Closing down for the week
That’s it from Royal Ascot for another year. On the track the performances of Blue Point, Japan and Pinatubo will live long in the memory as well as Stradivarius, the brilliant Gold Cup winner. Off the track Aidan O’Brien was a clear winner of the trainers’ title and Frankie Dettori nailed the jockeys’ equivalent with a superb four-timer on Thursday. Hayley Turner’s win on Friday ended a 32-year drought for female riders at the meeting and the five-day fixture ended with a poignant success for King Power Racing. Let’s meet back next year when the country may have changed beyond recognition but the Royal Procession will be the same.
A poignant end to Royal Ascot with victory for Cleonte in the Queen Alexandra Stakes and a win for King Power Racing, founded by the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
A special moment for King Power Racing to secure their first victory at Royal Ascot for @AndrewBalding2 - a tough victory for Cleonte 🎉🏇🏿 pic.twitter.com/F0sqBiZn68
— Jess Stafford (@jesstafford1991) June 22, 2019
Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35pm) result
1 Cleonte (S De Sousa) 7-2
2 Pallasator (Oisin Murphy) 10-1
3 Max Dynamite (R L Moore) 10-3 Fav
11 ran
Also: 11-2 Lucky Deal 4th
Non Runners: 4,8
Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35pm)
And they’re off ... Younevercall is running wide and solo ... Black Corton leads the main field ... Younevercall has joined the bulk of runners now ... and goes second behind Black Corton with Max Dynamite in third ... Paddy’s Motorbike is close up ... and Pilansberg is last ... Corelli is in midfield with Frankie Dettori ... Corelli makes a move ... and joins Black Corton in the lead ... and goes for home ... Max Dynamite comes there with Cleonte who just gets on top and Pallasator challenges but Cleonte wins the final race of Royal Ascot.
Updated
Queen Alexandra (5.35pm) betting
- Cleonte – 10/3
- Max Dynamite – 5/1
- Younevercall – 5/1
- Corelli – 11/2
- Lucky Deal – 7/1
- Pallastor – 12/1
- Black Corton – 12/1
- Coeur Blimey – 28/1
- Paddy’s Motorbike – 50/1
- Jukebox Jive – 80/1
- Pilansberg – 250/1
- Full betting at Oddschecker here
Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35pm) preview
Willie Mullins knows how to win this and reports are encouraging about his Max Dynamite, though the nine-year-old has not been the most reliable. A chance is taken on Younevercall, whose hurdling exploits suggest he might be good enough to beat these on his Flat-racing debut. After a wind operation, he bolted up at Sandown in April. He’s been fragile, so connections are reluctant to send him chasing and this is evidently an attempt to add another string to his bow. The Chester Cup did not work out for Cleonte but better is expected at a course where he has run well a couple of times, including when third to Dee Ex Bee in the Sagaro last month.
Dettori ends his fine week aboard Corelli, who steps up in distance by a mile. While bred to cope, it’s a lot to ask at the first attempt and he wears a hood, suggesting a need to keep him calm in order to help him conserve energy. That doesn’t bode particularly well. Among the jumpers on show is Black Corton, lining up in a Flat race for the very first time. All his races for the past two years have been over fences and his jumping can help him in that sphere, so I worry about him proving one-paced in a contest without obstacles, but he should give Megan Nicholls an enjoyable spin at the very least.
Wokingham Stakes Handicap (5.00pm) result
1 Cape Byron (Andrea Atzeni) 7-2 Fav
2 Tis Marvellous (A Kirby) 14-1
3 Danzeno (L Dettori) 7-1
4 Raucous (Cieren Fallon) 50-1
26 ran
Non Runners: 14,25,28
That result means that Frankie Dettori cannot be caught now and has won the Royal Ascot jockeys’ title.
