09:09 Another dry night and another hot day forecast.

The going remains

Straight Course: Good to Firm, Firm in places.
Round Course: Good to Firm (Watered)

4mm of water has been applied overnight.

The round course rail is positioned 3yds inside from approx 1m 4f start to the bend turning into the straight increasing to 9yds inside up the straight, decreasing to 3yds after winning line to join near 1M 4F Start.

Increasing distances by the following:

2 Mile Start - 25yds
1M 4F Start - 20yds
1M 2F Start - 20yds
Old Mile - 10yds

There are currently two non-runners.

Before racing Ascot hosts a Ride For Heroes event in which 600 horses and riders will be taking part in a five mile ride raising funds for the Help For Heroes charity.

12:10 Good afternoon from a hot and sunny Ascot where there is a great atmosphere as the Horses For Heroes event continues.

We currently have five non-runners, details on the right.

12:44 There are horses of all shapes and sizes taking part in the charity ride and the finish is up the home straight here at Ascot – they are using the jump course just in case anybody is worried about the racing surface for this afternoon’s racing.

13:19 Our opening contest is the Totescoop6 Handicap a 7f contest with 11 runners, which coincidentally happens to be the first leg of this week’s Scoop6.

13:37 A much better group of horses than in yesterdays opener, although apparently Man Of Action was attempting to live up to his name by being coltish in the pre-parade ring.

Thrust Control (thankfully was not being coltish) went to post early and the remainder were on their best behaviour.

14:03 Some pre-race drama as Citrus Star refused to enter the stalls and was withdrawn, resulting in a 10p rule 4 deduction on all winning bets.

Little surprise it was the two Johnston runners who set the pace with Rule Breaker and Greyfriarschorista blazing the trail. Navajo Chief and Colonel Mak were in second rank, with the favourites Man Of Action settled behind the leading four.

The field opted to come down the centre of the course and it was approaching two out.

Passing two out the race began to develop with Haatheq, Man Of Action and the well backed Side Glance all coming with challenging runs.

The favourite was first to hit the front but Side Glance was looking better and soon eased into a clear lead. Neither the favourite nor Haatheq were able to offer any resistance and Side Glance came home a comfortable 2¼ lengths clear.

It was very close for minor honours with Man Of Action getting the narrow short head call over Haatheq.

14:15 Race two is the Kelly Group Nursery Handicap Stakes over 6f and for the casual racegoers there may be a betting dilemma as four of the nine runners are greys.

They are pretty well behaved for two year olds, biggest negative goes for Silly Billy, who is living up to his mane and is very much on his toes and fighting his lass.

Major Conquest was moving round the ring looking like a dressage competitor, on tippy-toe.

14:36 Well horses are sent to make fools of us as the two paddock negatives filled two of the three places.

The greys were to the fore for the first half of the contest with Rosina Grey, Capaill Liath and Silver Alliance line abreast in the early stages of the contest.

Of the trio joint-favourite Capaill Laith looked to be the first to be struggling and approaching two out Major Conquest looked to be the main challenger to the leading duo.

Also making good progress were Silly Billy and, particularly eye catchingly, Royal Opera, who had been tardy out of the stalls.

Major Conquest hit the front inside the final half furlong but had to battle to win the contest as Royal Opera and Silly Billy were both closing.

Eventually the line came in time for Major Conquest who held on by a neck from Royal Opera with Silly Billy a further neck back in third.

The joint favourites Silver Alliance (5th) and Capaill Laith (6th) were not beaten that far in a very competitive contest.

14:38 Next up is our big race of the day, the totesport.com Summer Mile, run on the old mile course in which eight compete for the £56,770 first prize.

14:47 Dingaan and, to a greater extent, Premio Loco were getting warm in the parade ring. Forgotten voice is something of a head shaker and was fighting his handler.

15:11 A cracking renewal of the Summer Mile in which half the field had every chance inside the final furlong.

Dingaan, in the contest as a pacemaker for favourite Dream Eater seemed reluctant to take up his role and had to be rousted along to take up the running.

He eventually hit the front, to be tracked by Fareer, King Of Dixie, Forgotten Voice and Ouqba, Premier Loco settled next, followed by the favourite with the French raider Vertigineux happy to settle in rear.

Apart from King Of Dixie dropping back a few places there was little change in the order until the field swung for home and Dream Eater was moved into a challenging position by Jimmy Fortune.

By two out Dingaan had done his job and was out of the equation leaving Fareer briefly in front.

His lead was brief as Forgotten Voice then hit the front, however this was short lived as the field bunched up with Ouqba, Premio Loco, Dream Eater and, from the back Vertigineux all came with runs.

Ouqba was another to lead briefly until the cavalry mounted a final charge.

Premio Loco launched a final challenge half a furlong out, hitting the front to record a length victory.

