That's all for today ...
On a soggy day at Royal Ascot, Frankie Dettori took the St James’s Palace Stakes feature race on board Galileo Gold for trainer Hugo Palmer. In the day’s other Group One races, Profitable won the King’s Stand Stakes with a highly emotional new dad Adam Kirby in the plate, while American raider Teplin and Julien Leparoux won at their first attempt in Europe in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Elsewhere, there were wins for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Caravaggio in the Queen Anne Stakes, while Jennies Jewel won for another Irish trainer, Jarlath Fahey, in the Ascot Stakes. Rab Havlin and Ardad were the surprise winners of the last, the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Join us tomorrow when we’ll be back around the same time for day two of Royal Ascot, described on the racecourse’s own website as “a more gently-paced day that nevertheless features an exciting card and includes the Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes”.
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) result
1 Ardad (R Havlin) 20-1
2 Savannah’s Dream (P Makin) 100-1
3 Pedestal (R L Moore) 14-1
22 ran
Also: 11-4 Fav Mister Trader, 33-1 Full Intention 4th
Non Runners: 4,18
CSF: 1299.79
Tricast: 25345.51
Bolted up - and still unbeaten! A fine effort from ARDAD, who is too good in the Windsor Castle Stakes #RoyalAscot https://t.co/S1rqbJD2IM
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35)
The biggest field of the day set off on their five furlong dash, as the aqction develops on the far side. Ardad wins at a big price to put the bookies in a better mood going in to day two of the meeting. We’ll have a photo for second. Ardad wins by three or four lengths under Rab Havlin, to give the jockey his first winner at Royal Ascot. John Gosden the winning trainer there.
Jewel sparkles in Ascot Stakes
Jennies Jewel bravely fended off all-comers to win the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trained in Ireland by Jarlath Fahey, the Grade Three-winning chaser and Grade One-placed hurdler demonstrated her versatility with a really gutsy effort under Ronan Whelan.
The 6-1 chance simply refused to buckle from the head of affairs, and though Qewy came fast and late, the nine-year-old Jennies Jewel had done enough, with a neck the winning distance.
Mill Springs was third, another length and three-quarters away, with Moscato fourth.
Whelan said: “I thought if she was with any other yard she would have been a lot shorter [in the betting] than she was. Everything was in her favour - the trip, the ground - and she’s just so honest. She’s just so straightforward and she tries her heart out.”
Fahey, who only has six horses in training, said: “To come here with a nine-year-old and win at Royal Ascot, it’s what dreams are made of. He [Qewy] was closing her down rapidly at the line, but Ronan gave her a very good ride.
“This year, for some reason or another, she has just come into her own. She’s all heart and determination, she really gives it her all. We were always going to be handy, we were just a little bit worried about the hustle and bustle at the start, as she has only raced out of stalls once.
“I said if she breaks well to go forward with her and don’t get covered in, as we ride her with plenty of space over hurdles. He got a handy lead and she’s a good stayer. I don’t know what the plans will be now, the owners will have a talk. She’s had a long season, she’s been on the go since October and probably needs a break. But she just keeps looking for more.” PA Sport
Ascot Stakes (5.35) betting
- Mister Trader 11-4
- Tomily 8-1
- Drafted 9-1
- Big City Dreamin 12-1
- Pedestal 12-1
- Battaash 12-1
- Yulong Baobei 16-1
- Kananee 20-1
- Ardad 25-1
- Fayez 25-1
-
33-1 bar
The bookies are moaning ...
Royal Ascot went the way of the punters on the opening day, according to Ladbrokes. Wins for favourite Caravaggio and the well-fancied Jennies Jewel helped ensure bookies had little chance to enjoy some fancied flops such as odds-on The Gurkha.
“We’re feeling as gloomy as the Ascot skies,” said David Williams from Ladbrokes. “It’s been a topsy-turvy day but nothing whatsoever to get excited about. The feature races grab the headlines but it’s all too often the handicaps where the real meaning is found. When the well-backed Jennies Jewel held on in the Ascot Stakes from the unbacked Qewy we knew it wouldn’t be our day.
“It’s not been horrendous and we’ve known worse opening days to major meetings but it wasn’t the lottery of results we hoped the rain might have provided.”
