Greg Wood’s Friday report
Expect to see Her Majesty back tomorrow
Well that was nearly the meeting that wasn’t but Ascot survived an inspection at lunchtime after a desperate amount of rain and Oisin Murphy will have mixed feelings about that after being demoted into second following the Commonwealth Cup and then winning the Coronation Stakes, before suffering an embarrasing fall from his mount when celebrating in front of the crowd.
The champion jockey will be back tomorrow and so will the great showman, Frankie Dettori, who was the beneficiary of Murphy’s demotion. But they are both going to be overshadowed by the fact that the Queen is going to be there for the only day this week as the fixture comes to a close. Intriguingly, her majesty has a horse running with an outstanding chance in the Wokingham Stakes at 5pm.
King’s Lynn ran in a much tougher race than the one tomorrow, the Group One King’s Stand Stakes, on Tuesday and would surely have finished second but for getting stopped in his run. Provided her runner is over those exertions, King’s Lynn is going to take an awful lot of beating.
Good night and good luck and see you all here tomorrow
That Down Royal business earlier today, a huge gamble away from Ascot ... well, the Racing Post report:
‘The second leg of a monster gamble on two Emmet Mullins-trained horses was successful at Down Royal on Friday as Blackstair Rocco, backed from 8-1 into 10-11, made absolutely no mistake under Mike O’Connor in the 2m4½f handicap hurdle (2.55).
Shake Him Up, who Paddy Power and Ladbrokes laid at 100-1 and was trading at odds-on at one stage in the morning, could finish only fifth in the earlier maiden hurdle (2.20) having been sent off at 9-4.’
You can find the full report here.
Going update
Ascot’s clerk of the course Chris Stickels said at 6pm: “We have had 43.5 millimetres of rain since racing yesterday, which is certainly a 24-hour record for Royal Ascot in my time as clerk.
“Obviously, we ended up with heavy ground, although times weren’t as bad as perhaps I was imagining. It has still been hard work and jockeys reported very soft and heavy ground.
“The forecast is for this rain eventually to die out later this evening, although it’s unclear when because it keeps on circling round us, and for a better day tomorrow. It’s not predicted to be warm and sunny, but dry with the chance of an occasional shower.”
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap (6.10pm) result
1 Significantly (C Lee) 10-1
2 Boomshalaa (Andrea Atzeni) 9-2
3 Fantasy Master (Ray Dawson) 16-1
4 Dream Composer (Laura Pearson) 13-2
19 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Mo Celita
Non Runners: 1,4,9,11,17,18
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap (6.10pm)
And they’re off ... Bedford Flyer and Significantly are up there ... Bedford Flyer makes a move ... Significantly and Rebel At Dawn with Boomshala and Significantly going past together and Significantly has won! Another winner for Greg Wood!!
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap (6.10pm) preview
It is tough on Laura Coughlan, who has partnered Mo Celita to four of his five straight wins since April, to be replaced by Oisin Murphy for the filly’s run at Royal Ascot, but Murphy has a rare gift for finding more improvement when riding a horse for the first time and the punters have certainly latched on, making him favourite here at around 5-1. Mo Celita has plenty of form with cut in the ground but another 8lb rise in the weights to a mark of 90 is a concern for a horse that started the season winning sellers.
There are plenty of each-way alternatives and I’ll have a dabble at Karl Burke’s front-runner Significantly, who has a useful draw one off the rail in 24. He has yet to register a win this year, but his second behind Dragon Symbol – first past the post in the Commonwealth Cup earlier on the card – at Hamilton last time is arguably a match for anything his rivals can offer. He also split Creative Force, a runner in tomorrow’s Jersey, and another Commonwealth Cup contender, Jumby, at Newmarket in April.
