17:53 That’s it from day one of the Betfair weekend. There are concerts after racing all three days Supergrass are live tomorrow and Bjorn Again on Sunday.

For me the best concert is this afternoon with a classical show featuring Escala, Blake and Natasha Marsh – I am even going to break the habit of a lifetime and stay for this one.

Tomorrow is King George day and we kick off a marathon card at 1:25 – hopefully you will join us then.

17:49 Our final race saw the biggest field of the afternoon, fifteen (it would have been sixteen had it not been for the late withdrawal of Balata), over the straight mile.

Interestingly it may have been the biggest field, however it was for the smallest prize of the afternoon.

An open betting heat, with Effigy going off the 9/2 favourite.

The grey Den’s Gift was to the fore from the off, along with Foolin Myself, Marning Star and Shanzu.
Effigy was settled behind the front group, whilst Credit Swap was settled near the rear.

Two out Effigy hit the front, although Credit  Swap had made eye catching progress to challenge.

Another running on well was Foolin Myself and along with Credit Swap soon left Effigy in their wake.

There was a good battle inside the final furlong with finally Credit Swap getting the better of the argument, eventually coming home a one and a half length winner. Effigy came home third, four and a half lengths behind the front duo.

Backers of Isphanan must be feeling green around the gills as he finished fourth, only to be denied a payout by the late withdrawal.           

17:16 A 1¼ mile handicap for our penultimate race  and what a cracker it turned out to be.

Mark Johnston’s William Blake wanted to set the pace but Frankie Dettori on Barry Hills Fanjura also wanted the lead and won that battle, establishing a fair lead.

Vainglory and Full Speed kept each other company in third and fourth whist Richard Hughes settled the favourite, Last Three Minutes, stone last.

One can only assume the remaining jockeys thought Greg Fairley and Frankie Dettori would run out of steam – well they gave them a good lead.

However it was not to be.

Three out William Blake hit the front but Fanjura would not go down without a fight and the pair battled hard.

Fanjura hit the front again inside the final furlong and although William Blake was coming back again the line came in time for Fanjura, coming home half a length the better.

There was an equally good battle for the minor honours with Vainglory having a strong battle with the running on Mountain Pride and it was so close the judge, Alastair Stewart, could not separate them.

16:38 A tactical contest where, surprise, surprise, Mark Johnston’s Alanbrooke set off in front, albeit at a sedate pace.

The others followed behind in Indian file, in the order Darley Sun, Ermine Sea, Hendersyde, Highland Legacy and Gordonsville.

There was no change in the order, although Greg Fairley on the leader injected some pace half way, which spread the field out a bit.

He increased the pace again three out, after Chris Catlin bought Darley Sun upside.

Turning for home Alanbrook increased his lead and nothing looked like going with him.

However three out Catlin asked Darley Sun for an effort and he responded well making Alanbrooke look leaden hoofed.

The further they went the bigger Darley Sun’s lead, eventually coming home a ten length winner.

Highland Legacy was running on well in the closing stages but could only finish third as Alanbrooke held on for second by an ever diminishing three parts of a length.  
 

16:17 A marathon two mile contest for race four with six going to post.

Darley Sun is getting very warm in the parade ring and Alanbrooke and Ermine Sea are both warm.

16:03 Well it may have been a step up in class for Strawberrydaiquiri but she responded to the challenge well coming home a length winner against some decent opposition.

Greenisland set the pace and Balaagha who has been known to throw the race away at the start trapped very well this afternoon. Indeed it was Nice To Know who fluffed the start.

Greenisland took them along at a steady pace with the favourite in her slipstream and Perfect Star behind the front pair.

Ryan Moore asked Strawberrydaiquiri for an effort two out and she soon passed the long time leader, running on well.

Balaagha emerged as the main threat, asked for an effort by Richard Hills and the filly was closing on the leader. However Moore kept Strawberrydaiquiri to her task and held on to record a one length victory.      

15:43 Our feature race this afternoon is the EBF Transformers and Rectifiers Valliant Stakes – try saying that in a single breath!!

It is a listed fillies contest over the Old Mile.

Balaagha was early to post and went down very steadily.

15:28 Sod’s law dictates the two eye catchers in the parade ring would be the pair who missed the break once the race was under way.

It was probably less of a surprise that Mark Johnston’s Sea Lord would set off in front, as most of his runners employ front running tactics.

White Dart tried to live up to his name and stay with the leader.

By half-way Fireback had recovered from the tardy start and was with the leaders, only to run out of steam approaching two out.

Almutaham made some progress, to track the leaders, approaching two out, however the most eye catching run of all came from Pounced, who really did live up to his name and was soon alongside Sea Lord as they came inside the final furlong.

It says a great deal for the guts of Sea Lord that, once headed, he was not going to go down without a fight and Greg Fairley managed to get Sea Lord’s head back in front to record a neck victory.

Pounced ran very well on debut and is one for the notebook, whilst Excellent Guest made late progress to come home third.

