 5f handicaps, run in deteriorating weather.

Certainly the weather and light is currently what one would expect in October rather than July.

In a race which already had four non-runners it looked as though there may have been a fifth. There were plenty of shenanigans at the start as Lochstar, son of the great Lochsong, showed no inclination to enter the stalls. However the combined efforts of eight stalls handlers persuaded him otherwise.

Not sure why they bothered though as Lochstar certainly was not a star and was always behind.

Fathom Five fell out of the gates when they opened and Alan Munro looked concerned as he seemed to lose his irons. However he maintained the lead along with Judge ‘n Jury and this pair held the lead until half way, when they were joined by Group Therapy.

Sonny Red also began to run on at this stage.

Group Therapy soon had daylight between himself and his rivals but Richard Hughes was soon at work on Sunny Red and a dour battle ensued with Sonny Red getting his head in front inside the final few yards.    

The favourite Cheverton also ran on well in the closing stages but could only get within 2½ lengths of the front two.

16:19 The result stands

16:16 What an interesting race and another of those you can rip from the form book when it is published.

To say the field set off at a pedestrian pace would be an insult to pedestrians, with nobody keen to set the pace.

In the end they went off in Indian file with Desert Kiss in front and Jamie Spencer on Alsace Lorraine, once again in rear.

It was three from home that the pace set up and it was Jimmy Fortune on the “front running” Desert Kiss who set off first, stealing a march on his rivals.

Spencer launched Alsace Lorraine with a run but drifted to his left and seemingly made no attempt to correct the drift as he headed towards Miss Mojito.

Unfortunately as Spencer began his run M Geran on Silver Games had the same idea and found the gap that was between Alsace Lorraine and Miss Mojito quickly disappearing and he had to snatch his filly up.

Meanwhile Desert Kiss was not for catching up front and she came home the 1¼ length winner.

It was close for second place with the favourite holding on by a neck from Silver Games.

15:55 A fillies’ handicap over the straight mile next.

The favourite Alsace Lorraine was a bit edgy in the parade ring and Miss Mojito was gnashing her teeth well.

We have three non-runners, so only six to face the starter.

15:42 I don’t know if handicappers do purr, however after this nursery the handicapper would have every justification to purr with delight as less than a length separated the first four home.

Even the betting was tight with Step In  Time and Soul Heaven set off the 4/1 joint favourites.

Step In Time, Wigan Lane and Master Mylo set off in front, with Jamie Spencer on Soul Heaven taking his customary position in the rear.

Also settled nearer last than first was Merseyside Star who set the pace in  a similar contest at Pontefract on Tuesday.

It was in the final furlong that the action began. The two front running outsiders dropped out, leaving Step In Time in front.

Jamie Spencer launched a run down the centre, bringing Soul Heaven into contention and Andrew Elliott launched Merseyside Star with a late run.

Step In Time and Soul Heaven traded the lead several times inside the final half furlong but it was Spencer who managed to get his mount in front where it matters with Soul Heaven winning by a neck from Step In Time, with Merseyside Star a further length back in third Deserrt Auction almost joining in the action back in fourth.           

15:20 A 6f nursery for our fourth contest.

Once again, a generally well behaved bunch in the parade ring. I say “generally” as Master Mylo was performing  a very convincing impersonation of a bucking bronco.

15:04 The Spring Mile turned out to be a cracking and disappointing race at the same time.

The betting had it as a two horse race, however the top two in the betting had differing fortunes.

Dream Eater set off in front, followed by Confront. Favourite Aqlaam and Without A Prayer tracked the front two, whilst Jamie Spencer on the second favourite, Cesare, was happy to sit behind the others.

There was little change in the order as the bell rang for the turn home.

Two out Dream Eater had ceded the lead and Confront had the lead, although Richard Hills on Aqlaam was tracking the leaders every move.

Spencer move Cesare out to make a run but when he asked for an effort there was no response at all.

By now Aqlaam had established a clear lead, although Jimmy Fortune one Confront was not going to go down without a fight.

In contrast to Cesare, the south African Raider Imbongi responded well to pressure and was running on really well in the closing stages.

Up front Aqlaam was showing the first signs of tiredness and Confront was slowly eating into his lead. More dramatically Imbongi was closing down on the pair of them.

14:45 Our feature race is the Totesport.com Spring Mile and no surprise we do have some parade ring positives with the top two in the betting Aqlaam and Cesare both looking very good.

The only slight negative was Without A Prayer who was getting a little warm as was slightly on his toes.

14:34 A tactical race, initially run at a slow pace and an object lesson from Richard Hughes on how to run such a race.

Perrenial front runner Road To Love (from, of course the Mark Johnston stable) set the pace and only Ramona Chase and the favourite Mabuya went with him. The other runners happy to track in their own time, with Hughes settling the Hannon trained Shamali nearer last than first.

Road To Love held the lead until two out when Mabuya hit the front. However Hughes had made unobtrusive progress through the field and as soon as Mabuya hit the front he asked Shamali for an effort.

He was soon in front and eventually came home the comfortable 2¾ length winner.
Jawaab was doing his best work in the closing stages and took third spot ant a very decent each way price.

Of the other front runners Road To Love came home fourth last and Ramona Chase second last.   