Selection: SIGNIFICANTLY
Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (5.35pm) result
1 Quickthorn (Oisin Murphy) 7-2 Fav
2 Raymond Tusk (Jim Crowley) 25-1
3 Zabeel Champion (B A Curtis) 17-2
14 ran
Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (5.35pm)
And they’re off ... Tritonic and Quickthorn make fast starts ... Sam Cooke pulling too hard in midfeld and last year’s winner Scarlet Dragon is last ... Zabeel Champion takes the lead ...Win O’Clock is not far off the leaders woth Raymond Tusk and Scarlet Dragon goes from last to first! Zabeel Champion fights but Quickthorn and Oisin Murphy win - what a day for the champion jockey!
Updated
Incredible amount of precipitation at Ascot today
The rain continues to fall here @ascot where the total rain for the day has now gone past the 40mm mark. Remarkable daily total and I certainly cannot remember more falling in one day at a high profile meeting. It could easily top 50mm by the end of today.
— Bill Esdaile (@BillEsdaile) June 18, 2021
Johnny Murtagh, sometime ITV racing pundit, really loved winning that last race with Create Belief.
"It means the world to me, my wife and all the staff back home"@JohnnyMurtagh absolutely loves this famous old course!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2021
Watch LIVE
📺 @ITV
📱 https://t.co/fJXuj4d6h6#ITVRacing #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/JyCoKwUkL6
Commonwealth Cup fallout will run and run ...
Oisin to the media: "Frankie told me I was on the best horse."
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) June 18, 2021
Frankie to the media: "I feel very sad that I got it, but I had reason to believe that my filly was still the best on the day."
🤷♂️
Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (5.35pm) preview
Several more non-runners here including Grand Bazaar, due to be the mount of Frankie Dettori, with Oisin Murphy’s partner Blackthorn heading the market at around 4-1. He pulled eight-and-a-half lengths clear of his field in a Haydock handicap on good-to-soft ground last time out, but has paid for it in the weights with a 13lb rise. He should have improvement to come, as that was his seasonal debut and he is also making only the sixth start of his career here. It is a fair old hike, though, on the softest ground that he has faced to date and in his toughest assignment yet. Proven mudlarks Sam Cooke and Aaddeey have obvious claims while Mirann, another interesting runner from the Johnny Murtagh stable looked unlucky not to win on heavy at the Curragh last time and will appreciate the step back up in trip.
But I’ll take a chance with Scarlet Dragon instead, even though he is a very tricky sort to catch right. He is winless in nine starts, on turf, all-weather and also over hurdles, since landing this race off a mark of 97 12 months, but his record was much the same coming into the meeting last year, when he came alive for Hollie Doyle to give her a first Royal winner. She is back aboard today and 16-1 looks fair each-way value with several bookies still offering five places.
Selection: SCARLET DRAGON
Sandringham Handicap (5pm) result
1 Create Belief (Ben Coen) 6-1
2 Samoot (Jim Crowley) 5-1 Fav
3 Messidor (D McMonagle) 14-1
4 She Do (Ray Dawson) 28-1
21 ran
Non Runners: 2,3,8,9,17,23,24,28,29
Sandringham Handicap (5pm)
And they’re off ... Divine Light, Create Belief and Messidor are prominent ... Far Hope leads on the other side of the track ... She Do and Divine Light now go on ... Create Belief now shoots clear and they will not catch this one. Romps home!
Updated
Sandringham Handicap (5pm) preview
The field for this filles’ handicap over the straight mile has been reduced by no fewer than eight non-runners but it remains fiercely competitive, with Johnny Murtagh’s Create Belief emerging as the favourite this morning at around 5-1. She posted a good time when winning for the second time in her career at the Curragh last month and should not have any trouble at all coping with the ground. That said, she was 10-1 this time yesterday and the field is full of dangerous opponents, including Sir Michael Stoute’s Samoot, who remains unexposed on turf, and the course-and-distance winner Teodolina, another with plenty of form on soft and heavy ground.
Selection: CREATE BELIEF
Updated
Coronation Stakes (4.20pm) result
1 Alcohol Free (Oisin Murphy) 11-2
2 Snow Lantern (S M Levey) 14-1
3 Mother Earth (R L Moore) 9-2
11 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Pretty Gorgeous, 15-2 Novemba 4th
Non Runners: 8,11
Updated
Coronation Stakes (4.20pm)
And they’re off ... Novemba leads Flirting Bridge early ... they go stands’ side in the straight... Alcohol Free makes ground and is pressed by Pretty Gorgeous but Alcohol Free wins and Oisin Murphy, who lost the previous race in the stewards’ room, makes it clear what he thinks of that as he crosses the line!