Frankie Dettori, with 7 winners, cannot be passed and is top jockey at the #RoyalAscot meeting for the sixth time and for the first time in 15 years
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) June 22, 2019
Dettori will be 50 at the end of next year pic.twitter.com/osb3RxtAXc
Wokingham Stakes Handicap (5.00pm)
And they’re off ... Lake Volta and Watchable are out quickly ... and the field has split in two ... Vanburgh is close up and Gunmetal ... Cape Byron finishing strongly and lands a hefty gamble.
Updated
Blue Point off to stud?
Has Blue Point run his last race? Chris Cook has just called to say that trainer Charlie Appleby has suggested that it may well be. “We’ll let the dust settle, but I’m not sure what there is left to do,” said Appleby in the huddle speaking to journalists after his horse’s victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Updated
Wokingham Stakes Handicap (4.20pm) betting
- Cape Byron – 4/1
- Danzeno – 9/1
- Hey Jonesy – 12/1
- Summerhand – 14/1
- Gunmetal – 14/1
- Tis Marvellous – 16/1
- Stone of Destiny – 16/1
- Bacchus – 18/1
- Spring Loaded – 18/1
- Southern Horse – 18/1
- Vanbrugh – 20/1
- Foxtrot Lady - 25/1
- Cenotaph – 28/1
- Soldier’s Minute – 28/1
- Watchable – 28/1
- Intisaab – 33/1
- Lake Volta – 33/1
- Gifted Master – 33/1
- Perfection – 40/1
- Baron Bolt – 40/1
- Sir Maximillian – 50/1
- Raucous – 50/1
- Fighting Irish – 66/1
- Straight Right – 80/1
- Marnie James – 80/1
- Corinthia Knight – 80/1
- Full betting at Oddschecker here
Fallout from the Hardwicke Stakes -- Defoe heading for the King George, Masar likely to go back in trip for the Juddmonte International and Nagano Gold has the Arc as his main target.
Defoe’s trainer Roger Varian said: “He is just a lovely horse. He is very straightforward, tries and relaxes and is getting better with age. Hopefully we can bring him back in one piece for the King George. It is up to other people to have their opinion, but I have my opinion of the horse which is very high, and he is backing that up with his performances. We are excited for the rest of the season.”
Charlie Appleby, who trains Masar, said: ““I’m delighted to see him back. We had a little bit of a mishap with a bit of a stumble out of the gates and therefore it didn’t materialise quite how we wanted it to. Without speaking to His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] yet, I’d imagine something potentially like the Juddmonte International, as I wouldn’t mind coming back in trip. “For me he has still got plenty of boot there.”
Wokingham Stakes Handicap (5.00pm) preview
For a horse with a fair record at this track, Spring Loaded was a big price when betting began on Thursday, though he’s since shortened to 16-1. Paul D’Arcy’s veteran was an unlucky ninth in this last year on his first run of the season and beat 19 rivals to a big pot here next time out. Just 4lb higher and sharper for a Listed-race run at Windsor, he could get involved under his claiming rider. Cape Byron has been clipped to 9-2, which looks very tight for a big-field cavalry charge. He won the Victoria Cup here last month, one of several bits of good course form, and travelled strongly enough to suggest this shorter trip won’t be a problem.
Dettori is aboard the second-favourite, Danzeno, now eight years old. A close fifth in this from the same rating a year ago, he won on his reappearance three weeks ago. Hey Jonesy was only beaten a couple of lengths in a Group One here last year. This is only his second handicap but, on the available evidence, his rating does not look especially lenient. Bacchus won this last summer on his first run of the year and tries to turn the same trick, from just a 3lb higher mark. His stable has gone four weeks without a winner.
Brilliant performance from Blue Point, quickening up in great style.
🔵 Blue Point wins the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and completes a double at #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/xcX2KRQ5WI
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 22, 2019
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm) result
1 Blue Point (James Doyle) 6-4 Fav
2 Dream Of Dreams (D Tudhope) 12-1
3 Kachy (R Kingscote) 33-1
17 ran
Also: 50-1 Speak In Colours 4th
Non Runner: 4
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm)
And they’re off ... Kachy is quickly away and goes clear ... Blue Point is well placed ... Emblazoned is there ... Blue Point takes the lead and is all out to beat Dream of Dreams who finishes very fast.
