A quick recap ...
On an opening day that belonged very much to the boys in blue, Godolphin notched up a treble by winning the Queen Anne Stakes with Ribchester, the St James’s Palace Stakes with Barney Roy and the Windsor Castle Stakes with Sound and Silence.
However, what was arguably the standout performance of the day came from the American raider Lady Aurelia, who streaked home in fine style to win the King’s Stand Stakes for her trainer, the American sprint specialist Wesley Ward. In the Coventry Stakes, Rajasinghe helped strike a blow for the little guys, giving trainer Richard Spencer and jockey Stevie Donohue their first winners at Royal Ascot.
Irish trainer Willie Mullins and American owner Rich Ricci transferred their customary success over the jumps to the Flat in the Ascot Stakes, combining to get jockey Ryan Moore off the board. On a day when his great rival Frankie Dettori was conspicuously absent through injury, Moore’s accomplished and confident ride aboard Thomas Hobson was undoubtedly the best of the day.
Today’s winners
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Queen Anne Stakes (2.30): Ribchester (W Buick) 11-10 Fav
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Coventry Stakes (3.05):Rajasinghe (S Donohoe) 11-1
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King’s Stand Stakes (3.40): Lady Aurelia (J Velazquez) 7-2
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St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20): Barney Roy (J Doyle) 5-2
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Ascot Stakes (5.00): Thomas Hobson (RL Moore) 4-1 Fav
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Windsor Castle (5.35): Sound And Silence (W Buick) 16-1
William Buick speaks
We’ve always held him in really high regard,” says winning jockey William Buick, in the wake of riding his second winner of the day. “I was scratching my head when he got beaten at Sandown but Charlie’s got him right. The horses have been in great nick all year, they’ve had great preparation. It’s Royal Ascot so it’s very important, but you mustn’t forget to just do what you do every day. This horse is a real speedster, but I wouldn’t be so sure about six furlongs just yet, but we’re going to have a lot of fun with him.”
That’s a 124-1 treble on the day for Godolphin, who came into this meeting in turmoil and under huge pressure. On a day when their rivals Coolmore drew a blank they’ve answered many of their often justified critics in fine style.
Updated
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) result
1 Sound And Silence (W Buick) 16-1
2 Roussel (James Doyle) 12-1
3 James Garfield (Harry Bentley) 25-1
22 ran
Also: 13-8 Fav Declarationofpeace, 25-1 Mokaatil 4th
Non Runner: 4
Withdrawn: 5
CSF: 183.29
Tricast: 4852.93
No 5 Chatburn (100-1) was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does not
apply.
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) 5f
They’re off and running in the second sprint and final race of the day. There was brief delay as Nootka Sound, one of the American entrants, reared up in the stalls but they’re finally away. Elizabeth Darcy was one of the quickest away, with Roussel and Last Page in hot pursuit. Elizabeth Darcy is passed by Sound And Silence, who beats Roussel into second place to make it a one-two for Godolphin in the race and a treble on the day. Sound And Silence wins under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) 5f
Chatburn (No5) has been withdrawn before going into the stalls, with jockey Danny Thudhope clearly having spotted or sensed something wrong with his mount on the way down to the start. It’s a shame for the horse’s connections, but obviously in the best interests of the animal.
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) betting
- Declarationofpeace 13-8
- Nootka Sound 9-2
- Elizabeth Darcy 9-1
- Roussel 11-1
Oh, Willie! The treachery. I'm gutted https://t.co/ARLK3dTczG
— chris cook (@claimsfive) June 20, 2017
Hobson the correct choice in Ascot Stakes
Thomas Hobson bolted up in the Ascot Stakes for the formidable combination of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ryan Moore. The pair had teamed up to land the prize with Simenon (2012) and Clondaw Warrior (2015) in recent years and Thomas Hobson was the 4-1 favourite to follow suit.
Moore was ultra-confident aboard the seven-year-old and remained nearer last than first turning for home. But he arrived on the scene still full of running with two furlongs to run and once given his head he extended clear for an impressive success.
Endless Acres was best of the rest in second, ahead of Alan King’s pair of Who Dares Wins and Rainbow Dreamer in third and fourth respectively.
“Ryan was just super on him, wasn’t he?” said Mullins. “He obviously had a clock working in his head today. It’s fantastic. I think we’d like to go to [the] Melbourne [Cup] with him, that’s the end game. To have a winner at a Festival like this is magic, as good as Cheltenham any day of the week.”
"That would be the first thing on my mind" - @WillieMullinsNH says plans are afoot to send Ascot winner Thomas Hobson to the #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/yJevHnVJsS
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 20, 2017
A splendid pace ride by Ryan Moore
That was an incredibly composed ride from a man who can justifiably lay claim to being the world’s greatest Flat jockey. Moore could be seen loitering around the back from the get-go and was five lengths off the back of the field at one stage before cruising up the outside to win doing metaphorical cartwheels. Rich Ricci, better known for his interest in racing over the jumps, was the winning owner, while trainer Willie Mullins also saddled a rare high profile winner on the Flat.