Ascot in numbers - did you know? pic.twitter.com/kRTUm7QvrX
— Racing Post TV (@RP_TV) June 14, 2016
Preview: Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35)
Another juvenile race, rather lower in class than the Coventry and over the minimum distance of five furlongs. The US trainer Wesley Ward has sent over one of his speedsters, Big City Dreamin, but this kind of ground is most unlikely to suit his flashy types and this will be much more testing than the chestnut’s debut over half a furlong less on fast turf at Keeneland.
Similar comments apply to another US raider, Drafted, who is also prominent in the betting. Mister Trader chased home Caravaggio last time and will become popular if that horse wins the Coventry earlier on this card. Godolphin’s Kananee is unbeaten in two but untested on ground like this. Tomily could be the way to go, seeming steeply progressive and already a winner on soft.
Updated
A big win for Jarleth Fahy
The Irish trainer has a small string in County Kildare, but has secured himself a big Royal Ascot winner here. James McDonald came with a late run on Qewy, making up about 20 lengths to finish second by half-a-length. Only McDonald will know if he mistimed a potentially winning run. It was a fine pillar-to-post victory for Ronan Whelan on Jennies Jewel.
What a victory! It's delight for Kildare trainer Jarlath Fahey as JENNIES JEWEL is now a #RoyalAscot winner: https://t.co/nPC1MZlD51
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
Updated
Ascot Stakes (5.00) result
1 Jennies Jewel (R P Whelan) 6-1
2 Qewy (James McDonald) 33-1
3 Mill Springs (L Dettori) 25-1
4 Moscato (L Morris) 18-1
20 ran
Also: 5-1 Fav Silver Concorde
CSF: 210.37
Tricast: 4653.01
Updated
Ascot Stakes (5.00)
Jennies Jewel leads from Mirsaale with a furlong and a half to go ... Jennies Jewel holds off Qewy to win after leading from start to finish. Jennies Jewel wins under Ronan Whelan.
Ascot Stakes (5.00)
Jennies Jewel leads by two lengths from Moscato with Mirsaale in third. Chartbreaker is in fourth on the inside, scraping paint of the rail ... Mill Springs is next ... Jennies Jewel leads them with six furlongs to go, with Moscato in second ...
Ascot Stakes (5.00)
They’re away and running in this two-and-a-half-mile marathon, with Jennies Jewel leading from Saved By The Bell and Gaalizzi ... Sunblazer whips in a field that’s well strung out ... Jennies Jewel continues to lead from Moscato and Chartbreaker ...
Chris Cook's take on the St James's Palace Stakes
Frankie Dettori crossed the line with his arm aloft as he rode Galileo Gold to victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes, the big race on the opening day of Royal Ascot. The bonny chestnut, such an impressive winner of the 2,000 Guineas in April, was deserted by punters after his defeat in Ireland last time and sent off at 6-1 but benefited from a tactically faultless ride as he held off the late challenge of The Gurkha.
While Dettori tracked the Godolphin pacemaker, Cymric, from the outset, Ryan Moore settled The Gurkha at the back of the field and was still there at the turn for home with little more than two furlongs to run. As The Gurkha cruised forward, his route was blocked by Awtaad hanging across him and Moore had to switch him to mid-track in the final furlong.
Though The Gurkha made further ground, he was a length and a quarter adrift at the line, frustrating those backers who had sent him off at odds of 4-5. Awtaad was third, while Cymric held on for fourth of the seven runners.
“Everything went to plan,” Dettori said. “Three Guineas winners, I managed to get first run on the other two. He’s a Guineas winner, a St James’s Palace winner, he’s a great horse to have.”
Dettori said Galileo Gold had had “a few excuses” for his Irish defeat, when he trailed Awtaad by two and a half lengths. The Hugo Palmer-trained colt was hemmed in from an early stage in the Curragh race, had to fight for racing room in the straight and the winner had flown by the time he got free.
Moore and Aidan O’Brien, trainer of The Gurkha, were in happier mood earlier when pairing up to land the Coventry with Caravaggio. The unbeaten juvenile was so impressive that he now heads the market for next year’s 2,000 Guineas at no bigger than 6-1, with everything else available at 20-1 or bigger.