14:15 A ten furlong handicap for our second contest.

As in the first no real stand outs in the parade ring.

Ramona Chase was pulling a bit and Snoqualmie Boy and Spell Caster both had two handlers, the former coming into the parade ring very late indeed as did Jawaab.

14:03 Well it turned out to be a cracking little contest and if all this afternoons races are as good as this we are in for an enjoyable afternoon.

Invisible Man on the stands rail was quickest away along with Captain Ellis, who had the widest draw (cue more discussion on the Ascot draw “bias”).

Satwa Lad was also with the pace between the pair.

Jamie Spencer, unsurprisingly, held up Secret Society and moved from a stands position to centre course half way.

By two out the complexion of the race had changed with Suruor, who had been well backed from 14’s into 9/1 taking up the running.

Khor Dubai looked to be the challenger but did not have the turn of foot.

By contrast, Jamie Spencer fired up Secret Society with a late run and it was the old question had he left it too late.

The answer this time was no, as Secret Society hit the front in the dying strides to claim a head victory.

Suror ran well to take second spot and Khor Dubal came home third.

13:44 Captain Ellis is taking a very strong hold on the way to post and is threatening to run away with Andrew Elliott.

13:43 A 3yo seven furlong handicap to get us under way.

No outstanding positives although the Godolphin runner Khor Dubai was nice and relaxed.

On the negative side Agente Parmigiano is on his toes and getting a bit warm.

Sioux Rising is also a bit on her toes.

12:58 The precipitation now appears to have stopped - sales of umbrellas now plummeting.

12:42 Full marks to the Ascot marketing team, the following has just appeared on the big screens -

Need an Umbrella?

Ascot Golf Umbrellas £15

I wonder how many they will sell?

12:28 Good afternoon from a dreak Ascot - where there is a not so fine drizzle.

10:06 and another brace out.

09:38 and another one.

09:15 It has been a dry night at Ascot, where the going remains Good to Firm, Good in places on the round course.

The going is different than at declaration time and , consequently, we already have five non-runners, all due to the going.

Our selections for today are:-

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

2:20
1 King Charles (going - 8:37)

2:50
2 Bushman (withdrawn)
8 Perks (going - 08:38)

4:00
2 Izzibizzi (going 09:09)
4 Ainia (going - 08:38)
8 Aim To Achieve (going)

4:35
7 Biniou (going - 09:07)
8 Equuleus Pictor (going - 09:10)
12 Strneacre Lad (not eaten up - SC 12:12)
13 Brenin Taran (Other - SC 09:09)

5:20
11 All Spin (Lame - VC 09:30)

Results

1:50 Handicap 7f

1st 3 Secret Society 100/30
2nd 5 Suruor 9/1
3rd 1 Khor Dubai 12/1
10 Ran
Distances head & 2 1/2
Fav 2 Espirtu 3/1 (last)
Tote
Win £3.80
Places £1.80 £3.60 £4.20
Exacta £31.40
CSF £34.66
Tricast £271.85
Time 1' 26.45"

2:20 Handicap 1m 2f

1st 6 Shamali 7/2
2nd 12 Mabuya 3/1 fav
3rd 10 Jawaab 25/1
11 Ran Nr 1
Distances 2 3/4 & 2
Fav second
Tote
Win £5.00
Places £2.10 £1.50 £7.80
Exacta £17.50
CSF £14.11
Tricast £221.62
Time 2' 07.15"

2:50 Stakes 1m

1st 1 Aqlaam 15/8 fav
2nd 4 Confront 12/1
7 Ran Nr 8 w/d 2
Distances 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.70
Places £1.60 £4.40
Exacta £23.10
CSF £24.18
Time 1' 39.92"

3:25 Handicap 6f

1st 4 Soul Heaven 4/1 jf
2nd 2 Step In Time 4/1 jf
3rd 8 Merseyside Star 5/1
9 Ran
Distances neck & neck
Fav winner & second
Tote
Win £3.60
Places £1.70 £1.70 £1.90
Exacta £12.10
CSF £19.61
Tricast £81.07
Time 1' 15.12"

4:00 Handicap 1m

1st 6 Desert Kiss 4/1
2nd 1 Alsace Lorraine 2/1 fav
6 Ran Nr's 2 , 4 & 8
Distances 1 1/4 & neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £6.20
Places £2.20 £1.80
Exacta £13.60
CSF £13.00
Tricast £26.78
Time 1' 44.68"
Result Stands

4:35 Handicap 5f

1st 3 Sonny Red 5/1
2nd 6 Group Therapy 10/1
3rd 5 Cheverton 4/1 fav
9 Ran Nr's 7 , 8 , 9 & 13
Distances head & 2 1/2
Fav third
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.90 £3.40 £1.70
Exacta £47.10
CSF £58.52
Tricast £225.25
Time 59.94"

5:10 Handicap 5f

1st 1 Mandurah 15/2
2nd 4 Esteem Machine 16/1
3rd 8 Even Bolder 33/1
10 Ran Nr 11
Distances 3 1/4 & neck
Fav 6 & 7 11/4 (6th & last)
Tote
Win £9.40
Places £2.90 £4.20 £6.80
Exacta £147.50
CSF £122.37
Tricast £3,705.73
Time 1' 00.25"