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) preview
Nootka Sound seems to be Wesley Ward’s more fancied runner, judging from the fact that Frankie Dettori was booked to ride her before news of his injury emerged, and this one has had twice as long to progress since her debut, compared to her stablemate, Elizabeth Darcy. The American pair will surely be in the shake-up in this race, which Ward has won twice, though both are fillies in a race whose winners have usually been male.
Aidan O’Brien fields Declarationofpeace, an impressive winner over five rivals at Dundalk last month. This is not a race that O’Brien seems to care much about, though he finally managed to win it with Washington DC a couple of years ago. Godolphin’s Sound And Silence showed plenty of zip when winning on his debut at Newmarket and something may have been amiss when he flopped last time. He’s interesting in first-time cheekpieces.
Updated
Ascot Stakes (5.00) result
1 Thomas Hobson (RL Moore) 4-1 Fav
2 Endless Acres (S Donohoe) 10-1
3 Who Dares Wins (Tom Marquand) 5-1
4 Rainbow Dreamer (Andrea Atzeni) 12-1
18 ran
Non Runners: 10,17
CSF: 39.00
Tricast: 212.90
Updated
Ascot Stakes (5.00) 2m 4f
Magic Circle and Who Dares Wins take over in front as Iniciar goes backwards. THewy’re in the home straight. Endless Acres and Magic Circle lead, with Thomas Hobson making ground up the outside. Thomas Hobson wins in the most convincing fashion, streaking away in the final furlong to get Ryan Moore on the board as he rides a winner for trainer Willie Mullins. Thomas Hobson wins the Ascot Stakes!
Ascot Stakes (5.00) 2m 4f
Iniciar continues to make the running as they bowl along, followed by Who Dares Wins a couple of lengths behind on the rail. Galizzi is already going backwards, dropping back through the field ... Iniciar leads from Who Dares Wins and Cartwright ...
Ascot Stakes (5.00) 2m 4f
They’re off and running in the first handicap of the week, the day’s big test of stamina and the second longest race of Royal Ascot. Iniciar and Galizzi lead the field along and they’re well strung out with about 25 lengths separating first from last ...
Ascot Stakes (5.00) betting
- Who Dares Wins 9-2
- Thomas Hobson 4-1
- Beyond Conceit 5-1
- Magic Circle 8-1
- Endless Acres 12-1
- Oceane 12-1
- Rainbow Dreamer 12-1
"He never looked like he was in a comfortable position. Maybe something will come to light" - @AP_McCoy begins the Churchill post-mortem
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 20, 2017
Barney Roy gains Guineas revenge
Dual 2000 Guineas hero Churchill was only fourth as Barney Roy enjoyed his day in the sun in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Just a length had separated the pair when they finished first and second at Newmarket in early May, but having since followed up at the Curragh, Aidan O’Brien’s Churchill was the 1-2 favourite to confirm his superiority over the Richard Hannon-trained Barney Roy (5-2).
Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet took the eight-strong field along for much of the one-mile journey in the feature race on the opening day of the meeting, closely pursued by Churchill’s stablemate Lancaster Bomber.
The two big guns were happy to play their cards late, but it was clear from early in the straight that Churchill was not going to pick up the leaders. Barney Roy was himself being ridden along from over two furlongs out, but responded to James Doyle’s urgings and got up to score by a length. Lancaster Bomber was second, ahead of Thunder Snow in third.
Ascot Stakes (5.00) preview
Marsha’s trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, also fields Cartwright and it may be worth forgiving this one his flop last time, when he was turned out quickly under a penalty and on a testing surface. Freshened up for this and with a visor fitted, he looks dangerous on earlier form. Luke Morris, who has won his last four on Cartwright, returns to the saddle and 20-1 is too big. It will be interesting to see if he tries to make all, a tactic successful twice in the past seven years, which might seem counter-intuitive over such a marathon distance.
The distance could be a problem for the favourite, Thomas Hobson, who has looked a non-stayer at the trip over hurdles this season. He represents Willie Mullins, winner of this race twice in the past five years, but looks a short price on form. Beyond Conceit is a more reliable stayer and wouldn’t have to improve much on the form he showed when last raced on the Flat in 2013, though hold-up tactics could get him into trouble in a field of this size.
Godolphin score their second win of the day
Having won the opener with the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester, Godolphin notch their second triumph of the day with Barney Roy. Jockey James Doyle looks delighted and relieved, admitting that his saddle slipped when the stalls opened and he had no idea how far down the horse’s back it had gone. It’s an emotional win for Doyle, who suffered a demotion last year after being binned off by one of the Godolphin operation’s trainers, Saeed Bin Suroor, last season. HOwever, Richard Hannon has faith in the rider and it was justified today.