Updated
Commonwealth Cup (3.40pm) AMENDED RESULT
1 Campanelle (L Dettori) 5-1
2 Dragon Symbol (Oisin Murphy) 4-1
3 Measure Of Magic (Ben Coen) 11-1
15 ran
Also: 9-4 Fav Suesa, 33-1 Dandalla 4th
Non Runners: 2,8,10,11,18,20
Stewards’ inquiry result: Dragon Symbol loses the race! Commonwealth Cup placings reversed!! You have to feel for trainer Archie Watson there given his comments and knowing how highly they rate the horse that passed the post first.
Updated
Coronation Stakes (4.20pm) preview
Just one non-runner so far in the Coronation Stakes although it is a significant one, with Primo Bacio, a general 7-1 shot overnight, coming out this morning. That leaves a dozen fillies to go to post, including Mother Earth, Empress Josephine and Novemba, the 1,000 Guineas winners in England, Ireland and Germany respectively. The market, though, is currently headed by Pretty Gorgeous, the winner of the Group One Fillies’ Mile last season, who was a long way behind Empress Josephine at the Curragh after racing wide of the main field.
The ground was soft when she won her Group One at Newmarket but heavy at the Curragh, which does make you wonder if she will start to drift in the betting if the rain continues. The real springer in the market, though, is Peter Schiergen’s Novemba, who made all the running to win the German Guineas by seven-and-a-half lengths last time out. She was a 10-1 shot yesterday afternoon but is now down to around 11-2.
Selection: NOVEMBA
Updated
The stewards have a tough decision to make here ...
Stewards' Enquiry in the Commonwealth Cup!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2021
What are your thoughts on this?#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/ymAClkXNfo
Stewards’ inquiry into the Commonwealth Cup! That pair came very close with Dragon Symbol moving towards the runner-up and drifting right in the closing stages. This is going to be fascinating ...
Frankie Dettori/Campanelle currently odds-on to get the Commonwealth Cup on Betfair, 1.82 vs 2.2 for Dragon Symbol to keep it. #RoyalAscot
— Greg Wood (@Greg_Wood_) June 18, 2021
Updated
Commonwealth Cup (3.40pm) result
1 Dragon Symbol (Oisin Murphy) 4-1
2 Campanelle (L Dettori) 5-1
3 Measure Of Magic (Ben Coen) 11-1
15 ran
Also: 9-4 Fav Suesa, 33-1 Dandalla 4th
Non Runners: 2,8,10,11,18,20
Commonwealth Cup (3.40pm)
And they’re off ... Campanelle shoots off into the lead ... Dragon Symbol is prominent ... Mighty Gurkha is up there ... and Dragon Symbol hits the front with Campanelle fighting it out and what a race - past the post together!
Updated
Commonwealth Cup (3.40pm) betting
9/4 Suesa
4/1 Campanelle
11/2 Dragon Symbol
9/1 A Case Of You & Jumby
16/1 Fivethousandtoone, & Measure Of Magic,
20/1 Isabella Giles,
25/1 Lipizzaner, & Miss Amulet, & Mooneista,
33/1 Dandalla, & Laws Of Indices, & The Lir Jet,
50/1 Happy Romance, & Mighty Gurkha.
Updated
Commonwealth Cup (3.40pm) preview
The softening ground has done no favours to the Commonwealth Cup, a race that has established itself as one of the highlights of the week in just a few years since Muhaarar won the first running in 2015. Five of the 21 runners originally declared have now been scratched – Diligent Harry, Method, Saint Lawrence, Supremacy and Sacred – but it is an ill wind etc. etc, and Suesa, the French-trained favourite with winning form on heavy ground and a 3lb fillies’ allowance, is ever stronger in the market at around 3-1. She has done absolutely nothing wrong so far, is open to further improvement and is drawn middle-to-high, where the pace looks to be.
