17:24 Well that’s it from the three day Betfair festival at Ascot, some good racing – especially yesterdays King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Our next live coverage is over the sticks at Perth on Wednesday, until then good afternoon.
17:22 If you want a detailed, in depth, analysis of our final race you have come to the wrong place I’m afraid.
A nineteen runner five furlong sprint and typical Ascot sprint handicap.
A bunch finish, with the winners coming down the centre of the course and the field headed home by 14/1 shot Judge ‘n Jury who hit the front a furlong from home.
The cavalry were in pursuit though and the favourite, Hamish McGonagall, came within half a length of the winner, with the very well backed Ishetoo a further head back in third, with Fol Hollow taking fourth place for each way backers.
16:51 Well Classic Punch was buzzing in the parade ring and he was no different in the race setting off in front giving Louis-Phillipe Beuzelin a really hard time.
Record Breaker, Night Cresendo and Sabotage tracked the leader, with Strategic Mount, Munsef and Mystery Star in third rank.
By the time they turned out of Swinley Bottom there was little change in the order even though the field were quite well strung out with Greylami the whipper-in.
The biggest surprise was that Classic Punch remain in front until three out, at which point he dropped out of contention rapidly.
Record Breaker took up the baton in front, although Munsef was soon on his quarters and in front.
The next challenger was Mystery Star who closing on Munsef but the line just came in time and he held on by a short head.
The favourite Sabotage was running on in the closing stages but only managed to come home third.
16:26 Fifteen runners in our penultimate contest, over a mile and a half.
Record Breaker and Sabotage are the paddock picks.
Negatives for Classic Punch (head shaker and tail swisher), Munsef (on toes) and Hevelius (tail swisher).
16:07 Some race reporters are expected to write a detailed review of every race, luckily I have no such constraits.
A four runner contest that can be described thus.
Just Lille set off in front, followed by the odds-on shot Shamali, Proponent and The Cayterers.
They stayed in that order until two out.
Shamali hit the front, Proponent followed, then Just Lillie and The Cayterers was always last.
The win was workmanlike rather than frenetic.
15:52 Only four runners in our fourth contest, a ten furlong Classified Stakes.
Shamali is a very short priced favourite and looked good in the parade ring.
Proponent was on his toes and had two handlers to keep him steady.
15:40 A big gamble in our third contest as Rapid Water was backed in from 11/2 to 7/2 and backers of Andrew Balding’s runner were not disappointed.
The field initially split into two groups with a stands side group led by Bajan Tryst and a centre group led by New Leyf. The favourite was settled second in the centre group, along with Fleeting Star.
It was the last named pair who ran clear in the closing stages and as with the first two races we had two runners contesting the lead with the others trailing in their wake.
In this instance Rapid Water had first run and Fleeting Star, despite trying hard, was just unable to get in front, eventually going down by three parts of a length.
Satwa Sweet was making good progress from two out and took third spot. White Shift was another making late progress.
Bajan Tryst was virtually pulled.
15:17 Back to six furlongs for race three, an eleven runner handicap.
Bobbie Soxer looked nice in the parade ring as did Sweet Possession.
Bajan Twist was slightly on his toes and Rejecy and Summers Target have two handlers apiece.
15:03 Well what a strange race?
Poppet’s Lovein set off like a bat out of hell and was seven or eight clear by half way, however as often happens the front runner dropped out of contention like a stone through water.
Once back with the field this left Sterling Sound and Mezenah in front and well clear of their rivals.
They had been racing down the centre of the course but both began to drift towards the far rail, eventually running up next to the rail. It is not completely sure if they drifted independently or whether Sterling Sound began the drift and Mezenah.
Whatever there was a dour battle to the line with Sterling Sound having his head in front and the favourite just unable to pass her.
At the line Sterling Sound still maintained a neck advantage.
The pair finished six lengths clear of the remainder, who were headed by In Secret, who was doing her best work at the end.
Unsurprisingly Poppet’s Lovein trailed home last.
14:43 A mile fillies stakes over the straight mile for race two and, at least, we have some form to go on.
All well behaved in the parade ring with no real positives or negatives.
Mezenah is the short priced favourite, trading around the evens mark.
In Secret is a big drifter 16’s from 12’s
14:27 With no form to go on the opener was a difficult race to call.
Atlaal was sent off the 7/4 favourite and settled in behind the early leaders.
