08:45 It has been a dry night overnight and a lovely day is forecast, the going remains Good.
It is day three of the Racing For Change free admission initiative which, so far, appears to have been a success and Ascot is today’s free meeting.
There is currently the one non-runner, which will be in your morning papers.
Our selections are:-
14:10 |
1 |
Zebedee |
14:45 |
2 |
Bella Swan |
15:20 |
2 |
Cityscape |
15:55 |
4 |
Electrolyser |
16:30 |
1 |
Our Jonathan |
17:05 |
6 |
Ellemujie |
17:40 |
2 |
Dalradian |
09:48 We have a couple more non-runners, both in the last.
10:07 And another one is out.
12:49 Good afternoon from a slightly overcast Ascot, where a good crowd is expected nonetheless.
8,000 advance free tickets have been sent out and an additional 3,000 are expected on top of that. The normal numbers for this meeting is around 8.000.
We have no additional non-runners.
13:11 Ascot have set up an “Ask The Expert” counter where racegoers can ask any racing related questions they want, although they were not too keen to answer my “tell me what is going to win this afternoon” question.
In seriousness they have been busy since the doors opened at 11:00, with most of the questions being betting related.
They said feedback has been positive with many of the questioners saying they appreciate having somewhere to ask their questions.
A simple innovation and one worthy of further consideration.
13:27 On the new food theme, the offering in the press room at Ascot today is a very tasty chicken curry - lucky Tommo is not here today - he does not do curry!!
Free racecards also on offer today, including a voucher for a free cup of tea and coffee.
Tote ladies are strolling round with free scratchcards. All are "winners" top prize is a free £1,000 Tote bet. My prize was £2 off a £5 Quadpot.
14:02 We get underway with the Aldermore Conditions Stakes, a five furlong contest win which seven line up, three of whom are debutants.
Zebedee, a very impressive winner at Windsor just over a fortnight ago is the very short priced favourite and was the paddock pick.
Joe Junior, one of the debutants, was slightly on his toes.
14:20 Those who backed Zebedee at odds-on and who had not seen him run before may have been very nervous as Richard Hughes settled him in rear.
However he adopted similar tactics when making a winning debut at Windsor.
As soon as Hughes asked for an effort it was race over as Zebedee sprung past his rivals, hardly breaking sweat.
Front runners Saucy Buck and Straight Line could only watch Zebedee pulling away inside the final half furlong.
Saucy Buck Held on for second spot.
Joe Junior was very green, finishing last, but should come on for the run.
14:40 Next up is the X-Factor Stakes, a conditions stakes for fillies, in which five compete on the old mile course.
Blue Angel was relaxed as she entered the parade ring but the longer she paraded the more she began to fret.
The others were all reasonably calm and all five looked to be in good condition.
14:56 Not much pace in the second contest with outsider Yawary plodding along in front with the favourite Aviate.
Deirdre and Blue Angel sat in second rank with Bella Swan settled last.
There was little change until they began the turn for home, at which point Bella Swan made some progress.
Just after the two marker Tom Queally eased Aviate clear, soon having a couple of lengths advantage.
Bella Swan set of in pursuit but never looking to be a major threat.
Indeed the best effort came from Blue Angel who rallied well and although never a danger to the winner, she managed to grab the runners-up spot.
Deirdre ran on one paced for fourth and Yawary paid the price for her earlier exertions and came home last.
It was a race that did not tell us that much.
15:17 For race three we move to the straight mile although we, sadly, only have four runners for the Britain’s Got Talent Paradise Stakes, a listed contest.
Although, in a way, four is an appropriate number for this race as four is about the number of talented performers who appear in Britain’s Got Talent.
Nothing of any note to report from the parade ring.
14:32 This was certainly run at a better pace than the fillies contest with Nasri setting the pace, followed by King Of Dixie.
The odds-on favourite, Cityscape, had to be ridden along by Ryan Moore in third spot with Minor Vamp the back marker.
There was little change in the order until two out, at which point Nasri came under strong pressure and began to drop back, whilst Cityscape began to make a challenge.
Despite Cityscape making progress it never looked as though he would pass King Of Dixie. If I were to be unkind I would actually ask if he wanted to pass the leader.