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) result
1 Barney Roy (James Doyle) 5-2
2 Lancaster Bomber (D O’Brien) 12-1
3 Thunder Snow (C Soumillon) 6-1
8 ran
Also: 1-2 Fav Churchill 4th
Tote: win 3.90 places 1.40 2.90 2.30
Tote Exacta: 41.00
CSF: 36.19
Tricast: 179.49
Updated
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) 1m
They’re off and running with Thunder Snow and Rivet making the pace ahead of Lancaster Bomber. River leads them past the halfway point, ahead of Lancaster Bomber, with Barney Roy one place ahead of Churchill. Lancaster Bomber takes over in front but here comes Barney Roy surging down the outside. Barney Roy wins the St James’s Palace Stakes under jockey James Doyle, for trainer Richard Hannon and owners Godolphin!
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20)
- Churchill 4-9
- Barney Roy 11-4
- Thunder Snow 17-2
- Lancaster Bomber 11-1
Spare a thought for Frankie Dettori
Any cats residing in the jockey’s home would be advised to go into hiding for a day or two, as they’ll be in for a good kicking should their owner spot them in the wake of Lady Aurelia romping home. Dettori, who ruled himself out of Royal Ascot this morning due to a shoulder injury, was replaced by John Velazquez, who got an armchair ride to win the King’s Stand Stakes.
“It’s unfortunate for Frankie and a bad situation for him, but she was spectacular,” said Velazquez, whose mount failed to break the course record by just one-hundreth of a second. “I gave her a little break in the first half of the race and then when I asked her to run she responded; that doesn’t always happen. [Trainer] Wes Ward does a great job and he has a great team.”
St James's Palace Stakes flyover
For the last time this afternoon, through the wonders of modern technology etc and so on ... from our race-going chums at the QIPCO British Champions Series. Enjoy.
St James Palace Stakes (4.20) preview
Godolphin must feel they have a chance of beating Churchill, since they field the second and third-favourites for this feature race of Royal Ascot’s opening day. On paper, any improvement from Barney Roy could turn around the 2000 Guineas form, when he was just a length behind Churchill after nearly falling on his face in midrace. But Churchill produced the more professional performance that day and there is every chance he will do so again. It’s hard not to be impressed by his subsequent cuffing of Thunder Snow in Ireland and racing around a bend here will increase the value of his turn of foot. Even at odds of 4-6 or shorter, it does not seem sensible to take him on.
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) result
1 Lady Aurelia (John Velazquez) 7-2
2 Profitable (James Doyle) 14-1
3 Marsha (L Morris) 11-4 Fav
17 ran
Also: 16-1 Muthmir 4th
Non Runner: 10
Tote: win 3.00 places 1.70 4.50 1.50
Tote Exacta: 51.30
CSF: 49.96
Tricast: 166.14
Updated
Lady Aurelia win's the King's Stand
Wesley Ward’s rocket strikes for the second time at Ascot,. winning the King’s Stand Stakes by about four or five lengths, pulling away from the rest of the field. “She loves it over here,” says Ward, her trainer. “She loves it. We’re looking forward to a big summer. It comes down to fast horses and I’m very blessed to have them.”
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) 5f
The stalls slam open and they bolt for home in this sprint which should take less than 66 seconds. Take Cover was quick away up the centre, while Lady Aurelia leads them along the near side. Marsha tries to pick up but has plenty to do ... Lady Aurelia is going to win this pulling a cart - she scorches home to win the King’s Stand Stakes under John Velazquez, who was deputising for the injured Frankie Dettori.
They're going to post for the King's Stand
Alone among the runners and riders, the American raider Lady Aurelia and her jockey John Velazquez (in for the injured Frankie Dettori) are being led by a pony and outrider. Given the way the records are tumbling this afternoon, there’s a very good chance this five furlong sprint will be the fastest race ever run on Ascot racecourse.
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) betting
- Marsha 11-4
- Lady Aurelia 7-2
- Signs of Blessing 6-1
- Goldream 12-1
- Washington DC 8-1
King's Stand Stakes flyover
Find out what the big race is all about courtesy of the wonders of modern technology and the good people at QIPCO British Champions Series.
Rajasinghe swoops to conquer in Coventry Stakes
Rajasinghe came out on top after a thrilling climax to the Coventry Stakes. The Richard Spencer-trained colt was an 11-1 chance after making an impressive debut at Newcastle last month and was produced to challenge down the centre of the track by Stevie Donohoe.
Headway, carrying the colours of the Royal Ascot Racing Club, finished strongly nearer to the stands rail and they flashed by the post almost as one, but the judged confirmed Rajasinghe the winner by a head. Murillo was third, with Jessica Harrington’s 4-1 favourite Brother Bear only fourth after hanging badly in the final furlong.
“Being drawn nine I thought was a nice draw, but it ended up being a bad draw because I had nothing to aim at,” said Donohoe. “He stays well and he came good about a furlong and a half out. He’s done all his work on his own so I think it’s more impressive than it looked. He’s a big boy, full of life and we love him to bits, I think he’ll be better at three as well.”
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) preview
Wesley Ward’s Lady Aurelia should put on quite a show but the form of her wins in the Queen Mary and the Morny does not look all that wonderful. The year-older Marsha has proved more in winning the Abbaye and then giving weight and a beating to 14 others in the Palace House. Profitable has looked regressive since winning this last year and his trainer, Clive Cox, might have a better chance with the Temple Stakes winner, Priceless.