Those leaders were Kilt Rock and Right Step. With the favourite, in the second rank, were Gordon Flash and Advertisement.
Right Step still held the lead half way, with Advertisement the challenger but with Atlaal running on.
A furlong out it was effectively a four runner contest. Advertisement, Atlaal, Right Step and the running on Quarrel, who had been settled last.
One out Atlaal had the lead to the delight of favourite backers, but the grey Quarrel under Michael Hills was soon challenging Atlaal, ridden by twin brother Richard, for the lead.
The grey eased ahead inside the final furlong to record a three quarter length victory.
Half a length behind was Right Step with Advertisement dropping back to finish fourth.
The front four finished well clear of the remainder.
14:12 Eight debutants for our opener, over six furlongs.
Gordon Flash and Kilt Rock were whinnying in the parade ring and were very juvenile, Starwatch is a little unfurnished and slightly on his toes.
Both Hierarch and Right Step looked nice.
12:44 Good afternoon from Ascot where the weather is overcast.
Two more non-runners to add to the list.
10:39 Two more non-runners
09:37 It has been a dry night at Ascot and the going is
Straight Course: Good to Firm
Round Course: Good, Good to Firm in places
(GoingStick: Straight : Standside 10.2 Centre 10.8, Farside
10.4, Round 9.1 on Sunday at 09:00)
There are currently three non-runners, details on the right.
Our selections for the day:-
2:15 |
4 |
Hierarch |
2:50 |
2 |
In Secret |
3:25 |
1 |
Lucky Numbers |
4:00 |
2 |
Shamali |
4:35 |
12 |
Sabotage |
5:10 |
14 |
Northern Dare |
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
2:50
5 Peace Concluded (not eaten up - SC 09:50)
3:25
7 Cawdor (going - 09:31)
4:00
5 Sopranist (sore - VC 09:28)
5:10
2 Befortyfour (going - 09:33)
3 Strike Up The Band
4 Sonny Red
14 Northern Dare
20 Kay Two (going - 10:32)
24 Crimea (lame - VC 12:27)
26 Stoneacre Lad (lame - VC 10:44)
Results
2:15 Maiden Stakes 6f
1st 6 Quarrel 9/2
2nd 2 Atlaal 7/4 fav
3rd 7 Right Step 20/1
8 Ran
Distances 3/4 & 1/2
Fav second
Tote
Win £5.60
Places £1.70 £1.30 £3.90
Exacta £11.40
CSF £13.02
Time 1' 16.27"
2:50 Fillies Stakes 1m
1st 7 Sterling Sound 7/1
2nd 4 Mezenah 8/11 fav
7 Ran Nr 5
Distances neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £8.70
Places £3.10 £1.20
Exacta £13.80
CSF £12.73
Time 1' 40.79"
3:25 Handicap 6f
1st 9 Rapid Water 7/2 fav
2nd 10 Fleeting Star 14/1
3rd 3 Satwa Street 10/1
11 Ran Nr 7
Distances 3/4 & 3 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.10
Places £1.40 £3.70 £3.70
Exacta £55.40
CSF £54.97
Tricast £363.39
Time 1' 14.83"
4:00 Stakes 1m 2f
1st 2 Shamali 1/2 fav
2nd 1 Proponent 5/1
4 Ran Nr 5
Distances 3 3/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.50
Exacta £3.20
CSF £3.49
Time 2' 06.49"
4:35 Handicap 1m 4f
1st 3 Munsef 9/1
2nd 5 Mystery Star 20/1
3rd 12 Sabotage 9/2 fav
15
Ran
Distances short head & 1 1/4
Fav third
Tote
Win £11.10
Places £3.50 £7.00 £2.00
Exacta £207.20
CSF £189.78
Tricast £938.96
Time 2' 32.18"
5:10 Handicap 5f
1st 5 Judge 'n Jury 14/1
2nd 6 Hamish McGonagall 9/2 fav
3rd 11 Ishetoo 10/1
4th 8 Fol Hollow 16/1
19 Ran Nr's 2, 3, 4, 14, 20, 24 & 26
Distances 1/2 & head
Fav second
Tote
Win £18.80
Places £3.50 £2.10 £3.40 £5.40
Exacta £98.80
CSF £74.41
Tricast £716.13
Time 1' 00.15"
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