Whatever the reason he was unable to get his head in front at any point and King Of Dixie recorded a neck victory.
Nasri finished third, 13 lengths behind the front pair, whilst Minor Vamp came home in her own time, virtually pulled up.
15:33 Next up is our feature contest, the two mile Moss Bross Sagaro Stakes, a Group Three contest.
Ten line up.
16:11 A great finish to the two mile Sagaro Stakes with the William Knight trained Illustrious Blue passing all his rivals under a fantastic Jim Crowley ride.
They set off at a steady pace, with Aajel setting the ‘pace', although it was clearly too slow for the favourite Akmal who joined him in front after half a mile.
Illustrious Blue, meanwhile, had been settled stone last by Crowley.
Turning for home Aajel still had the lead with Akmal looking poised to challenge in second. Yes Mr President was under pressure in third spot with Electrolyser back in fourth.
As the pace increased up front Aajel pulled clear and Akmal was unable to respond.
It was Electrolyser who emerged as the main danger.
Meanwhile, almost unnoticed, Crowley had begun his run on Illustrious Blue.
As Electrolyser’s run run out of charge Illustrious Blue was still eating up the ground, hitting the front in the final 50 yards to record a half length victory.
Aajel held on for second with Electrolyser further length back in third.
Akmal, who did not seem to get the two miles, came home seventh.
16:26 Race five is the six furlong Cleanevent Pavillion Stakes with eight facing the starter, Absolute Magic is the non-runner.
16:41 For the second race running we see the winner come from last to first – this time Pat Cosgrave on Society Rock was the fast finisher, coming like the proverbial bat out of hell.
Iver Bridge Lad set the pace, along with Reignier and Edinburgh Knight. The favourite Our Jonathan after a tardy start was settled in rear along with the eventual winner.
Our Jonathan made some progress three out but flattered to deceive.
Corporal Maddox made a move for the front at the furlong marker with Mon Cadeaux looking to be the danger.
It was then Cosgrave launched his attack, asking for an effort and getting a fantastic response, sweeping past his rivals to record a ¾ length win.
17:00 Our final two contests are the betinternet.com Handicap over the straight mile.
Divided into two heats because of a large number of entries.
Division One sees eleven line up, Ellemujie, One Slick Chick and Ocean Legend was all on their toes to a greater or lesser extent.
Rainbow Mirage was pulling and Play It Sam was swishing his tail.
17:18 Play It Sam hit the front early on in this straight mile contest and despite several decent looking challenges he managed to hold on to grab the spoils.
Jordaura was the last to run on and came within three parts of a length of the winner and may have well won had the race been a tad longer.
Ocean Legend was a challenger from three out but was never able to strike a decisive blow, coming home third.
The favourite, Ellemujie, was launched with a run under Dettori and although it looked good to begin with, it eventually came to nothing.
17:35 Quote of the day, just heard by the parade ring, “I like the ginger one.” The “ginger” one was was Smart Endeavour, who did look nice.
Not sure what to make of Edgeworth, a couple of times he tried to leave the paddock via the horsewalk – does he want to go home or is he keen to race?
Wise Dennis was pulling.
Satwa Laird and Netta were both relaxed.
Ten line up for Division Two of the mile handicap.
17:55 Another race which went to the late finishers.
Samarinda set the pace but was swallowed up when the race kicked off in earnest in the closing stages.
First to run-on, with what looked to be a decisive run, was Highly Regal. However the lead was shortlived as both South Cape and Wise Dennis came with even later runs to take the first two places. The former winning by a length.
Satwa Laird was the one who flattered to deceive, running on three out but unable to deliver.
The favourite Edgeworth was another doing his best work in the closing stages but he was only able to come home a never nearer fourth.
18:00 That’s it from our third free meeting of the week and, in terms of numbers, a great success with in excess of 19,000 enjoying the racing, well in excess of last years 8,000 odd.
We also had the” experiment” of decimal odds, although it has to be said it was something of a damp squib.
Out of 60+ layers only four firms, on five boards, were using decimal odds and one of them was so far down the line they had very few visitors.