Aidan O’Brien’s Washington DC has a fine Royal Ascot record, having won the Windsor Castle in 2015 and been placed in the Commonwealth Cup last year but he came up short against Marsha when well backed in May and is 6lb worse off this time. France’s Signs Of Blessing must be a doubt on this ground, having raced so often on soft. Goldream, who won this two years ago, has been behind Marsha and Priceless this season but his stable may be hitting form now.
Updated
Rajasinghe breaks the course record ...
Winning jockey Stevie Donohoe dislocated his fingers last night and suffered a night of extreme discomfort before strapping them up to “ride the adrenaline” and secure his first ever Royal Ascot winner in the second course record time of the day. It’s only the ninth career winner for trainer Richard Spencer.
Coventry Stakes (3.05) result
1 Rajasinghe (S Donohoe) 11-1
2 Headway (P Cosgrave) 33-1
3 Murillo (R L Moore) 8-1
18 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Brother Bear 4th
CSF: £352.57
Tricast: £3,166.99
Updated
Coventry Stakes (3.05) 6f
They’re off and running in the Coventry Stakes, with Brother Bear going off the favourite at around 7-2 and De Bruyne Horse behind him in the betting. Denaar is prominent in the early stages in the centre of the track, Arawak and Brother Bear are also well in contention. Brother Bear presses Denaar with two furlongs to go ... Brother Bear edges towards the near side ... Rajasinghe and Headway come late and dive for the line. Rajasinghe wins in a photo! Rajasinghe wins the Coventry Stakes!
Updated
Sheikh Mohammed speaks ...
The owner of Ribchester is interviewed by ITV betting pundit Brian Gleeson and if you thought the station’s veneration of the British monarchy during the royal procession was sick-making, this was a masterclass in obsequiousness. The Corkman all but genuflects before the sheikh as he lavishes him with praise, much of it undeserved, lobbing one softball after another and pointedly not mentioning the recent resignation of Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson. Journalism at its finest, folks.
Ribchester romps home in Queen Anne Stakes ...
Hot favourite Ribchester claimed top honours in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. Richard Fahey’s Godolphin-owned four-year-old was all the rage for the first race of the week in Berkshire following an impressive display in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
William Buick was content to take his time aboard the 11-10 market leader as his stable companion and pacemaker Toscanini took the field along at a furious gallop. Toscanini predictably faded racing inside the final two furlongs and Ribchester was sent about his business.
Mutakayyef emerged from the pack to throw down a strong challenge, but Ribchester, who drifted slightly to his left when asked to quicken, held him at bay by a length and a quarter. Deauville was a close-up third ahead German challenger Spectre in fourth. “I said after the Lockinge he’s very versatile,” said Buick. “He’s an exceptional miler, of course he’s got lots of quality but he travels so well and sees it out so well. You’ve got to hand it to the horse, he’s an absolute jockey’s dream. It doesn’t get much better than this, it’s the biggest week in our sport and to wear the royal blue for Sheikh Mohammed here is absolutely fantastic.”
It has been a tumultuous few weeks for Godolphin with chief executive John Ferguson resigning, and Buick added: “We are all working towards one goal, we all want to be in the winner’s enclosure and that is what Sheikh Mohammed deserves.”
Updated
Coventry Stakes (3.05) preview
Denaar, now ridden by Pat Smullen in the absence of Frankie Dettori, has quite a similar profile to Mehmas, runner-up in this race last year before landing a pair of Group Twos. By the same sire and from the same stable, he was bought by the same owner from the same breeze-up sale. He even won the same Newbury race last month that Mehmas won last year, defying unsuitably soft ground to do so. This surface may show him in a better light.
Brother Bear has looked really talented in a couple of wins in Ireland, including an influential Listed prize at The Curragh last time. De Bruyne Horse, a stablemate of Denaar, might have the best bit of form to offer in his Woodcote success on Derby day, beating a subsequent winner. Arawak, a seven-length winner on his Belmont debut, represents the US’s Wesley Ward, who has a fine record with his juveniles at Ascot but has been winning five-furlong races. If Arawak is typical of Ward’s speedballs, he might have trouble with the sixth furlong here.
Updated
Stewards' inquiry called
The stewards have called for an inquiry that will not affect the winner as it only involves the minor placings: Jim Crowley on board Mutakayyef and Ryan Moore on Deauville. There may have been some very minor interference, but I don’t think there’ll be any post-race change in the order.
Updated
Ribchester breaks the course record ...
“He’s very versatile,” says jockey William Buick of the winning horse, Ribchester. “He travels so well and he sess it out so well. You’ve got to hand it to the horse because he’s a jockeys dream. It [the course] is going to get a lot quicker. IT’s going to get towards firm by the end of the day.”
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) result
1 Ribchester (W Buick) 11-10 Fav
2 Mutakayyef (Jim Crowley) 5-1
3 Deauville (R L Moore) 12-1
16 ran
Also: 50-1 Spectre 4th
CSF: 5.43
Tricast: 48.63
Updated
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) 1m
Ribchester takes over and is being chased by Mutakayyef ... he drifts across the course but wins the Queen ANne Stakes from Mutakayyef. Ribchester wins the Queen Anne Stakes under William Buick for the trainer Richard Fahey!