“I was a bit worried about the ground, but he’s won in spite of it,” Moore said of Caravaggio. “When he gets on better ground, he will be a better horse. At this stage of his career, he’s very good. At this stage, he’d be the best I’ve sat on.”
Updated
Ascot Stakes (5.00) betting
- Jennies Jewel 6-1
- Silver Concorde 13-2
- Pique Sous 8-1
- Sempre Medici 9-1
- Galizzi 14-1
- Hassle 16-1
- No Heretic 16-1
- Le Maitre Chat 18-1
- Penglai Pavilion20-1
- Totalize 20-1
-
22-1 bar
Gold for Galileo at Royal Ascot
Galileo Gold won the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Hugo Palmer’s three-year-old claimed Classic glory at Newmarket in early May, but had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Awtaad in the Irish version at the Curragh and the pair clashed once more in Berkshire.
Adding further spice to the mix was the presence of Aidan O’Brien’s runaway French Guineas winner The Gurkha and he was sent off the heavily backed 4-5 favourite.
Galileo Gold (6-1) was ridden prominently by Frankie Dettori, with his major rivals adopting more patient tactics. Dettori sent his mount to the front with two furlongs to run and while Awtaad and The Gurkha gave chase, it was all too late as Galileo Gold galloped on to score by a length and a quarter.
The Gurkha narrowly beat Awtaad to the runner-up spot, with the trio clear of the field. “Everything went to plan.” said Dettori. “Three Guineas winners, I managed to get first run on the other two. Hugo was so nervous today - he made me feeling nervous when I talked to him. He’s a Guineas winner, a St James’s Palace winner - he’s a great horse to have. We had a few excuses in Ireland, but he had no place to hide today and he’s redeemed himself.”
Preview: Ascot Stakes (5.00)
This is a proper marathon and, not unusually for a marathon Flat handicap, has been dominated by trainers better known for their handling of jumpers (Mullins, Henderson, Pipe...). Willie Mullins has the favourite in Pique Sous, a winner at this meeting two years ago, but he was stuffed last month on his first outing since that day, so the market’s enthusiasm is hard to share, for me.
Dermot Weld’s Silver Concorde looks more like it, a bumper winner at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival who has since done well in exactly this type of race. No Heretic, the Chester Cup winner, is very fairly treated on just a 4lb higher mark, though he was helped by the draw that day. Penglai Pavilion would be thrown in on the pick of his Flat form but that was years ago and he probably doesn’t want this ground.
Another Group 1! GALILEO GOLD is too good in the St James's Palace Stakes under Frankie Dettori #RoyalAscot https://t.co/LNGZ1qwaLQ
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) winner
1 Galileo Gold (L Dettori) 6-1
2 The Gurkha (R L Moore) 4-5 Fav
3 Awtaad (C D Hayes) 5-2
7 ran
Also: 66-1 Cymric 4th
Non Runner: 8
CSF: 11.05
Tricast: 14.70
Updated
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20)
Another Group One, the third of the afternoon with The Gurkha a very short-priced favourite. One mile is the trip with £226,840 going to the winner.
They jump away with The Gurkha a little slow away and finding himself at the rear of the field. Galileo Gold takes up a position in second behind Cymric, the pacemaker from Ballydoyle.
Cymric leads Galileo Gold by two leads as they head around the bend and make for home. Galileo Gold takes the lead with The Gurkha in hot pursuit. Galileo Gold is going to hang on and wins under a fine ride from Frankie Dettori. He’s given them all the slip there, winning from The Gurkha and Awtaad. Galileo Gold wins the St James’s Palace Stakes.
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) betting
- The Gurkha 11-10
- Awtaad 2-1
- Galileo Gold 7-1
- Emotionless 16-1
- First Selection 50-1
- Cymric 100-1
- Ehtiraas 100-1
-
St James’s Palace Stakes betting
Preview: St James's Palace Stakes (4.10)
Here is exactly what this race was made for, a clash between the winners of the 2,000 Guineas in England, Ireland and France. The Gurkha, trained in Ireland but representing the French form, looks the way to go on the way he shot clear last month and better can be expected in view of how lightly raced he is.
