07:45 It has been dry overnight following 4.5mm of rain on Thursday and the official going is Good, we are still awaiting an updated going stick reading.

Day one of this three day meeting gets underway at 14:10 and we currently have the one non-runner.

08:23 We now have the going stick readings.

Standside 7.9, Centre 8.3, Farside 8.1, Round 8.1

09:56 We have a second non-runner.

12:51 Good afternoon from Ascot where I would like to say it is a lovely sunny afternoon, unfortunately there is a horrible black cloud sitting over the course, although nothing falling from it at the moment.

We have just the two non-runners still.

Richard Hoiles, who is commentating this afternoon, set me a challenge of deciphering the pronunciation of two of the runners in the opening two contests. Apparently I cracked them both quicker than he did.

So how are these pronounced – answers at the bottom of the page – Tymismoni and Noonenose.

Answers at the bottom of the page.

13:24 Well the big black cloud has drifted away but it is now overcast and, actually, quite a pleasant afternoon.

In case you have not already heard the news Dar Re Mi will miss tomorrows King George after bruising her foot.

14:04 Our opening contest is the 6f The John Guest Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, a two-year-old contest with 11 going to post, our only double figure field of the afternoon.

Two negatives in the parade ring, both newcomers, Queen’s Silk was whinnying and Speedfit Girl had two handlers, was on her toes and getting warm.

The Richard Hannon runner, Jahanara, went to post early.

14:08 They have all gone to post nice and quietly.

14:27 It isn’t very often that Richard Hoiles gets caught out during commentary but he, the cameraman and director were all caught out as White Moonstone drifted to the stands rail under Frankie Dettori.

Concentrating on the main group in the centre of the course most missed Dettori making steady progress against the stands rail to grab a 1¼ length victory. A good ride for Dettori, his only ride here this afternoon as he sets off for this evenings meeting at York.

The main group were headed by Jahanara, with Florestans Match and Saskia’s Dream next rank.

These three sharing the work in the closing stages.    

Florestans Match ran on to take up the running two out as the long time leader faded and it looked like being a decisive run, until the eventual winner came into view on the stands rail.
Layla Jamil was settled behind the leaders in the main group and made late eye catching progress to finish in third spot.

Saskia’s Dream came home fourth and Candys Girl was doing her best work at the end to come home fifth.

14:28 Our second contest is the John Guest EBF Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs with seven going to post.

14:37 Another parade ring full of generally well behaved two-year-olds.

14:59 At least the field remained together this time so the only surprise this time being those involved in the finish.

Noonenose set the pace and looked like being an all the way winner.  Dream Achieved and Azrael chased the leader and the odds-on favourite, Jehanbux, was being worked on by Richard Hughes from very early on.

Noonenose still had the lead a furlong out and it was clear at that point the favourite was not going to figure in the finish.

The same could not be said of Titus Mills, settled in rear by Martin Dwyer before making steady progress from approaching two out.

Inside the final furlong it was going to be a two horse race with Noonenose doing his best to hold on but Titus Mills relentlessly eating into his lead.

Titus Mills hit the front inside the final few yards, recording a head victory over the long time leader.  

Azrael came home third with the favourite a disappointing fourth.

Kyllachy Spirit must have expended all his energy in the parade ring as he was never in the contest, never heading any of his rivals at any time in the contest.

15:12 Our feature contest this afternoon is The Woodcote Stud EBF Valiant Stakes, a listed fillies contest over the round mile course.

Seven line up, the only slight negative in the parade ring is Alsace Lorraine who was getting a bit on her toes.

15:36 Racing, just like life, is full of what ifs?

In this race the burning question is what if Chachamaidee had not totally screwed up the start?

The answer is she probably would have run the race.

Chachamaidee absolutely fell out of the stalls easily giving eight lengths plus to her rivals.

Fortunately the pace being set by Flora Trevelyan was not that generous and Chachamaidee was able rejoin the main field, albeit at the cost of having to expend a great deal of energy to get in contention.

Flora Treveylan, a flop at odds-on last time out at Pontefract, shared the lead with Please sing, the pair clear as they turned for home.

Blue Angel and Field Day led the remainder turning for home with Chachamaidee credibly on their quarters.

Two out Alan Kirby asked Flora Trevelyan to go for home   and she soon pulled clear, however Martin Dwyer on Field Day was watching her ever move and was soon in pursuit, running on well and hitting the front inside the furlong marker.

The only one of her rivals to mount any sort of challenge was, you guessed it, Chachamaidee.

However she did not have enough to catch the leader and Field Day came home three lengths clear.
Chachamaidee was a very credible runner-up in the circumstances.