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) 1m
The stalls open and they’re off and running in the opening race of this year’s Royal Ascot, the Queen Anne Stakes run over a mile with £388,464 up for grabs to the first home from this 16-strong field. Ribchester is held up in fifth as two pacemakers - Toscanini and Dutch Uncle - make the early running and are largely ignored by the rest of the field ...
AP McCoy on Ribchester ...
“Official ratings say he’s the third best horse in the world and if they’re right he’ll win,” says the ITV pundit. “I don’t think he is [the third best horse in the world], but if official ratings say it, who are we to argue?”
AP McCoy speaks ...
Of the week’s first American invader, the aptly named American Patriot, the former champion National Hunt champion jockey says “I don’t think he’s good enough”. A lot of tipsters fancy Mutakayyef to beat the favourite Ribchester, but McCoy says “I think his price reflects his chances”. You can back Mutakayyef at 11-2.
Updated
A minute's silence ...
Two clangs of the racecourse bell signal the beginning of a perfectly observed minute’s silence for the victims of recent tragic events in London - no small feat considering the sheer size of the venue. The start of the first race is less than 15 minutes away.
Updated
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) betting
- Ribchester 6-5
- Lightning Spear 6-1
- Mutakayyef 13-2
- Deauville 14-1
- Ennaadd 22-1
- Miss Temple City 25-1
- American Patriot 25-1
The Royal Procession is underway ...
If you backed lime green you can go and collect - that’s the colour of the Queen’s hat and dress as she travels down the home straight in her horse-drawn carriage. She’s sharing her ride with Prince Phillip, the Duke of York and Lord Vestey, master of the horse. Behind them come the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who are both enjoying a well earned day off.
Among other notables in the procession: the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The breathless excitement with which ITV’s commentary team are obsequiously imparting this information is slightly nauseating, but I suppose all this pomp and ceremony is part of what makes Royal Ascot such a famous sporting event.
Updated
Michelle Payne rides at Royal Ascot today ...
The Australian jockey, who in 2015 famously became the first woman to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup, is on board Kaspersky in the first race this afternoon. It’s her first race at Royal Ascot and Guardian Sport’s arch-interrogator Donald McRae met her last month. In a fascinating interview, he met a young woman who, despite her professional highlight, has lived a life regularly touched by “tragedy and depression, terrible injuries and enduring prejudice”.
Frankie Dettori update ...
As we reported earlier this morning, the likeable Italian jockey will be a conspicuous absentee from Royal Ascot this week after ruling himself out with an arm injury sustained in a paddock fall at Yarmouth last week. He returned to race at Chantilly on Sunday, but was still suffering severe discomfort. Since it was revealed he will miss this week’s racing, he has been for a scan this morning which revealed that he has what ‘s being described as “a small fracture” in his shoulder. He’s likely to be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks.
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) preview
Mutakayyef promises to be a force, now that he returns to fast turf, and odds of 7-1 make him an interesting alternative to the hot favourite. But it is probably a mistake to be distracted from the likelihood that Ribchester is the best of these, his wins in the Marois and the Lockinge, along with his second to Minding in the QEII, setting a standard which his rivals here cannot yet match.
Lightning Spear will have his fans, again, but he has been three to four lengths behind Ribchester in three different races since last summer, for all that he got within a length in the QEII. Deauville could respond well to this fast surface. Most of the others have an awful lot to prove, including the ex-Australian Kaspersky, who will provide the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne with a taste of Ascot.
But I wonder if Jallota might outrun his odds of 80-1, with Silvestre de Sousa aboard for the first time. The Charlie Hills yard seems to be hitting form for the first time this year and Jallota looks the type to travel well for a long way on this fast surface. He’s mostly been kept to seven furlongs and is quite unexposed over a stiff mile, for a horse who’s raced 42 times.
Updated
It's an hour to the off ...
With just 60 minutes until the scheduled start of the afternoon’s racing with the Queen Anne Stakes, ITV have begun their coverage with their decidedly elegant presenting duo of Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani ambling through the golden gates through which the Royal Procession will trot in an array of horse drawn carriages some time shortly.
Don't worry, the bookies will be OK ...
There have been suggestions in the press in recent days that bookmakers are worried about four-horse accumulators in which punters have supposedly been stringing together the most obvious favourites for this Ascot week, Ribchester and Churchill today, Order Of St George on Thursday and Winter on Friday. But Ladbrokes’ David Williams has poured some cold water on those reports.
“Ante-post accumulators, spread over a number of days, are small potatoes compared to day-of-event betting,” Williams said. “Recreational punters are not prepared to have a bet and wait three or four days to collect. It’s not a mass bet. There’s no doubt that, if those horses win, it will be bad but it won’t be because of the accas. It’ll be because odds-on favourites are winning on the day with people betting 15 minutes before the ‘off’.