Awtaad, the Irish Guineas winner, is a live threat after moving though the Curragh Classic very smoothly. Galileo Gold, the Newmarket winner, needs to re-establish himself here but this ground probably won’t help. That also looks the stumbling block for Godolphin’s Emotionless, last seen flopping in the Dewhurst.
Kirby and Cox enjoy Profitable afternoon
Profitable continued his flying start to the season with a thrilling success in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Clive Cox’s four-year-old lined up for the five-furlong Group One in tremendous form having won his first two starts of the campaign, in the Palace House at Newmarket and the Temple Stakes at Haydock.
Adam Kirby had the 4-1 shot buried in the middle of the pack early on, but he hit the front a furlong out and knuckled down to get the better of a protracted duel with Cotai Glory by a neck. Goken finished strongly to grab third.
Hot favourite Mecca’s Angel raced up with the pace before weakening rapidly and was ultimately bitterly disappointing.
A tearful Kirby revealed his girlfriend had given birth to a baby boy just hours before.
“I think he’s the best five-furlong horse I’ve ever ridden,” he said. “His cruising speed is phenomenal. I’m delighted for everyone involved, but, more importantly, I’m delighted for Clive. My girlfriend gave birth to a baby boy a few hours ago, so it’s all good.” PA Sport
Updated
Too good! PROFITABLE makes it three from three this season in the King's Stand Stakes #RoyalAscot https://t.co/2yAzlRXJWd
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
A good day for Adam Kirby
In a very emotional interview on Channel 4, tearful winning jockey Adam Kirby struggles to regain his composure before revealing that his girlfriend gave birth to a baby boy just a couple of hours ago. Congratulations to him and her on a great afternoon he’s unlikely to forget any time soon.
Pure emotion as Adam Kirby reacts after riding a Group 1 winner, two hours after becoming a dad! https://t.co/meM8XAq9fd
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
Updated
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) result
1 Profitable (A Kirby) 4-1
2 Cotai Glory (G Baker) 33-1
3 Goken (J P Spencer) 50-1
17 ran
Also: 6-4 Fav Mecca’s Angel, 14-1 Jungle Cat 4th
Non Runners: 5,11,16,21
CSF: 140.97
Tricast: 5953.35
Updated
Profitable wins the King's Stand Stakes
He won by half-a-length under Adam Kirby with Cotai Glory in second and 50-1 shot Goken in third.
King's Stand Stakes (3.40)
They’re away and running in this five-furlong sprint, with £226,840 going to the winner. Take Cover was quickest out of the gates, with Mongolian Saturday not far behind him. Mongolian Saturday leads down the right -hjand side early doors, with Profitable looming up. Profitable leads from Cotai Glory ... Profitable wins the King’s Stand Stakes!!!
Mongolian Saturday is an interesting one here ...
A well-travelled horse that’s trained out of the USA, he’s trained by Mongolian trainer Enebish Ganbat and some of her connections are looking fantastic in their national dress in the parade ring.
Ganbat reckons his charge will finish in the first three at a big price, but the horse is being led to the start with jockey Florent Geroux walking behind him. Here’s hoping he copes with these unfamiliar surroundings.
On Channel 4, they say the option of having a pony lead them to the start, as happens in the States, is open to competing horses, but Ganbat has eschewed that option.
Updated
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) betting
- Meccas Angel 7-4
- Profitable 9-2
- Pearl Secret 9-1
- Waady 11-1
- Jungle Cat 18-1
- Mongolian Saturday 25-1
- Take Cover 28-1
- Double Up 33-1
- Aeolus 33-1
-
40-1 bar
Caravaggio wins the Coventry Stakes (3.05)
Caravaggio kept his unbeaten record intact with a brilliant victory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. A winner at Dundalk and the Curragh earlier this year, the Scat Daddy colt was sent off the 13-8 favourite to complete his hat-trick and provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record eighth victory in this prestigious juvenile contest.
Ryan Moore rode a patient race in the group racing towards the stands rail before angling wide to mount his challenge with over a furlong to run. Caravaggio showed thrilling acceleration to grab the lead and he powered clear close home to beat Mehmas going away.
Psychedelic Funk just held on in a three-way photo for third.
“He’s won two races really [having had to switch from main group], the others couldn’t take me far enough,” said Ryan Moore. “He was very impressive. I was a bit worried about the ground, but he’s won in spite of it.”