Updated
All eyes are on Blue Point as he bids to become the first horse since 2003 to win the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and follow up in the Diamond Jubilee since Choisir in 2003.
On point and ready to roll...
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 22, 2019
Blue Point looks in good condition ahead of his historic bid to win two #RoyalAscot wins at the same meeting. pic.twitter.com/I8DshYkIRg
Czech mate! ITV Racing’s Francesca Cumani under fire ...
Really crass comment from Francesca Cumani after #NaganoGold ‘s excellent 2nd in the Hardwicke.
— Neil Clark (@MightyMagyar) June 22, 2019
No, it doesn’t ‘devalue the form’. The Czech Republic is not a ‘second division country’ in any respect. Does she not remember Subway Dancer’s run in the Champion Stakes last year?
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm) betting
- Blue Point – 7/4
- City of Light – 15/2
- Invincible Army – 17/2
- Le Brivido – 9/1
- The Tin Man – 10/1
- Bound For Nowhere – 16/1
- Sands of Mali – 16/1
- Dream of Dreams – 18/1
- Emblazoned – 20/1
- Yafta – 40/1
- Kachy – 40/1
- Projection – 50/1
- Speak in Colours – 66/1
- Keystroke – 66/1
- Lims Cruiser – 100/1
- Tip Two Win – 100/1
- Enzos Lad – 200/1
- Full betting at Oddschecker here
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm) preview
An international field assembles for the big race on Royal Ascot’s closing card, in which Blue Point tries to add to his victory here on Tuesday. The French raider City Light and Bound From Nowhere, from the US, are to be feared, while other contenders have travelled from Singapore and New Zealand.
But all of them may struggle to match a horse whose home is just two hours up the road at Newmarket. The Tin Man took this prize in 2017 and was a marginally unlucky fourth last year. He also won here on Champions Day in 2016 and bagged the third Group One of his career at Haydock last autumn. He should be a lot sharper for his first run back at Windsor, when he was giving weight to the first two, and looks the value in the race at 11-1. He seems to have struck up a good partnership with Oisin Murphy.
It’s asking a lot for Blue Point to do his thing just four days after running to a very high level on what was, at the time, rain-softened ground. He’s better at five furlongs than six and today’s final furlong could be a long one for him. I’d like to see Tip Two Win run well and the ground is certainly coming in his favour. He was a surprise second in last year’s Guineas, a head in front of Masar. It’s not clear that he has the raw speed to get competitive in a top-class sprint.
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) result
1 Defoe (Andrea Atzeni) 11-4 Fav
2 Nagano Gold (C Soumillon) 25-1
3 Mirage Dancer (P J Dobbs) 6-1
8 ran
Also: 12-1 Morando 4th
Non Runner: 9
Extraordinary run form Nagano Gold in the Hardwicke Stakes. Badly hampered at the start and could well have won but for that – what does that say about Czech Republic racing and the talent there. Masar was another who had a bad start – it appears he stumbled at the start and collided with Nagano Gold.
Wow – here’s the moment Masar and Nagano Gold clashed at the start of the Hardwicke. Some sit by @the_doyler… pic.twitter.com/cA4dyyNJ8T
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 22, 2019
Updated
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm)
And they’re off ... Nagano Gold was hampered at the start and Salouen leads the field in the early stages ... Masar is towards the rear ... Mirage Dancer is second ... Communique is close up ... Southern France is in midfield ... Mirage Dancer kicks for home with Masar challenging ... Nagano Gold comes late and fast but Defoe holds him off.
Updated
Going, going, going ... update
It’s getting even faster ...
The going is now good to firm on the straight course and good, good to firm in places on the round course at Ascot
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 22, 2019
The return of last year’s Derby winner Masar in the Hardwicke Stakes next is one of the highlights of Royal Ascot.