“The other thing is that these horses, Churchill and Ribchester and Winter, it’s not as if they’ve been backed from out of the clouds, 16-1 down. I think we need to moderate some of the over-excitement that may have broken out, perhaps on account of the sweltering heat in recent days. The damage will be in the single bets, not the accumulators.”
Williams acknowledged that some punters will be sticking Ribchester and Churchill in doubles that could do some damage, though he is not as worried as he remembers being back in 2008. On the Wednesday that year, Duke Of Marmalade in the Prince Of Wales and Bankable in the Hunt Cup were paired in an army of doubles and bookies were “staring down the barrel”, Williams recalls, after Duke Of Marmalade won. Inevitably, Bankable got them out of trouble by finishing only fifth.
In any case, Williams points out, day one of a major meeting is not a bad day for a bookmaker to take a few bruises, because the losses will mostly come back as stake money in the following days. The nightmare is when four or five favourites win on the last day of the week. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, eh ...
Updated
Updated
A taste of what's to come
Team GB sprinter Adam Gemili focuses on the corresponding equine events that make up the QIPCO British Champions Series, which includes today’s King Stand’s Stakes. Admit it, you’d rather see him take on Signs Of Blessing and Lady Aurelia over 200 metres, wouldn’t you?
Updated
Chef Raymond Blanc is a regular feature at Royal Ascot these days. This looks a perfect spot in the Panoramic Restaurant. It’s sold out all week but you can get tickets for Saturday in the Wyndham and Green Yard restaurants at £549 a pop.
A panorama of the Panorama! Just welcoming our guests @Ascot #Royal Ascot pic.twitter.com/tgaRVwnXjR
— Raymond Blanc (@raymond_blanc) June 20, 2017
Updated
Last year it was pouring down. This year we are in the middle of a heatwave that may equal the legendary summer of 1976 and the dress code may be relaxed if the temperatures soar to 30 degrees. The going on the track is fast. Clerk of the course Chris Stickels says: “Conditions have been dry for the past 12 days. It is a generally dry and warm forecast, with high pressure dominating. There is a risk of possible showers from Thursday. There was watering on the round course on Sunday night. The straight course was watered on Monday morning, finishing at 1.00pm. Watering may take place after racing today depending on track condition and forecast.”
Sir Michael Stoute, who is likely to overtake Sir Henry Cecil as the trainer with the most winners in Royal Ascot history this week , has two runners today ... at Thirsk and Beverley! Apart from his ability to improve older horses, Stoute is renowned for his ability to get away from a TV interviewer faster than a sprinter in today’s King’s Stand Stakes. One ITV presenter says it won’t be the same ...
🙁 Blimey indeed... Royal Ascot Day One without Sir Michael's interview dodging shuffle doesn't feel quite right.🚶🏼 https://t.co/WRxalM4e2O
— VANESSA BINNIE RYLE (@V_Binnie_Ryle) June 20, 2017
Jockey changes update
As you are no doubt aware, Frankie Dettori is missing the Royal Ascot gig. Due to the rider’s arm injury which is ruling him out of the meeting, there are the following jockey changes today:
2.30pm - Queen Anne Stakes 1 AMERICAN PATRIOT (USA) - now ridden by JOHN VELAZQUEZ
3.05pm - Coventry Stakes 7 DENAAR (IRE) - now ridden by PAT SMULLEN
3.40pm - King’s Stand Stakes 18 LADY AURELIA (USA) - now ridden by JOHN VELAZQUEZ
5.35pm - Windsor Castle Stakes 22 ELIZABETH DARCY (USA) - now ridden by EDGAR PRADO
24 NOOTKA SOUND (USA) now ridden by JOHN VELAZQUEZ
Non-runner news
Non-Runners Tuesday
3.40pm King’s Stand Stakes 10 ORNATE (Vet’s Certificate, Lame)
5.00pm Ascot Stakes (Handicap)17 GAVLAR (Self Certificate, Going)
5.35pm Windsor Castle Stakes4 BLACK ORANGE (Self Certificate, Other)
Non-Runners Wednesday
3.40pm Duke Of Cambridge Stakes 3 ABSOLUTE BLAST (IRE) (Self Certificate, Knocked Joint)
4.20pm Prince Of Wales’s Stakes 8 NEZWAAH (Self Certificate, Blood Analysis Not Normal)
The Gavlar news intrigues me. The horse, named after the Gavin character in the BBC programme Gavin & Stacey, has been pulled out on account of “the ground”. What did the trainer and owners expect the ground to be like? Ascot report: “Conditions have been dry for the past 12 days”!
Hello. Barry has nipped away to do a footy podcast (isn’t the season over already?) and I’m here to guide you through to lunchtime.
Top trainers at Royal Ascot
- Sir Michael Stoute 75
- Aidan O’Brien 55
- John Gosden 41
- Mark Johnston 39
- Saeed bin Suroor 35
- Paul Cole 21
- Mick Channon 18
Stoute now shares that record of 75 Royal Ascot successes with the much-missed Sir Henry Cecil, having got there with Dartmouth on the Saturday last year. He must have a fine chance of getting the record to himself at some point this week, but it won’t be today, because he only has two runners and they’re at Thirsk and Beverley. Remarkably, Gosden is also sitting out today’s proceedings, while Johnston only has Yorkidding in the Ascot Stakes. Aidan O’Brien, on the other hand, has nine today, led by Churchill.