Whoosh! CARAVAGGIO obliges for favourite backers with a dominant performance in the Coventry Stakes #RoyalAscot https://t.co/JR9wLTEpLI
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
Preview: King's Stand Stakes
All the recent rain is excellent news for Mecca’s Angel, who powered home to land the Nunthorpe on good to soft at York in August. But she was worried out of it on her reappearance at Haydock by Profitable and it’s surprising to find the market is so confident about her reversing that form.
While Profitable had a fitness edge that day, he was pulling away at the line and looks an altogether stronger sort this year. Goldream and Medicean Man, first and second last year, would probably prefer a sounder surface, as would Muthmir and Take Cover. Double Up is interesting at a big price, being progressive and possibly effective with some cut.
Coventry Stakes (3.05) result
1 Caravaggio (R L Moore) 13-8 Fav
2 Mehmas (L Dettori) 8-1
3 Psychedelic Funk (C T Keane) 9-2
18 ran
Also: 25-1 Medieval 4th
Non Runner: 1
Tote: win 2.40 places 1.30 2.60 1.90
Tote Exacta: 15.80
CSF: 13.90
Tricast: 56.55
Updated
Caravaggio wins the Coventry Stakes (3.05)
Ryan Moore let Caravaggio drift all the way across the track in the final half furlong, but still won at his leisure to give Aidan O’Brien a record eighth win in the Coventry Stakes. Mehmas was second, while Psychedelic Funk was third.
Coventry Stakes (3.05)
They’re away and running in the first race of the week for two-year-olds. Caravaagio takes up a position on the near side, while Pschedelic Funk is driven along on the far side. Mehmas leads the far side group, before Caravaggio moves across the track while storming clear. Caravaggio wins the Coventry Stakes.
Updated
Coventry Stakes (3.05) preliminaries
Six furlongs is the trip, with £85,065 going to the winners. Aidan O’Brien saddles the favourite Caravaagio, while his son Joseph trains Lundy, an outsider he says would like nicer ground but is a colt to watch for the future. They’re loading the stalls and will be off very shortly.
Coventry Stakes (3.05) betting
- Caravaggio 13-8
- Psychedelic Funk 9-2
- Mokarris 8-1
- Mehmas 8-1
- Yalta 9-1
- Van Der Decken 14-1
- Thunder Snow 16-1
- Silvertoni 25-1
-
33-1 bar
Tepin wins the Queen Anne Stakes
Brilliant North American mare Tepin claimed Royal Ascot glory in the Queen Anne Stakes. Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Julien Leparoux, the five-year-old was making her British and European debut having won a host of big races in her homeland, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland last October.
Sent off at 11-2 due to doubts about the rain-softened ground, Tepin was always travelling well and knuckled down admirably in the final furlong to get the better of Belardo by half a length.
“It’s just amazing,” said Leparoux. “It’s a great feeling. She’s a champion and she proved it today. She had to work hard, for sure, as the last 100 metres was a long way to go. It’s awesome.”
When the starting stalls opened, the field initially split into two groups, with Tepin leading a contingent that raced closer to the stands side. With ground conditions in his favour, Belardo was the 9-2 joint-favourite to add to last month’s top-level triumph in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and his pacemaker, Barchan, ensured it was a serious test of stamina by setting a furious gallop.
When he inevitably folded heading inside the final quarter-mile, Kodi Bear was left in front, but he was quickly pressed by Tepin and the more patiently-ridden Belardo. That pair settled down to fight it out and it was Tepin who found most for pressure to clinch a momentous victory under her jubilant rider. Lightning Spear came from a long way back to finish third. PA Sport.
Updated
Preview: Coventry Stakes (3.05)
One of the key two-year-old races of each year and therefore an important target for Aidan O’Brien, who has won it twice in the past five years. He fields the well-fancied Caravaggio, unbeaten in two, whose Listed success on similar going at The Curragh last month was achieved in what looked a very sharp time by comparison with a Group Three sprint on the card.
Mehmas represents another yard that is typically strong in juvenile races, that of Richard Hannon, and this one will relish the return to six furlongs after his Sandown second over five last time. Psychedelic Funk was deeply impressive at Navan last time but faces much stronger opposition here. Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, a Leicester maiden winner, is bred to make a good two-year-old but might struggle on this ground.