Not seen since winning the Derby, Masar looks fighting fit ahead of the Hardwicke Stakes#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/kz1cIK0YtU
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 22, 2019
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) betting
- Masar – 11/4
- Defoe – 10/3
- Southern France – 9/2
- Mirage Dancer – 13/2
- Salouen – 17/2
- Morando – 18/1
- Communique – 18/1
- Nadano Gold - 50/1
- Full betting at Oddschecker here
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) preview
He was quite impressive in last year’s Derby but there’s no way Masar can be the right favourite for this after a year off with a leg injury. Mirage Dancer has some of the right credentials, being from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, who has won this a record 11 times. Stoute could have run Crystal Ocean in this but switched him to the Prince of Wales on Wednesday, which he won. Was that decision made in the knowledge that he had an able substitute for the Hardwicke? Judging by his Goodwood win, in a race he also won last year, Mirage Dancer is still improving, but this requires a big step forward.
Defoe is more convincing, as a Group One winner last time who nonetheless meets these rivals at level weights in a Group Two. It looks like his midwinter gelding operation has helped. His stable was among the winners yesterday. Lah Ti Dar is a non-runner, having failed to eat up, so Dettori’s fans will have to sit on their hands for half an hour. Southern France has attracted support, despite being winless for over a year. He has some solid form at marathon trips, including a close second to Stradivarius last month, but this drying ground will be a problem if he’s at all short of pace at this shorter distance.
What Simon says ... racing starting to move with the times
Good to have Sky Sports Racing starting to give out times after races. 1m 24.57s (0.29s outside course record) for the Jersey apparently.
— Simon Rowlands (@RowleyfileRRR) June 22, 2019
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) result
1 Space Traveller (D Tudhope) 25-1
2 Space Blues (James Doyle) 5-2 Fav
3 Angel’s Hideaway (R Havlin) 14-1
18 ran
Also: 7-1 Urban Icon 4th
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm)
And they’re off ... So Perfect and Duke Of Hazzard are out fast but Marie’s Diamond has the lead ... Space Blues is towards the rear ... Duke Of Hazzard challenges ... Space Blues picks up to come through but Space Traveller quickens up the best to win. And Danny Tudhope again – with his fourth winner of the week.
Updated
Charlie Appleby told the Racing Post of the winner of the first: “Going forward, I think something like the Vintage [Stakes at Glorious Goodwood]would suit Pinatubo. The undulations of Goodwood can catch some horses out, but he already has experience of Epsom. You need to be able to travel at Goodwood and that seems to be one of his attributes.”
Updated
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) betting
- Space Blues – 11/4
- So Perfect – 5/1
- Urban Icon – 8/1
- Happy Power – 17/2
- Momkin – 17/2
- Angels Hideaway – 14/1
- Maries Diamond – 16/1
- Bye Bye Hong Kong – 18/1
- I Am Superman – 18/1
- Space Traveller – 33/1
- Duke of Hazzard – 40/1
- Western Frontier – 50/1
- Fire Fly – 66/1
- No Nonsense – 66/1
- Masaru – 80/1
- On a Session – 100/1
- Dubai Dominion – 100/1
- Air Hair Lair – 500/1
- Full betting at Oddschecker here.
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) preview
There’s a lot to like about the zippy Space Blues but he does not deserve to be half the price of So Perfect. O’Brien’s filly was beaten less than a length in the Queen Mary here last year and later came within half a length of a Group One win against males. The horse that beat her that day was Advertise, a Group One winner again here yesterday. Having needed her first run back, So Perfect powered home at Naas last time and looks ready for seven furlongs. Space Blues has bundles of speed and will be suited by the drying surface.
Momkin was a close second in the Craven and excuses could be made for his midfield effort in the Guineas. The step down in class and distance could show Roger Charlton’s colt to advantage. Dettori’s mount, Marie’s Diamond, is of course shortening in the betting but he is winless since July, does not seem to be improving and looks held by Space Blues on Epsom form. Air Hair Lair is not good enough to get involved but it’s pleasing to see his name on a Royal Ascot racecard just the same – try saying it to yourself in your poshest, most nasal voice.