Favourite Alsace Lorraine, held up early on, was running on in the closing stages but only managed to finish a never nearer third, a neck behind the runner-up.

15:49 Race four is The John Guest Brown Jack Stakes, our longest race of the afternoon over two miles, with nine runners.

Desert Recluse was getting increasingly edgy in the parade ring and tried to make his way out on a couple of aoccasions.

Aaim To Prosper is a bit of a head shaker.

16:11 No surprise it was the Mark Johnston duo of Becausewecan and Keenes Day who set the pace, holding the first two places from the start until two furlongs from home.
Centenial and Colloquial were in second rank, whilst the favourite Aaim To Prosper was settled towards the rear.

Kieren Fallon asked Becausewecan to make a charge for home two out but there was little response, by contrast Colloquial responded well when asked by Ferfus Sweeny and he soon hit the front, although the cavalry were in pursuit, with Centenial, Hevelius and Aaim To Prosper all coming with challenges.

Martin Dwyer went the brave route on the favourite but was lucky to get a clear run.

Aaim To Prosper was closing on Colloquial in the closing stages but the line came in time for the yellow blinkered,  oldest runner at nine in the field, holding on by ¾ of a length, to the annoyance of favourite backers.

Hevelius, settled mid-division most of the contest, took third, with Desert Recluse running on from almost last to finish fourth.

The front running duo came home fifth and sixth respectively.

16:23 Race five is the 1m 2f The Newsmith Capital October Club Charity Handicap Stakes, a long race name but a small field as only five go to post.

Nothing to report from the parade ring in what the betting suggests is a three runner race with little to separate Sand Skier, Hanoverian Baron and Breakheart in the betting.

16:47 Well the betting was more or less correct with the three fancied runners being the only ones really in the contest.

Mark Johnston’s Sand Skier set the pace but Greg Fairley had his work cut out settling him in front after he was singularly unimpressive going down to the start and being reluctant going into the stalls – he was lathered in sweat.

Braveheart tracked the leader, with Vainglory and Hanoverian Baron vying for third spot and recent course winner Greylami happy to sit and wait.

There was little change in the order until they straightened up for home, when Greylami made up a place.

Sand Skier still had the advantage and both Breakheart and Hanoverian Baron were under pressure to make a challenge.

Both did respond for pressure and battled to the line, crossing for our closest finish of the afternoon.

Fearless judge Dave Smith did not call for a photo and gave the verdict to Hanoverian Baron by a nose, with the favourite Breakheart second and the front running Sand Skier third.

16:59 Our final contest is The SACO Serviced Apartments Handicap Stakes over a mile, although this time over the straight mile.

Nine face the starter.

17:21 Ummmm – an interesting final contest.

First Post was very well backed in the final moments before the race.

Come the race itself all the field, except First Post, tracked across to the stands rail with First Post ploughing a lone furrow under Hayley Turner down the centre of the course.

The main group was headed by the Mark Johnston trained Avonrose, with Jordaura and Officer In Command to the fore.  First Post, by contrast looked to be in arrears.

Approaching two out Turner drifted back to join the main group and ended up in third place behind the front running Avonrose and Jordaura.

Turner tried to chivvy First post along but was unable to make any inroads into the lead of Avonrose who, taking the advantage of the stands rail, came home 2¾ lengths clear.

First Post did manage to come home second denying Jordaura the runners-up spot by half-a-length.

Nothing else was able to make a credible challenge.

It has to be said this contest probably is not Miss Turner’s greatest ride ever.

17:32 That’s it from day one of this three day meeting, the hores d’ouvres of the meeting with a very tasty main course tomorrow in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Only six runners but what a field including Derby winner Workforce taking on his elders for the first time, amongst them Youmzain and Harbinger with the International challenge coming from Daryakana (France) and Cape Blanco (Ireland).

Also a decent supporting card including a near impossible 22 runner 7f contest.

If you are thinking of coming tomorrow it is going to be busy. The Premier Enclosure is sold out but there are still tickets available in the Grandstand Enclosure.

So join us tomorrow, until then a very good evening from Ascot.

Pronounciation quiz answers:- Tymismoni = Time Is Money and Noonenose = no one knows!!!

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
6 Decorative (bad scope - SC 10:06 Thu)
8 Gracious Melange (lame - SC 09:27)

Results

14:10 Fillies' Stakes 6f

14:45 Maiden Stakes 7f

15:20 Fillies Listed Stakes 1m (Old Mile)

15:55 Handicap 2m

16:30 Handicap 1m 2f

17:05 Handicap 1m (Straight)