15:21 Race four is the 1¼ mile The Euro Earthworks Handicap Stakes with eight runners, Dubai Bounty being the absentee.

15:47 Yet another cracking finish to entertain the Saturday afternoon crowd here at Ascot.

Once they settled into a rhythm Mabuya set the pace, accompanied by Snoqualmie Boy, the pair running  a couple of lengths clear of their rivals.        

Kavachi and Shernando were the second pair with Greylami leading the main bunch.

The front running duo still held the advantage as they lined up for home but coming off the bend Eddie Ahern bought Greylami into a challenging position before hitting the front approaching the furlong marker.

The long time leaders were unable to respond but Elvira Madigan , who had been settled off the pace tried to cut into the lead, however the filly did not turn out to be the main danger to the grey as Jo’bugh (slowly away) came with a late challenge under David Kenny was running on best of all in the closing stages.

The Lady Herries runner was slowly eating into Greylami’s lead but the line came in time for the leader as he recorded  a 1¼ length victory.

Elvira Madigan held on for third with the front running Mabuya fourth.

Favourite Arizona John was never a threat finishing a never nearer fifth.

15:58 For race five we are back to seven furlongs as seven fillies take their chances in The Norman Court Stud Fillies’ Handicap Stakes.

Iasia is getting a little bit warm but that is forgivable on an afternoon like this.

Faithful One has two handlers but is very relaxed.

16:16 We have had to wait for the 11th race of this two day meeting to have our first shock of the meeting.

Anybody who follows flat racing will know Mark Johnston runners like to set the pace and Waveband in this contest was no exception. What was different was jockey Joe Fanning decided to stick to the stands rail, the first time this tactic has been tried this meeting.

By half way he had a clear lead over Faithful One who was leading the centre group.

Odds-on favourite Sarasota Sunshine was settled in rear.

Two out Frankie Dettori moved Sarasota Sunshine out to make her challenge but when he pressed the turbo the response was not there and a shock was on the cards.

Waveband was not slowing in front and although Sarasota Sunshine passed her remaining rivals she was not going to get anywhere near Waveband who recorded an impressive six length victory.  

There was a competitive battle for third spot with Sakhee’s Pearl getting the better of Faithful One.

16:32 We conclude this two day meeting with a couple of sprints over the minimum distance.

The first is The Ritz Club Casino Handicap Stakes in which nine line up.

Rowe Park has two handlers and is still pulling hard, as is Swan Wings.

16:54 Yet another good finish in the first of our sprints.

Unlike our last contest there was no clear leader and this time the field did stick more towards the stands side.

Le Toreador was prominent early doors, along with Archers Road, although, in truth the field were quite well bunched.

Approaching the furlong marker it was difficult to call the winner with Rowe Park, Monsieur Joe and the running on Prohibit all looking to have chances.

Rowe Park managed to get first run but the other pair were determined to make a battle of it and in a driving finish Rowe Park held on by a neck.

Judge Felix Wheeler needed a quick check with the camera before giving Monsieur Joe second place with Prohibit taking third.

The front running Le Toreador came home fourth, with Sonny Red a never nearer fifth.

17:05 Our final contest is the Ivan The Terrible Handicap Stakes, which explains the large number of Russians in the parade ring.

Nine line up with Solemn being the non-runner.

17:15 Berbice is being re-shod at the start.

17:29 The final contest was a spring but nobody expected it to be a two furlong sprint, they set off at a pedestrian pace, which worked for the benefit of Berbice who absolutely fell out of the stalls, giving several lengths to his rivals.

The pace was so slow Berbice was soon back on terms.

The “pace” was set by Triple Dream, with Safari Mischief, Clifton Bridge, favourite Rapid Water and Brandywell Boy all with the pace.

It was only just after half way the pace picked up and Brynfa Boy was the first to run on but with a short lived challenge.

Hat trick seeking Brandywell Boy ran on best of all to take up the running to record a 1¼ length victory.   

Triple Dream held on for second place with the favourite Rapid Water just getting the better of the running-on Berbice for third spot.

Had Berbice not completely fluffed the start he would surely have done better.

17:34 That’s it from Ascot where we have had some very good racing, we race here again in a fortnights time for the popular King George meeting.

Meanwhile from Ascot a very good evening.

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

14:50
1 Pressing (lame - VC 08:24)
2 Alexandros (going - 09:26)

15:30
9 Dubai Bounty (going - 13:30)

16:05
6 Romanticize (bitten - SC 08:52)

16:40
2 Judge 'n Jury (colic - SC 10:27)

17:15
2 Solemn (cast in box - SC 10:46)

Results

13:45 Handicap 7f

14:20 Nursery 6f

14:50 Summer Mile 1m

15:30 Handicap 1m 2f

16:05 Handicap 7f

16:40 Handicap 5f

17:15 Handicap 5f