That was fast ... the ground definitely on the fast side of good and Pinatubo looks very useful. William Hill are 10-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. Trainer Charlie Appleby told ITV Racing: “I’m delighted. He came here with the right credentials. I was quite confident throughout the race. He just goes out there and does his job.” Winning jockey James Doyle added: “He’s a horse that shows up nicely on the gallops without setting it alight. He’s a very smart horse and he travelled well. He’s not slow, but I’m sure up to a mile will be within his compass.”
Think that is a 2yo course record for Pinatubo
— Simon Rowlands (@RowleyfileRRR) June 22, 2019
Updated
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) result
1 Pinatubo (James Doyle) 3-1
2 Lope Y Fernandez (R L Moore) 5-4 Fav
3 Highland Chief (Raul Da Silva) 14-1
14 ran
Also: 33-1 Sun Power 4th
Non Runners: 3,8,10
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm)
And they’re off ... Rose Of Kildare and Dramatic Sands out quickly ... Lope Y Fernandez just behind the leaders ... Harpocrates now prominent ... Lope Y Fernandez has come through but Pinatubo impressively kicks clear under James Doyle for a smooth win.
Updated
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) betting
- Lope Y Fernandez – 5/4
- Pinaturbo – 7/2
- Rose of Kildare – 11/1
- Year of the Tiger – 14/1
- Highland Chief – 14/1
- Heaven Forfend – 20/1
- Harpocrates – 20/1
- Dramatic Sands – 28/1
- Sun Power – 50/1
- United Front – 66/1
- Clay Regazzoni – 66/1
- Zmile – 100/1
- Montanari – 100/1
- Ardenlee Star – 100/1
-
Full betting at Oddschecker here
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) preview
Lope Y Fernandez has obvious claims on his debut win but Aidan O’Brien’s second-string might be a better option and not for the first time this week. Year Of The Tiger ran a promising race in second the same day, looking as though this step up in trip was needed, and his pedigree promises much. The trainer seems to have developed a soft spot for this race, which he has won twice in the past three years, and only ran a 14-1 shot on the other occasion.
Pinatubo is unbeaten in two, most recently in the Woodcote at Epsom, when he ran on strongly, suggesting this extra furlong will be fine. That form does not look strong, however. Rose Of Kildare, the mount of Frankie Dettori, has been steadily cut from 25-1 down to 7s with some firms. Mark Johnston’s filly is the most experienced in the field after five runs and Liberty Beach, who beat her last time, was a good fourth in the Queen Mary here on Wednesday.
Updated
Queen's Hat Stakes (2.00pm) result
1st Green 5-2
Updated
The sectional timing, sponsored by Longines, has been an excellent addition to Royal Ascot this week and expert race times analyst and Racing TV pundit James Willoughby has been giving his reaction: “We’ve seen throughout the week that the way that races are run varies considerably and can have a profound impact on important races. Every section of a race requires, in theory, equal effort from the horse, but that’s not the way races are run. Races are run in a manner that some parts are run much more strongly than others, and horses who gain lengths in those sections need to be upgraded against those who gain their lengths when the pace is slow.
“The difference between the two things is impossible to tell with the eye. The final time of a horse race is fairly pointless, but sectionals help us to understand them to a point where we can catch lightning in a bottle.”
Willoughby is still analysing this week’s data but said: “I think Laurens, though only sixth in the Queen Anne, ran an absolute screamer, and that the St James’s Palace winner Circus Maximus should be rated as having won by much further, whereas some analysts believe runner-up King Of Comedy was unlucky.
“The St James’s Palace was slowly run early, but they ran very hard round the bend and into the straight and Circus Maximus put in a huge amount of effort to burn off Too Darn Hot and make it easier for the second and fourth-placed Skardu to close on him. The sectionals for the Norfolk were interesting too, and I believe the winner A’Ali, put in the fastest single furlong so far.”
Updated
Gay Kelleway, who was the first female rider to win a race at Royal Ascot 32 years before Hayley Turner yesterday, posted this earlier today. As one response to this tweet puts it ... Miaow!
