16:05 That’s it from day one of Ascot’s November meeting. Not the highest quality racing we will see here this winter but entertaining fare nonetheless.

Some cracking finishes and I still cannot believe the finishing run of Any Currency.

16:02 Another good finish to end the afternoon and another valiant attempt at a front running performance thwarted in the closing stages.

The grey, almost white, Pascha Bere, was the front runner this time and it looked as though he had seen off all his rivals as he jumped the last in front.

However the favourite Zabeel Prince was sitting on his quarters and, worryingly for the leader, Paul Moloney had not moved a muscle on the favourite. Also looming was Oldrik who had made good   progress, having been settled almost last as they commenced their final circuit.

After the final flight Moloney asked Zabeel Prince to go and win the race and he was soon in front, although he wasn’t going to be handed the contest as Oldrik was determined to spoil the party.

Zabeel Palace had enough in hand, however, coming home the ¾ length winner with the front runner a further length and a half behind.   

15:44 Our final contest this afternoon, it seems to have come around very quickly, is the Anglo Irish Bank (GB) Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

Worryingly for favourite backers Zabeel Palace was expending a great deal of energy in the parade ring, really on his toes. Tender Falcon was the head shaker in this contest whilst Alph was doing his best to chew through his bit.

15:33 Well I have to admit I have watched the replay of the final stages of this race three times now and I still cannot believe the result – what a finish. But more of that anon.

Pretty Star was the pacemaker in this three mile contest and it really looked as though he would come home with an all the way victory.

He was challenged three out by Out The Black but Sam Thomas galvanised him back into action and he was soon clear in front again.

Fairoak Lad, Theatrical Moment and Out The Black were all determined to make a race of it as well.

The favourite, Any Currency, was in sixth place and under very strong pressure as they jumped the
last, having been with the leaders for most of the contest.

On the run in it seemed as though Pretty Star was going to record a brave victory as Fairoak Lad, Theatrical Moment  and Out The Black seemed unable to close.

Whilst these four were battling for the line nobody seemed to notice that Warren Marston had galvanised Any Currency had sprouted wings and all of a sudden he was not only closing on the front group, he was sailing past them with consummate ease, to steal the race by three-parts-of-a-length.

Heartache for Pretty Stars connections, but a stunning, breathtaking victory for Any Currency.

This has to win the prize for the best finish of the season so far.

15:07 Well it has stopped raining so I battled my way through the Christmas Market crowds (yes there is a Christmas Market here today and tomorrow) to see the runners in the Mar City Developments Handicap Chase, a 3 mile contest and our longest race today.

The likely favourite Any Currency was the pick of the paddock.

Ballyfoy and Pairc Na Gcapall seemed to be engaged in a contest to see who can shake their head the most.       

14:55 Well there may well have been three of them vying for favouritism but none of the three managed to win the contest, with Royal Wedding unseating, Haar coming last and the eventual favourite, Go Silver Bullet, only managing third place.

Psychomodo, who seems to save his best for Ascot, set off to make all although Soulard made sure the front runner was not left on his own.

It was this pair who were still in the lead as they turned for home, with Go Silver Bullet tracking them but never looking to be a serious threat.

The race was really decided between the final two fences when Noel Fehily gave Psychomodo his head and he quickly pulled away and it was a case of race over.

Soulard was left one-paced in second, yet despite this Go Silver Bullet was just unable to take advantage.

Royal Wedding had made good progress and looked a lively threat when he unseated three out.

14:33 An open betting heat with Royal Wedding and Go Silver Bullet trading at 7/2 and Haar just behind them at 4/1.

14:29 So much for the dry weather forecast – it is raining. Having said that looking all around it is clear so it looks like it is going to be a short shower only.

If I wasn’t getting over the tail end of a cold I would be in the parade ring, in the rain, looking at the runners. However I intend being sensible on this occasion.

14:21 Well there is no other way to put it but the third race produced a shock result with the 1/2 favourite Manyriverstocross only managing to come home in third place, seemingly unable to finish off his rivals when it mattered.

King Olav set off in front, with Vino Griego tracking him, whilst the favourite was settled in third spot.

After the fifth it seemed King Olav had done his bit as Vino Griego hit the front with Manyriverstocross tracking his every move.

Turning for home, though it was all change again as Vino Griego dropped out briefly leaving the favourite in front, yet at the same time King Olav found a second wind and hit the front again – the pair pulling clear of their rivals and Inventor being the only one to emerge from the pack to give chase.

King Olav jumped the last in front but Manyriverstocross was on his quarters, seemingly just waiting to pounce.

At the last King Olav still had the lead and it was expected Robert Thornton would ask the favourite to take the race on the run-in. Well he did but the horse did not respond and it looked as though King Olav was going to steal the race.

There was to be a final twist as Paul Benson got to work on Inventor, who then showed a good turn of foot to pass the front pair and take the race by 1¼ lengths.            

14:00 Watching them go down The Rainbow Hunter is getting very warm and it is nothing like a warm day.

13:58 Race three is the Robert Giles Agencies Introductory Hurdle over two miles.

Ten face the starter. Another with a few negatives in the parade ring.

13:46 Another cracking contest in which the betting said it was a two horse race with Alan King’s Awesome George just going off favourite ahead of Nicky Henderson’s Zemsky.