Tepin wins without the benefit of ...
... bends in the racecourse, the race-day medication of lasix she normally takes (it’s not allowed in the UK) with over here or nasal strips she normally wears, which are also banned. A good performance.
Updated
She came - she conquered! TEPIN strikes in the Queen Anne Stakes at #RoyalAscot: https://t.co/5vQsK8v7ph
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 14, 2016
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) result
1 Tepin (Julien Leparoux) 11-2
2 Belardo (James Doyle) 9-2 Jt Fav
3 Lightning Spear (Oisin Murphy) 20-1
13 ran
Also: 9-2 Jt Fav Ervedya, 12-1 Toormore 4th
Non Runner: 1
CSF: 27.32
Tricast: 480.04
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30)
With the stalls finally loaded, the field is sent on its way up the straight mile for the Queen Anne Stakes. Barchan is first out of the gates and gallops into a two-length lead ... Tepin takes up a place alongside four others on the stands side ... Barchan the pace-maker makes all the early running and is left to his own devices as they pass halfway ... Kodi Bear sets off in pursuit down the centre, with Tepin on the right ... Kodi Bear takes up the running and is collared by Tepin ... it’s Tepin from Belardo ... Tepin wins the Queen Anne Stakes from Belardo. Lightning Spear is third.
Updated
The opener is a straight mile ...
There’s £340,260 up for grabs for the winner as the field make their way to the start. They haven’t gone behind the stalls yet and we’re already and we’re already five minutes behind schedule for the first race. Tut-tut. I know where my big finger of blame is pointing.
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) betting
- Ervedya 9-2
- Belardo 5-1
- Endless Drama 6-1
- Tepin 6-1
- Esoterique 7-1
- Kodi BNear 12-1
- Toormore 16-1
- Amazing Maria 25-1
- Cougar Mountain 28-1
- Lightning Spear 33-1
- A Shin Erwin 100-1
- Barchan 250-1
It’s worth noting that American raider Tepin is available at 6-1 in the betting ring at Royal Ascot, which is double the odds she’s available at in the American equivalent of the Tote.
Updated
Royal Ascot - Top Jockey betting
- Ryan Moore 4-11
- Frankie Dettori 4-1
- William Buick 16-1
- Andrea Atzeni 16-1
- Pat Smullen 1601
- James Doyle 20-1
- Joe Fanning 33-1
- Paul Hanagan 33-1
- Silvestre De Sousa 50-1
- Jamie Spencer 50-1
- 66-1 bar
An absolute zinger from one race-goer ...
Having interviewed assorted elderly women who are at Royal Ascot to see the Queen, Channel 4 presenter Alice Plunkett asks one young man sitting nearby if he has any tips for this afternoon’s racing. The scamp in question says: “After spending time in the company of these ladies, there’s only one horse I’m going to back: Cougar Mountain.” His gag sails over the head of Alice.
If you backed yellow, go and collect ...
The royal procession travels down the track in horse-drawn carriages and the Queen is wearing a yellow hat and coat. She is joined by assorted princes, dukes, duchesses, viscounts and viscountesses, as Channel 4 presenters Clare Balding and BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond are providing commentary that couldn’t be more obsequious if it was tugging its forelock and courtesying backwards out of Windsor Castle.
Updated
Debate is currently raging ...
And the subject of this debate? Whether or not the royal procession will travel down the racecourse. In the wake of so much heavy rainfall, there’s every chance they’ll plough up the track and possibly sink without trace, so there seems a good chance they’ll travel in a fleet of fancy cars along the road instead. The last year the going was soft on the first day of Royal Ascot was 1971.
Preview: Queen Anne Stakes
There’s nothing like a top-class mile race to kick off a big race-meeting and this one has been won in recent years by Frankel, Goldikova, Solow and Canford Cliffs among others.
There’s no standout talent obvious in this field, at least until the race is over, but masses of strength in depth. Belardo will do for me, as the last-time-out winner of the Lockinge, a confirmed mudlover and a horse who looks better than ever this year. I’m surprised he’s not clear favourite as I type.