The favourite, Gene Autry, never settled and although making some progress in the latter stages was a never nearer fourth.    

15:07 Another two-year-old contest for our second race, this time over seven furlongs.

Four of the ten runners are debutants this time and quite a few of them are getting warm, although not to the extent to cause undue conceren.

Two eye-catchers in the shape of Almutaham from the John Dunlop yard and Andrew Balding’s Fireback.  

14:55 This opening contest turned out to be an interesting heat.

With so many debutants it was no surprise that one or two became restive in the stalls, although it was slightly worrying that the worse of them all was one of the two with experience, and the favourite, Zubova. Ironically the second worse performer in the stalls was the other “experienced” runner Seeking Dubai.

Once the stalls opened the break was level apart from Battlemaiden, who was slowly away – just as well as she swerved left exiting the stalls, luckily far enough behind not to cause any interference.

Henry Cecil’s Walk On Water was quickly away and was the clear leader after half a furlong. Once in front she steadfastly maintained the position, keeping to her task until the finish, coming home a 1½ victor and looking like another nice Cecil filly.

Seeking Dubai emerged as the nearest challenger, having been settled mid-division she ran on for pressure two out. Although narrowing the gap on the leader she was never a serious threat.

Bab At The Bowster, who had first run until passed by Walk On Water seemed to be well beaten half way but rallied in the closing stages to come home third.

The favourite, Zubova, was nearer last than first in the early stages, making some progress half way but never a serious threat.

14:36 A two-year-old fillies contest for our opener and seven of the nine are making their racecourse debut.

For two-year-old fillies they are remarkably well behaved. Tai Hang was a little bit on her toes but nothing too disconcerting. The remainder looked well prepared.

14:31 We have a going change, it is now Good all round and if the showers persist the going could be good to soft by the end of racing.

13:35 I am going to stop giving weather updates - let's just say it is going to be a showery afternoon.

13:23 Luckily it was only a short, sharp shower. The rain has now stopped - just grey and overcast now.

13:07 Good afternoon from Ascot for Betfair weekend and it has just started raining.

We have a second non-runner, also out of the 3:50, and that is Trumpet Lily - due to the going.

08:13 It has been a showery night at Ascot with 2mm of rain falling. The going remains Good to Firm on the straight course, Good to Firm, Good in Places on the round course.

We currently have just the one non-runner, Damaniyat Girl is out of the 3:50 with temperature.

Our selections for this afternoon 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

3:50
5 Trumpet Lily (going - 10:38)
8 Damaniyat Girl (temperature = VC 16:41 Thu)

5:35
13 Balata (withdrawn - 17:21)

Results

2:40 Fillies Stakes 6f

1st 8 Walk On Water 6/1
2nd 6 Seeking Dubai 8/1
3rd 1 Bab At The Bowster 5/1
9 Ran
Distances 1 1/2 & 1
Fav 8 Zubova 11/10 (5th)
Tote
Win £7.00
Places £1.70 £2.00 £2.00
Exacta £46.80
CSF £54.04
Time 1' 18.31"

3:15 Maiden Stakes 7f

1st 8 Sea Lord 9/4
2nd 7 Pounced 14/1
3rd 3 Excellent Guest 9/1
10 Ran
Distances neck & 1 1/4
Fav 5 Gene Autry 6/4 (4th)
Tote
Win £3.50
Places £1.40 £3.00 £2.40
Exacta £22.60
CSF £30.49
Time 1' 31.58"

3:50 Listed Stakes 1m

1st 6 Strawberrydaiquiri 4/6 fav
2nd 7 Balaagha 10/1
3rd 10 Greenisland 20/1
9 Ran Nr's 5 & 8
Distances 1 & 2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Places £1.10 £2.50 £4.30
Exacta £10.00
CSF £7.93
Time 1' 42.57"

4:25 Handicap 2m

1st 6 Darley Sun 3/1
2nd 5 Alanbrooke 13/8 fav
6 Ran
Distances 10
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.00
Places £2.30 £1.40
Exacta £9.20
CSF £8.18
Time 3' 32.70"

5:00 Handicap 1m 2f

1st 3 Fanjura 6/1
2nd 10 William Blake 5/1
=3rd 5 Mountain Pride 16/1
=3rd 8 Vainglory 7/1
10 Ran
Distances 1/2 & 1 1/4
Fav 7 Last Three Minutes 15/8 (6th)
Tote
Win £4.60
Places £1.90 £1.60 £4.30
Exacta £29.20
CSF £35.10
Tricast £108.02
Time 2' 09.75"

5:35 Handicap 1m (straight)

1st 6 Credit Swap 6/1
2nd 3 Foolin Myself 14/1
3rd 7 Effigy 9/2 fav
15 Ran w/d 13
Distances 1 1/2 & 4 1/2
Fav third
Tote
Win £6.40
Places £2.30 £5.80 £2.50
Exacta £138.20
CSF £87.30
Tricast £434.06
Time 1' 44.97"
No Rule 4