Like the opener the initial pace was conservative and what pace there was had been set initially by Theophrastus, until Prince Taime took up the baton at the third.

These two plodded along in front with the top two in the betting happy to track.

Coming out of Swinley Bottom Theophrastus dropped back leaving Awesome George to keep the leader company, with Zemsky tracking every move his market rival made.

Three out it was Zemsky who had joined Prince Taime in front and by two out he was in the lead.

Between the final two fences Charlie Huxley found himself stuck behind Zemsky and Prince Taime and had to move out to get running room.

The tactic worked as come the final fence the market leaders broached it locked together.

It looked as though we were in for another epic battle to the line but when push came to shove Awesome George had more to give and he soon pulled away from his rival to come home three lengths clear.     

Pingaro De La Vire who was over relaxed in the parade ring was equally relaxed on the track and was always last.

13:22 Race two is the Futures Spread Trading Beginners’ Chase over the extended 2m 5f.

Seven go to post and the big negative in the parade ring is Prince Taime who looks like a rabid dog he his foaming from the mouth so badly.

13:12 Well if the opening race is going to set the tone for the afternoon we are in for a treat.

An absolutely cracking finish with half the field in with a chance as they jumped the last.

The pace in the contest, although it has to be said the initial pace was pedestrian, was shared by Ashfield’s Dream and the favourite Red Harbour. Although it has to be said as they passed the line to go out on the final circuit the favourite was awash with sweat.

The pair were still locked together at the second last, although their rivals were lining up to attack, most notably Volador, Proud Presence, Ballybach and Priors Glen.

Between the final two flights Red Harbour was the first to give up the fight and Ashfield’s Dream cleared the flight in front, although he looked tired and jumped to the left.

A classic finish ensued with Ashfield’s Dream fighting off all comers as Proud Presence, Volador and Ballybach were closing stride for stride.

The line came in time for the front runner as Ashfield’s Dream cam home by a neck with Proud Presence just winning the battle of the next three. Judge, Nick Bostock, had to resort to the camera to give third spot to Volador over Ballybach.

12:48 Our opening contest is the extended 2m 3f Nicholas Cunningham Memorial “National Hunt” Handicap Novices’ Hurdle, quite a mouthful!!

Eleven go to post and a couple of them getting a bit feisty in the parade ring, most of all Wembley Way and to a lesser extent Weapon Of War and Volador.

11:56 Good morning from Ascot where it is overcast but the rain has stopped. Surprisingly the official going remains Good. I say surprisingly because the local roads have a great deal of standing water.

We have no non-runners at present.

7:56 Only 1mm of rain overnight, although further rain is expected this morning and the going remains Good

Our selections are:-

21:05 Thursday

Advance going report (with the forecast rain the going is expected to ease before racing)

Going

Good (GoingStick: Chase 8.2, Hurdle 8.7 on Thursday at 08:30)

Thursday- Gusty, occasional shower. Friday- morning rain 7-8mm before racing, brighter later.

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

Non-runners

no non-runners

Results

12:55 Novices' Hurdle 2m 3f 110yds

1st 1 Ashfield's Dream 16/1
2nd 5 Proud Presence 12/1
3rd 8 Volador 9/2
11 Ran
Distances neck & neck
Fav 6 Red Harbour 7/4 (6th)
Tote
Win £28.70
Places £4.80 £3.10 £1.70
Exacta £180.70
CSF £185.07
Time 4' 52.9"

13:30 Beginners Chase 2m 5f 110yds

1st 1 Awesome George 6/4 fav
2nd 7 Zemsky 15/8
7 Ran
Distances 3l
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.70
Places £1.60 £1.50
Exacta £5.10
CSF £4.75
Time 5' 34.4"

14:05 Introductory Hurdle 2m

1st5 Inventor  14/1
2nd 6 King Olav 20/1
3rd 1 Manyriverstocross 1/2 fav
10 Ran
Distances 1¼ & ¾
Fav third
Tote
Win £15.10
Places £2.40 £4.90 £1.10
Exacta £268.60
CSF £214.64
Time 3' 53.5"

14:40 Handicap Chase 2m 3f

1st 1 Psychomodo 11/1
2nd 7 Soulard 5/1
3rd 8 Go Silver Bullet 10/3 fav
8 Ran
Distances 6 & 3¼
Fav third
Tote
Win £10.30
Places £3.00 £1.90 £1.50
Exacta £63.50
CSF £65.60
Tricast £226.28
Time 4' 42.8"

15:15 Handicap Chase 3m

1st 9 Any Currency 15/8 fav
2nd 4 Pretty Star 16/1
3rd 6 Fairoak Lad 11/2
11 Ran
Distances ¾ & ½
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.10
Places £1.40 £2.50 £2.20
Exacta £30.20
CSF £30.29
Tricast £146.11
Time 6' 10.9

15:50 Handicap Hurdle 2m

1st 11 Zabeel Palace 9/4 fav
2nd 8 Oldrik 10/1
3rd 7 Pascha Bere 15/2
12 Ran
Distances ¾ & 1½
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.70
Places £1.30 £3.00 £2.50
Exacta £18.10
CSF £26.06
Tricast £153.56
Time 3' 46.2"