The market likes Ervedya, who beat Found by a neck in last year’s Coronation Stakes here and later beat colts in the Moulin. But that looked a weak renewal and she still has something to prove here, especially after an odds-on defeat last month. Esoterique has arguably a stronger chance, having been a close second in this last year. Kodi Bear should be sharper than when seventh in the Lockinge and also likes some cut.
Toormore probably would prefer a drier surface. Amazing Maria is interesting at a big price and should be sharper for her reappearance. Tepin is a classy raider from the US, a multiple Group One winner, including on soft going, albeit American ‘soft’ (ie barely even damp). This will be different, as will running a straight mile, and it will be an extraordinary thing if she is able to show her best form in such unusual circumstances.
Updated
The Irish Guards have had enough ...
Perhaps their Bearskin hats have got too soggy
Raining too heavily here at #RoyalAscot for the band of the Irish Guards... pic.twitter.com/xIFu5zfhVd
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) June 14, 2016
What colour hat will the Queen be wearing?
According to bettingexpert.com,, the Queen is almost certain to wear a blue hat at Royal Ascot this week. Blue is the only colour Her Majesty has worn on every one of her annual Royal Ascot appearances since 2005. The opening day of the Festival is the most likely one for her to wear the colour, which she has opted for 13 times, with Saturday’s finale also proving popular.
A guide to this week's Godolphin runners
On your way to @Ascot? Listen to this: https://t.co/yhyomak0vT #RoyalAscot #winners
— Racing Post TV (@RP_TV) June 14, 2016
Today's non-runners
-
2.30: No1 Arod
-
3.05: No Broken Stones
-
3.40: No5 goldream, No11 Muthmir, No16 Sole Power, No 21 Acapulco
-
5.35: No4 Bective, No18 Ready To Roc
Here's TV's Gok Wan with some fashion tips
British Horse Racing have got celebrity fashion guru Gok on board to give racegoers some advice on how to pass muster with the Royal Ascot wardens who go around making sure that female patrons aren’t showing too much leg or cleavage. What fulfilling lives those bowler hat-wearing killjoys lead, eh?
Preview: Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35pm)
Another juvenile race, rather lower in class than the Coventry and over the minimum distance of five furlongs. The US trainer Wesley Ward has sent over one of his speedsters, Big City Dreamin, but this kind of ground is most unlikely to suit his flashy types and this will be much more testing than the chestnut’s debut over half a furlong less on fast turf at Keeneland.
Similar comments apply to another US raider, Drafted, who is also prominent in the betting. Mister Trader chased home Caravaggio last time and will become popular if that horse wins the Coventry earlier on this card. Godolphin’s Kananee is unbeaten in two but untested on ground like this. Tomily could be the way to go, seeming steeply progressive and already a winner on soft.
Preview: Ascot Stakes (Handicap) (5.00)
This is a proper marathon and, not unusually for a marathon Flat handicap, has been dominated by trainers better known for their handling of jumpers (Mullins, Henderson, Pipe...). Willie Mullins has the favourite in Pique Sous, a winner at this meeting two years ago, but he was stuffed last month on his first outing since that day, so the market’s enthusiasm is hard to share, for me.
Dermot Weld’s Silver Concorde looks more like it, a bumper winner at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival who has since done well in exactly this type of race. No Heretic, the Chester Cup winner, is very fairly treated on just a 4lb higher mark, though he was helped by the draw that day. Penglai Pavilion would be thrown in on the pick of his Flat form but that was years ago and he probably doesn’t want this ground.
Preview: St James's Palace Stakes (4.20pm)
Here is exactly what this race was made for, a clash between the winners of the 2,000 Guineas in England, Ireland and France. The Gurkha, trained in Ireland but representing the French form, looks the way to go on the way he shot clear last month and better can be expected in view of how lightly raced he is.
Awtaad, the Irish Guineas winner, is a live threat after moving though the Curragh Classic very smoothly. Galileo Gold, the Newmarket winner, needs to re-establish himself here but this ground probably won’t help. That also looks the stumbling block for Godolphin’s Emotionless, last seen flopping in the Dewhurst.