Top jockeys at Royal Ascot
- Frankie Dettori (injured) 56
- Ryan Moore 42
- Jamie Spencer 22
- William Buick 16
- Jimmy Fortune (injured) 15
- Olivier Peslier 15
- Steve Drowne 11
Ryan Moore has been top jockey at Royal Ascot six times in the past seven years, beaten only in that time by Johnny Murtagh, who somehow bagged four winners in 2013, despite having already begun switching to a trainer’s career. With Frankie Dettori out of the picture, it’s hard to imagine another jockey putting together a sufficiently good book of rides to challenge Moore this week, though there will be some interesting spare rides going begging.
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Fine weather to prompt unprecedented scenes of depravity?
Soaring temperatures may prompt the famously strict dress codes at Royal Ascot to be relaxed for the very first time. While officials have not yet reached a decision, it is expected that if the heat at the Queen’s track hits 30C, gentlemen will be allowed to remove their jackets in the main enclosure and possibly also in the Royal enclosure. “We’ll see what the temperature does and try to apply common sense,” said one official, a long-term staffer at Ascot. The only precedent he could recall was some years ago when persistent rain resulted in boots being allowed in the Royal enclosure.
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Windsor Castle (5.35) preview
The booking of Frankie Dettori suggested Nootka Sound is Wesley Ward’s more fancied runner and this one has had twice as long to progress since her debut, compared to her stablemate, Elizabeth Darcy. Dettori’s injury means John Velazquez will take over on Nootka Sound, while Elizabeth Darcy will now be ridden by Edgar Prado. The American pair will surely be in the shake-up in this race, which Ward has won twice, though both are fillies in a race whose winners have usually been male.
Aidan O’Brien fields Declarationofpeace, an impressive winner over five rivals at Dundalk last month. This is not a race that O’Brien seems to care much about, though he finally managed to win it with Washington DC a couple of years ago. Godolphin’s Sound And Silence showed plenty of zip when winning on his debut at Newmarket and something may have been amiss when he flopped last time. He’s interesting in first-time cheekpieces.
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Ascot Stakes (5.00) preview
Marsha’s trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, also fields Cartwright and it may be worth forgiving this one his flop last time, when he was turned out quickly under a penalty and on a testing surface. Freshened up for this and with a visor fitted, he looks dangerous on earlier form. Luke Morris, who has won his last four on Cartwright, returns to the saddle and 20-1 is too big. It will be interesting to see if he tries to make all, a tactic successful twice in the past seven years, which might seem counter-intuitive over such a marathon distance.
The distance could be a problem for the favourite, Thomas Hobson, who has looked a non-stayer at the trip over hurdles this season. He represents Willie Mullins, winner of this race twice in the past five years, but looks a short price on form. Beyond Conceit is a more reliable stayer and wouldn’t have to improve much on the form he showed when last raced on the Flat in 2013, though hold-up tactics could get him into trouble in a field of this size.
St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) preview
Godolphin must feel they have a chance of beating Churchill, since they field the second and third-favourites for this feature race of Royal Ascot’s opening day. On paper, any improvement from Barney Roy could turn around the 2000 Guineas form, when he was just a length behind Churchill after nearly falling on his face in midrace. But Churchill produced the more professional performance that day and there is every chance he will do so again. It’s hard not to be impressed by his subsequent cuffing of Thunder Snow in Ireland and racing around a bend here will increase the value of his turn of foot. Even at odds of 4-6 or shorter, it does not seem sensible to take him on.
King's Stand Stakes (3.40) preview
Ward’s Lady Aurelia should put on quite a show but the form of her wins in the Queen Mary and the Morny does not look all that wonderful. The year-older Marsha has proved more in winning the Abbaye and then giving weight and a beating to 14 others in the Palace House. Profitable has looked regressive since winning this last year and his trainer, Clive Cox, might have a better chance with the Temple Stakes winner, Priceless. Aidan O’Brien’s Washington DC has a fine Royal Ascot record, having won the Windsor Castle in 2015 and been placed in the Commonwealth Cup last year but he came up short against Marsha when well backed in May and is 6lb worse off this time. France’s Signs Of Blessing must be a doubt on this ground, having raced so often on soft. Goldream, who won this two years ago, has been behind Marsha and Priceless this season but his stable may be hitting form now.
Coventry Stakes (3.05) preview
Denaar has quite a similar profile to Mehmas, runner-up in this race last year before landing a pair of Group Twos. By the same sire and from the same stable, he was bought by the same owner from the same breeze-up sale. He even won the same Newbury race last month that Mehmas won last year, defying unsuitably soft ground to do so. This surface may show him in a better light.