Everyone remembers Neil Armstrong no one remembers Buzz Aldrin 🏇🏻x
— Gay Kelleway Racing (@GayKelleway) June 22, 2019
Top jockeys
Frankie Dettori 7 wins
Ryan Moore 5
Danny Tudhope 3
Jim Crowley 1
Oisin Murphy 1
James Doyle 1
Pierre-Charles Boudot 1
Harry Bentley 1
Richard Kingscote 1
Seamie Heffernan 1
David Egan 1
Hayley Turner 1
Dettori has now matched his best ever Royal Ascot of 21 years ago, when one of his winners was Kayf Tara in the Gold Cup. He has six chances to set a new personal best, including the fancied Danzeno and Corelli at the end of the card. Moore has two favourites and a second favourite as he seeks to get the two more winners he needs. If the pair end the day tied, Moore wins on a countback of second places, of which he has six to the Italian’s three. Evidently, the bookies don’t expect that, as Moore is 7-2 while Dettori is 1-5 to hold on. Silvestre de Sousa, who is having a tough week, has four second places.
Still life in the Top Jockey @bet365 Royal @Ascot market? Frankie 1/4 with Ryan at 11/4, countbacks could be vital @AtTheRaces @GBRacing @itvracing @SkySportsRacing @RacingTV @RTEracing pic.twitter.com/eVOj68m2wB
— Patrick Cooney (@patcooney_365) June 22, 2019
Updated
Top trainers
Aidan O’Brien 5 wins
Sir Michael Stoute 2
John Gosden 2
William Haggas 2
Mark Johnston 2
Andrew Balding 1
Charlie Hills 1
Charlie Fellowes 1
Roger Varian 1
Ian Williams 1
Charlie Appleby 1
David O’Meara 1
Simon Crisford 1
Ralph Beckett 1
Martyn Meade 1
Francis-Henri Graffard 1
O’Brien seems set fair for another Royal Ascot title, as Stoute only has three runners left, while Haggas has none. Gosden has four and Johnston has five but O’Brien has as many as those two put together. It has been a fine week for the Irishman, though he has had seven beaten favourites along the way (Hermosa, Ten Sovereigns, Magical, Fleeting, Norway, I Can Fly, Magic Wand).
Updated
The way Michael Stoute campaigns his two-year-olds is as fascinating as his older horses and here’s an interesting stat from the Racing Posts’s Lee Mottershead.
I've done a bit of digging and it looks like Heaven Forfend, who goes in the Chesham, is the first two-year-old colt Sir Michael Stoute has run at Royal Ascot in 18 years.
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 22, 2019
The previous such horse was 2001 Windsor Castle Stakes 20th Wishi, who also raced for Cheveley Park Stud.
Line of Duty comes to Royal Ascot
Now we’re talking...BBC1’s #LineofDuty comes to #RoyalAscot day 5; ‘DS Steve Arnott’ - @martin_compston -presenting trophies for first-race, in which names of three runners begin with letter ‘H’ (one for fans) pic.twitter.com/y1kblbLE5a
— Cornelius Lysaght (@CorneliusRacing) June 22, 2019
The Telegraph reported today (you can read the full story below in my original tweet) that Bet 3565 was taking the unusual step of turning down multiple bets on Frankie Dettori’s rides after his 449-1 four-timer on Thursday. It seems it’s spreading.
Today it’s Skybet. What is the once proud tradition of bookmaking becoming when not only do they place restrictions on the amount you can bet, but also what you can actually bet on? This is what happens when the bean-counters are in control. Just a numbers game, all about margin. https://t.co/b2SVL1GXUo
— Jason Brautigam (@DizzyJB) June 22, 2019
Royal Procession Stakes (2.00pm)
1st Carriage
THE QUEEN
The Duke of York
The Hon. William Vestey
Mr. John Warren
2nd Carriage
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw
Lady Bradshaw
Sir Peter Vela
Lady Vela
3rd Carriage
Mr. Ben Case
Mrs. Ben Case
Mr. Clive Webb-Carter
Mrs. Clive Webb-Carter
4th Carriage
Mr. Mark Etherington
The Lady Alexandra Etherington
Mr. Chris Waller
Mrs. Chris Waller
I attended a Serpentine gallery exhibition by artist Mark Wallingerback in 1994 when one of his installations, called ‘Royal Ascot’, consisted of a series of video monitors on top of wheeled flight cases, each isolating the royal carriage’s leisurely progress down the track on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (respectively, as it was then) of the meeting with the added TV commentary.