Precisely what such a small scale experiment is going to prove is highly debateable.
Tomorrow we remain on the free racing trail as we go to Huntingdon’s evening meeting.
Until then a very good evening from a busy Ascot.
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
15:20
1 Abbeyside (bruised foot - VC 10:18)
16:30
9 Absolute Magic (in season - 10:16)
17:05
10 Rock Anthem (bad scope - SC 10:18 Tue)
17:40
2 Dalradian (knocked joint - VC 09:19)
11 Opera Prince (bad scope - VC 09:17)
Results
14:10 Conditions Stakes 5f
| 1st |
1 Zebedee |
2/7 F |
| 2nd |
6 Saucy Buck |
16/1 |
| Tote Win £1.20 |
|
| Places £1.10, £5.00, |
|
| Exacta £5.70 |
|
| CSF £5.32 |
|
| Distances |
|
| 7 ran |
|
|
| Time 1' 02.33" (slow 2.33") |
14:45 Conditions Race 1m (round)
| 1st |
1 Aviate |
6-4 F |
| 2nd |
3 Blue Angel |
10/3 |
| Tote Win £2.30 |
|
| Places £1.30, £1.80, |
|
| Exacta £4.80 |
|
| CSF £6.39 |
|
| Distances 1 3/4l |
|
| 5 ran |
|
| Time 1' 43.61" (slow 3.41") |
15:20 Paradise Stakes 1m (straight)
| 1st |
3 King Of Dixie |
4/1 |
| 2nd |
2 Cityscape |
4/9 F |
| Tote Win £5.80 |
|
| Exacta £8.80 |
|
| CSF £6.47 |
|
| Distance neck |
|
| 4 ran |
|
|
| Non runners 1 |
|
| Time 1' 40.33" (slow 0.83") |
15:55 Sagaro Stakes 2m
| 1st |
5 Illustrious Blue |
16/1 |
| 2nd |
2 Aajel |
13/2 |
| 3rd |
4 Electrolyser |
15/2 |
| Tote Win £20.00 |
|
| Places £4.10, £2.70, £2.60, |
| Exacta £120.20 |
|
| CSF £111.85 |
|
| Distances 1/2l, 1l |
|
| Akmal 9/2 fav |
|
| 10 ran |
|
| Time 3' 29.08" (slow 6.58") |
16:30 Pavilion Stakes 6f
| 1st |
8 Society Rock |
9/2 |
| 2nd |
2 Corporal Maddox |
5/1 |
| 3rd |
5 Mon Cadeaux |
7/2 |
| Tote Win £6.00 |
|
| Places £1.60, £1.90, £1.70, |
| Exacta £28.90 |
|
| CSF £28.85 |
|
| Distances 3/4l, 3/4l |
|
| Our Jonathan 2/1 fav |
|
| 8 ran |
|
| Non runners 9 |
|
| Time 1' 14.2" (slow 0.7") |
|
17:05 Handicap (Div 1) 1m Straight
| 1st |
11 Play It Sam |
8/1 |
| 2nd |
5 Jordaura |
8/1 |
| 3rd |
8 Ocean Legend |
16/1 |
| Tote Win £8.70 |
|
| Places £2.80, £2.80, £4.10, |
| Exacta £82.50 |
|
| CSF £69.65 |
|
| Tricast £1019.42 |
|
| Distances 3/4l, nk |
|
| Hail Promenader 9-2 fav |
|
| 11 ran |
|
| Non runners 10 |
|
| Time 1' 40.80" (slow 3.00") |
17:40 Handicap (Div 2) 1m Straight
| 1st |
4 South Cape |
5/1 |
| 2nd |
3 Wise Dennis |
7/1 |
| 3rd |
5 Highly Regal |
11/1 |
| Tote Win £6.00 |
|
| Pl £1.70, £3.00, £4.10, |
| EX £39.70 |
|
| SF £39.91 |
|
| Tricast £378.24 |
|
| Distances 1l, 1/2l |
|
| Edgeworth 9/2 fav |
|
| 10 ran |
|
| Non runners 2, 11 |
|
| Time 1' 42.26" (slow 2.46") |
|