Brother Bear has looked really talented in a couple of wins in Ireland, including an influential Listed prize at The Curragh last time. De Bruyne Horse, a stablemate of Denaar, might have the best bit of form to offer in his Woodcote success on Derby day, beating a subsequent winner. Arawak, a seven-length winner on his Belmont debut, represents the US’s Wesley Ward, who has a fine record with his juveniles at Ascot but has been winning five-furlong races. If Arawak is typical of Ward’s speedballs, he might have trouble with the sixth furlong here.
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Queen Anne (2.30) preview
Mutakayyef promises to be a force, now that he returns to fast turf, and odds of 7-1 make him an interesting alternative to the hot favourite. But it is probably a mistake to be distracted from the likelihood that Ribchester is the best of these, his wins in the Marois and the Lockinge, along with his second to Minding in the QEII, setting a standard which his rivals here cannot yet match.
Lightning Spear will have his fans, again, but he has been three to four lengths behind Ribchester in three different races since last summer, for all that he got within a length in the QEII. Deauville could respond well to this fast surface. Most of the others have an awful lot to prove, including the ex-Australian Kaspersky, who will provide the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne with a taste of Ascot.
But I wonder if Jallota might outrun his odds of 80-1, with Silvestre de Sousa aboard for the first time. The Charlie Hills yard seems to be hitting form for the first time this year and Jallota looks the type to travel well for a long way on this fast surface. He’s mostly been kept to seven furlongs and is quite unexposed over a stiff mile, for a horse who’s raced 42 times.
Our tips of the days
Queen Anne Stakes (2.30): Ribchester Evs
Coventry Stakes (3.05): Denaar 10-1
King’s Stand Stakes (3.40) Marsha 100-30
St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20): Churchill 4-6
Ascot Stakes (Handicap) (5.00): Cartwright (nap) 25-1
Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35): Nootka Sound 11-2
Oh dear, I used to be such an original thinker (heh, right) but here I’ve gone with two of the most obvious winners of the week, Ribchester and Churchill. In Ribchester’s case, there’s plenty of risk with such a big field; he might find himself doing too much in the early stages to hold a prominent position, or he might be settled behind the leaders and then find trouble. But those are the main dangers because I think he simply is the best in the race.
Likewise with Churchill. I did expect, as they crossed the line in the Guineas at Newmarket, that I’d be siding with Barney Roy by Ascot but, upon further review of that race and Churchill’s subsequent Curragh success, the Irish horse looks a talented professional who will be hard to beat. But Barney Roy’s trainer, Richard Hannon, would get some compensation if Denaar landed the Coventry.
Meanwhile, I’m expecting a big day for Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Marsha and Cartwright. Has the Newmarket baronet ever had a Royal Ascot double before, you ask? My dear, he’s only had two winners there in his puff, the most recent of them 21 years ago. But this is where he makes up for lost time. Wesley Ward has been rather more prolific and the US trainer of precocious speedballs can get his eighth Ascot winner with Nootka Sound in the last.
Ladbrokes Royal Ascot tipping competition
You could win a £50 bet from Ladbrokes 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. Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results and post your tips or racing-related comments below.
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It's Day One of Royal Ascot ...
The news that Frankie Dettori will miss the whole of Royal Ascot was a surprise and a significant disappointment this morning, as for all of Ryan Moore’s dominance at the Royal meeting in recent seasons, there is still no current rider who says “Ascot” to racegoers quite like Dettori.
None the less, the show must and will go on without him, and in terms of the quality of the racing, today’s opening card is as good as it will get all week. The card no longer opens with three Group 1 events in a row, but the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, the second race on the card, is a Group 1 in all but name, and Caravaggio’s performance in the race 12 months ago was one of the highlights of the week.
Much has been made in the last fortnight or so about five Group 1 favourites this week that are trading at, or close to, odds-on, and the possibility that victory for all five would bring the betting industry to its knees thanks to a slew of accumulator bets around the country (and, indeed, the globe).
It is the sort of story that tends to swell the bookies’ bottom line, as the combined price of the five still works out at double-figure odds. But it will gather pace if first two of those shorties, Ribchester and Churchill, can take the Queen Anne Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes respectively this afternoon.
Ribchester has been odds-on in recent days but is currently available at evens, with Lightning Spear, who has plenty of ground to make up on the favourite on their form at Newbury last month, and Mutakayyef, unraced since Meydan in March, the only other runners at single-figure odds.
He really should get the week off to a positive start for favourite-backers, but as suggested on Sunday, Barney Roy is a very live danger to Churchill later on the card.
Lady Aurelia, who will now have John Velasquez in her saddle, is the other potential superstar on the card as she attempts to repeat last year’s extraordinary success over course and distance in the Queen Mary Stakes. Wesley Ward is closely associated with precocious juveniles at this meeting though he has also taken the Group 1 sprint on the final day with Undrafted, and it will be fascinating to see whether Lady Aurelia, who was a long way in front of her contemporaries last time, can maintain that dominance a year on.
Willie Mullins has won two of the last five runnings of the Ascot Stakes Handicap and his sole runner this year, Thomas Hobson, is strong in the market this morning, while Dragons Tail recorded a fast time when successful last time out and could be one to consider each-way at double-figure odds in the concluding Windsor Castle Stakes.
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