The British Council described the work thus: ‘Simultaneous footage exposes precise choreography: the Queen’s frozen smile and rigid curls, the tilt of her head, her gloved wave, the Duke of Edinburgh raising his top hat, the national anthem striking up. Appropriately for an event whose media coverage focuses on the parade of hats and dresses rather than the sport, here we have a close-up on clothes, on the Queen’s dolly mixture of pinks, tangerines, limes; the difference from day to day is barely discernible, just as the four BBC commentaries merge in a confused blather. This repetition of imagery, all backed by bright green turf, brings into play Andy Warhol’s late screenprints of Elizabeth II from his ‘Reigning Queens’ series (1985), a quartet of the postage stamp icon in camp conjugations of Hollywood make-up and bubblegum colours.’
The Duke of Edinburgh, who has retired from royal duties and apparently hated his trips down the road from Windsor Castle to the races, is missing but little else has changed including the blather. This is last year’s Royal Procession on the Saturday – see if you can spot the difference.
This is a great little feature with some terrific pics on Ireland’s junior jockeys in the Observer tomorrow. Take a look ...
Queen's Hat Stakes (2.00pm)
As revealed yesterday, Ladbrokes have given up on this having been stung this week. William Hill are still joining in and report good money for yellow, from 5-1 in to 3’s, Rupert Adams stating: “We know the Queen is a favourite of yellow and we think she will roll it out for the final day of the Royal meeting.”
“This year’s hat stakes have taken an interesting turn as bookies, again, suspended betting this morning, said a spokesperson for W2.bet. “Pink was a very popular pick yesterday and got punters back on track after some interesting turns this week. But in the end, so far, the hat stakes have been won by punters. Today’s favourite is yellow, followed by white/cream and then purple.”
Updated
Frankie Dettori’s getting rides everywhere now!
Royal Ascot @Ascot Day 5@JonjoONeill and @FrankieDettori #LikeNowhereElse pic.twitter.com/O9lMGvlYng
— Kevin Buckley (@BuckleyKevin) June 22, 2019
Tipping competition results
Many thanks to all who took part in our tipping competitions this week! Our winners will be contacted by email by Monday. They were:
Tuesday: fallguy99
Wednesday: melonk
Thursday: JimmyDeuce
Friday: mycopia23
We’re not running a tipping competition today, as we’ve found in the past that Saturday attracts fewer players. But do please share your selections and fancies below. If enough people get involved, we’ll review this for next year.
Updated
You want to know what’s going to win, right?
Here are our selections for the final day at Royal Ascot. Stay here and we’ll have an in-depth preview for every race as the afternoon goes on.
2.30 Chesham Stakes
Year Of The Tiger 14-1
3.05 Jersey Stakes
So Perfect (nap) 5-1
3.40 Hardwicke Stakes
Defoe (nb) 7-2
4.20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes
The Tin Man 11-1
5.00 Wokingham Handicap
Spring Loaded 14-1
5.35 Queen Alexandra Stakes
Younevercall 6-1
But never mind those, let’s talk about the five winners on Friday ... If I could live a day’s racing over and over, it would be that one. And I have no regrets about the Sandringham, which I always find difficult; there is just no way I could have picked Thanks Be. So I dare say today will be a 0/6 and bump back to Earth, but I still like the look of a few of these, especially So Perfect, who seems strong in the betting. Spring Loaded’s price has collapsed, at last in part because the influential Hugh Taylor has also put him up. Younevercall seems popular. I’m surprised The Tin Man is so big, having so much good course form to his name.