Preview: King's Stand Stakes (3.40)
All the recent rain is excellent news for Mecca’s Angel, who powered home to land the Nunthorpe on good to soft at York in August. But she was worried out of it on her reappearance at Haydock by Profitable and it’s surprising to find the market is so confident about her reversing that form. While Profitable had a fitness edge that day, he was pulling away at the line and looks an altogether stronger sort this year. Goldream and Medicean Man, first and second last year, would probably prefer a sounder surface, as would Muthmir and Take Cover. Double Up is interesting at a big price, being progressive and possibly effective with some cut.
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Preview: Coventry Stakes (3.05)
One of the key two-year-old races of each year and therefore an important target for Aidan O’Brien, who has won it twice in the past five years. He fields the well-fancied Caravaggio, unbeaten in two, whose Listed success on similar going at The Curragh last month was achieved in what looked a very sharp time by comparison with a Group Three sprint on the card.
Mehmas represents another yard that is typically strong in juvenile races, that of Richard Hannon, and this one will relish the return to six furlongs after his Sandown second over five last time. Psychedelic Funk was deeply impressive at Navan last time but faces much stronger opposition here. Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, a Leicester maiden winner, is bred to make a good two-year-old but might struggle on this ground.
Preview: Queen Anne Stakes (2.30)
There’s nothing like a top-class mile race to kick off a big race-meeting and this one has been won in recent years by Frankel, Goldikova, Solow and Canford Cliffs among others. There’s no standout talent obvious in this field, at least until the race is over, but masses of strength in depth.
Belardo will do for me, as the last-time-out winner of the Lockinge, a confirmed mudlover and a horse who looks better than ever this year. I’m surprised he’s not clear favourite as I type. The market likes Ervedya, who beat Found by a neck in last year’s Coronation Stakes here and later beat colts in the Moulin. But that looked a weak renewal and she still has something to prove here, especially after an odds-on defeat last month.
Esoterique has arguably a stronger chance, having been a close second in this last year. Kodi Bear should be sharper than when seventh in the Lockinge and also likes some cut. Toormore probably would prefer a drier surface. Amazing Maria is interesting at a big price and should be sharper for her reappearance. Tepin is a classy raider from the US, a multiple Group One winner, including on soft going, albeit American ‘soft’ (ie barely even damp). This will be different, as will running a straight mile, and it will be an extraordinary thing if she is able to show her best form in such unusual circumstances.
Here's Greg with the weather ...
A grey morning to start the week at Ascot, probably the first of several as the five-day meeting progresses, and more non-runners to add to a growing list, which is also likely to be a theme, for the first two days at least. Chris Stickels, the clerk of the course, said yesterday that it would take only a little more rain overnight for the going to change officially to soft, and 4mm was more than enough.
It has been relatively dry at the track since sunrise, however, and only intermittent showers are forecast for the rest of the day. As things stand, last year’s winner Goldream, in the King’s Stand Stakes Stakes, and Arod, in the Queen Anne at the top of the card, are two fresh absentees to add to Acapulco and Sole Power, who came out of the King’s Stand yesterday, reducing the field to 18, for the moment at least.
The markets have been adjusting to the likelihood of soft going for several days, with horses which have shown an ability to handle cut steadily contracting in the betting. As a result, business seems relatively light this morning, with few springers and more horses on the drift as bookies and punters alike try to make sense of it all.
The latest GoingStick readings this morning show a difference between the two sides of the straight course, with a figure of 6.9 on the stands’ side, 6.7 down the centre and 6.3 on the round course, which suggests the near side will be a little faster than the far.
With the stalls in the centre, the riders will have a decision to make, but it could be worth noting that Mecca’s Angel, the favourite for the King’s Stand, is in stall 5, towards the far side, while Jungle Cat, a half-length second to Profitable (stall eight) on good-to-soft last time out, has what could be a better draw in 14.
Details of betting moves and any further non-runners will be here as soon as possible. It may be a little damp, but this is still Royal Ascot and just a few winners from the 30 over the course of the next five days will make it a week to remember.
Betfair Royal Ascot tipping competition
You could have £100 credited to your betting account with Betfair by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Ascot. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price. Non-runners count as losers.
Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 2.30pm. There are six races at Ascot today and you must post a single selection for each race.
Our usual terms and conditions will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score.
If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Royal meeting, up to Friday. In the meantime, please post your tips or racing-related comments below.
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