07:38 It has been a dry night and the going is Good to Soft, Soft in places

08:16 Currently two non-runners, details on the right.

11:45 Good morning from Ascot where it is overcast and there is a very strong headwind relative to the home straight.

There are currently four non-runners.

12:09 Today is the Victor Chandler Chase and there is a cake here to commemorate Desert Orchid winning the first running.

12:47 It is not very nice outside a cold wind and now trying to rain.

The runners are in the parade ring for our opener, the Rosling King LLP Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, a 2m 3f contest with 11 set to go to post.

Vino Griego was reluctant to leave the pre-parade ring and reared a couple of times. Ackertac was slightly on his toes.

I quite liked the look of Suburban Bay

13:07 Well you will have to go a long way to see a more effective demolition of a fence as we saw at the open ditch in this contest. The favourite, Royale's Charter, parted the birch more effectively than Moses parted the Red Sea, needless to say he fell. Buncloudy fell at the same fence independently.

Although we await an official announcement, I think it is safe to assume that fence will not be jumped again today.

It turned out to be a good race with a two way battle to the line between Triolo D'Alene and Ackertac, both of whom had tracked the pace setting Vino Griego.

It was Triolo D'Alene who prevailed, easing clear to record a 2¼ length victory, the pair coming home well clear of the remainder, headed by Suburban Bay.

Suburban Bay was produced late and looked a lively contender as they turned for home but did not have the turn of foot to challenge the first two, eventually coming home 13 lengths behind.

Temple Lord looked to be in a good position to challenge before coming down two out.

The front running Vino Griego came home fourth.    

13:28 Just three go to post for the Follow Ascotinsider On Twitter Juvenile Hurdle over two miles.

13:37 After all the excitement of the opener this second contest was actually quite uneventful.

Cuban Piece set the pace although his hurdling had much to be desired. Brilliant Barca joined him on occasion with the hot favourite, Balder Success, happy to track.

Turning for home both Cuban Piece and Brilliant Barca were coming under pressure, whilst Wayne Hutchinson had not moved a muscle on the jolly.

Two out Hutchinson made his move and it was race over as he came home eleven lengths clear of Brilliant Barca with a further 13 back to Cuban Piece.

13:57 Race three is the 1942 Was A Vintage Year Hurdle, better known as the Warfield Mares' Hurdle, a three mile contest with six off to face the starter.

The only paddock comment is Love Of Tara was a little bit on her toes.

14:17 Very much a tactical affair in this race with the runners processing in Indian file for most of the contest.

Love Of Tara set the pace but was closely attended by the favourite Violin Davis.

The field were still well packed turning for home with Violin Davis, Our Girl Salley and Kentord Grey Lady line abreast and the other three also line abreast not far behind..

By the last Violin Davis was just ahead but Kentford Grey Lady was not going to go down without a fight and it was a good battle up the run-in with Violin Davis holding on by half a length. Our Girl Salley came home third, a further 2¼ lengths in arrears.  

14:33 Another hurdle race, this time the Bet Mobile At BetVictor.com Holloway's Hurdle, an extended 2m 3f contest with ten off to post.

14:50 An impressive win from the lovely looking grey Smad Place coming home seven lengths clear having taken up the running between the final two hurdles after being settled mid-division for most of the contest.

In a race where Shoreacres and Rowan Tiger shared the lead the field were fairly well bunched for most of the contest. Indeed two out Shoreacres still had a narrow lead with Smad Place, Ciceron and Orzare almost upsides.

Ciceron was the first to crack, with Shoreacres offering the only tame challenge to the winner.

15:05 Our feature contest is next the 25th Anniversary Of The Victor Chandler Chase, otherwise known as The Clarence House Stakes.

All eight runners looked good in the parade ring.

15:20 Well the old scoundrel Somersby finally wins a Grade One as he takes the Victor Chandler winning a battle with Finian's Rainbow to record a 1¼ length victory.

Forpaddytheplasterer was the initial pacesetter with Gauvain keeping him company, although the latter fell three out when out of contention.

Finian's Rainbow took up the running four out with Al Ferof and Somersby the challengers.By the last Al Ferof was beaten and it was a battle between Finian's Rainbow and Somersby and it looked as though Somersby was, once again, going to play the bridesmaid as he seemed to struggle to pass the leader. But he battled on and pulled clear in the final strides to record his long overdue Grade One.

15:55 The BeyVictor.com Handicap Chase say the Andy Stewart colours in the winners enclosure as Tatenen gets the better of a hard battle to the line with I'msingingtheblues.

Tatenen had taken up the running five out and had opened what looked to be a decisive lead. I'msingingtheblues gradually ate into the advantage and took up the running at the last and looked to have stolen the contest.

But with the advantage of the far rail Andrew Thornton got Tatenen back into contention and he eased his head in front in the dying strides to record a hard won victory.

Hector's Choice finished third, a further 2¼ lengths back.

16:15 Our final contest is the extended 2m 3f British Stallion Studs EBF Reading Post National Hunt Novices' Hurdle with 11 off to post.

16:27 I need to get my eyes tested - couldn't see a thing through the bins in that last race the light was so bad - please tell me it doesn't mean I have to eat more carrots.

What I could discern was Grove Pride made all to take the contest, although there will be a question mark over his win as the favourite Hadrian's Approach fell two out when upsides and looking to be going well. The fall effectively handed Grove Pride a bloodless victory as he came home an eased 14 length winner.

Diamond Life took the runners-up spot running on late, whilst it was a further 11 lengths back to third placed Gleann Eagas who just held off a challenge from The Pretender who was running on late. 

16:38 News from the penultimate race, the first two jockeys in the race picked up whip bans with Andrew Thornton getting 5 days (10 hits) and Conor O'Farrell 2 days (9 hits). 

That's it from Ascot's first meeting of 2012 and a day not without controversy as racegoers who failed to adhere to the courses strict new dress code for the Premier Enclosure has orange stickers attached to their badges. An action that upset many. I have no problem with the new dress code, indeed I applaud it but I think the orange stickers were probably not a good idea.

On the track racegoers were treated to some good racing none more so than the old rogue Somersby finally getting his head in front in a Grade 1 contest.

From the grandeur of Ascot good afternoon.  

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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

13:35
2 Kapga De Cerisy (colic - SC 10:37)

4:05
3 Kaffie (lame - SC 08:09)

14:35
3 Torphichen (runs in 1st preference race - 09:01)

15:45
10 Pearlysteps (runs in 1st preference race - 07:52)

Results

13:00 Handicap Chase 2m 3f

13:30 Juvenile Hurdle 2m

14:05 Mares' Hurdle 3m

6

14:35 Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 110yds

15:10 Victor Chandler Chase 2m 1f

15:45 Handicap Chase 2m 5f 110yds

1

16:20 Novices' Hurdle 2m 3f 110yds