Updated
Non-runners
Mark your card. These are not turning up, for the various reasons outlined.
2.30pm Chesham Stakes
3 DARK KRIS (Going)
10 MOHICAN HEIGHTS (Going)
3.40pm Hardwicke Stakes
9 LAH TI DAR (Self Certificate, Not Eaten Up)
5.00pm Wokingham Heritage Handicap
14 MERHOOB (IRE) (Going)2
5 ALBA POWER (IRE) (Vet’s Certificate, Lame)
28 RECON MISSION (IRE) (Going)
5.35pm Queen Alexandra Stakes
8 LE MAITRE CHAT (USA) (Going)
Going, going, going ... update
The going for the fifth day of Royal Ascot 2019 has changed to Good, Good to Firm in places (from Good on the straight course and Good, Good to Soft in places on the round course at the end of Friday)
It has been dry since racing on Wednesday when there was 10 millimetres of rain. A dry and sunny day is forecast, with temperatures up to 22 degrees Celsius.
Chris Stickels, clerk of the course at Ascot, said at 9.00am: “It is a lovely, bright, dry and sunny morning. We have now been dry since Wednesday and the track is drying out really nicely.”
GoingStick Readings at 8.15am today: Stand side: 8.2, Centre: 8.4, Far Side: 8.1. Round: 6.7
(Friday GoingStick readings: Stand side: 7.4, Centre: 7.6, Far Side: 7.4. Round: 6.0)
(Thursday GoingStick readings: Stand side: 7.0, Centre: 7.0, Far Side: 7.0. Round: 5.7)
(Wednesday GoingStick readings: Stand side: 8.2, Centre: 8.4, Far Side: 8.2. Round: 7.2)
(Tuesday GoingStick readings: Stand side: 8.9, Centre: 8.9, Far Side: 8.7, Round: 7.4)
Stalls Straight Course: Centre; Round Course: Inside
For the final time this week, Chris Stickels provides a Going update ahead of Day 5 of #RoyalAscot... pic.twitter.com/vDg9rof9Ky
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 22, 2019
Good morning!
And so we face the final curtain for this Royal Ascot. It’s the people’s day, insofar as any day at this venue can ever carry such a label, when more folk are able to attend and a crowd of around 70,000 packs out the stand. More than any other day this week, the train takes the strain, as an estimated 30,000 normally travel here by the Waterloo-Reading line on the Saturday of the Royal meeting, so we will find out how much disruption is caused by the continuing industrial action by rail staff.
The Queen’s track is bathed in warm sunshine and we finally have the sort of weather you’d like to expect in mid-June. The famously free-drying track is described as good to firm in places and GoingStick readings also suggest that any horses in need of soft are basically sunk. This is a day to be backing zippy types with quick actions who float across the turf, raising memories of Danehill, Habibti and other great sprinters with their names on the trophies here.
Speaking of greats, Frankie Dettori is back, trying to find the one extra winner he needs to make this his best Royal Ascot ever at the age of 48. I’m afraid he is one down already, as Lah Ti Dar, his intended mount in the Hardwicke, has been withdrawn after failing to eat up. I’ve already heard one punter talking of combining the Italian’s mounts in multiple bets - but first he must find a bookie still prepared to take such bets.
Hayley Turner is not here, alas. Yesterday, she became only the second female jockey to ride a winner at Royal Ascot but today her business takes her to Newmarket and Lingfield. The only woman riding here is Megan Nicholls, booked by her father for Black Corton in the very last race. Black Corton is not without his chance in the Queen Alexandra, his very first Flat race, and it will be remembered that he has done several good turns for another female jockey, Bryony Frost, who won her first Grade One on him two Christmases ago.
But the meat of the afternoon is the two sprints, the classy Diamond Jubilee at 4.20pm and the unsolveable Wokingham at 5pm. They are Royal Ascot in miniature, over before you know it after a tonne of preparation. But the memories will be sweet if you can pinpoint either winner. Be lucky!