But – and there’s generally a but at Royal Ascot – the French sprinting division is not renowned for its depth and Suesa is nothing like as far clear of this field on ratings as her price might suggest. I’m more than happy to take her on with fast-improving Jumby, and all the more so after the form of his fast-run handicap success at Newmarket last time got yet another boost on Thursday when Perotto, nearly six lengths behind him in fourth place, won the Britannia Handicap.
Selection: JUMBY
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05pm) result
1 Alenquer (Tom Marquand) 13-8 Fav
2 Tasman Bay (David Probert) 10-1
3 Title (David Egan) 5-1
6 ran
Also: 9-2 The Mediterranean 4th
Non Runners: 4,8
Updated
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05pm)
And they’re off ... Belloccio leads with The Mediterranean running wide ... Tasman Bay is second with Title at the back ... Tasman Baygoes wide as they approach the home turn ... Belloccio still leads ... Tasman Bay and Alenquer come to challenge ...Alenquer hits the front and kicks clear for victory.
Updated
Official going now heavy at Ascot
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05pm) betting
- 2/1 Alenquer
- 5/1 The Mediterranean,
- 5/1 Title
- 6/1 Belloccio
- 13/2 Yibir
- 9/1 Gear Up
- 14/1 Tasman Bay
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05pm) preview
Adayar has been taking a well-earned rest after his exploits in winning the Derby 13 days ago and One Ruler, the first horse from the Classic to put the form to the test, was some way down the field in the Hampton Court here yesterday. But Adayar still looms large over this race, as he was beaten by Alenquer, the favourite, on his seasonal debut in the Sandown Classic Trial. Alenquer is stepping up to 12 furlongs for the first time today, but the German bloodlines in his pedigree suggest that it will hold no fears, even if significant rain arrives, and his overall form is some way in front of anything that most of his seven rivals can muster.
Most are open to improvement, though, and The Mediterranean and Title, the next two runners in the betting, have progressed by the run, while Yibir was also in the Sandown Classic Trial, getting to within a length of the winner and a neck of Adayar in what was something of a blanket finish.
Selection: ALENQUER
Albany Stakes (2.30pm) result
1 Sandrine (David Probert) 16-1
2 Hello You (James Doyle) 5-1
3 Oscula (Mark Crehan) 10-1
15 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Flotus
Updated
Albany Stakes (2.30pm)
And they’re off ... Flotus not fast away and Oscula races on her own on the stands side ... Flotus now makes ground ...Sandrine and Hello You fight it out ... and Sandrine gallops clear to win.
Updated
Albany Stakes (2.30pm) betting
Albany Stakes (2.30pm) preview
A fascinating juvenile contest to open the proceedings on day four, with eight unbeaten fillies among the 15-strong field and no fewer than 13 arriving on the back of a win last time out. On that basis, it feels a little unimaginative to be siding with the likely favourite in Flotus, but she created such an impression when making a winning debut at Goodwood last month that most of her rivals will need to find a pound or three to beat her even if she runs up to that form, and Simon and Ed Crisford’s filly has as much, if not more, potential for improvement herself as any of her rivals.
Hello You, who made a similarly impressive start to her racing career but did so on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, is certainly within touching distance, while all three of George Boughey’s runners – Oscula, Hellomydarlin and Cachet – must be respected after his exceptional run, with juveniles in particular, in the opening months of the season. The time of Cachet’s debut win at Newmarket last month suggests she might be the pick of them and one for the each-way backers at around 10-1.
Selection: FLOTUS
Updated
Away from Ascot there’s a fascinating story developing at Down Royal where two horses have been backed from 100-1 into evens and 8-1 into 4-7. Both runners are trained by Emmet Mullins.
‘The horse at the centre of the gamble is the aptly named Shake Him Up (2.20), with both Ladbrokes and Paddy Power reporting that they have laid the horse at 100-1.’
We’ll keep you posted ...
Shake him up gamble at down Royal today pic.twitter.com/uykt1QG7Tx
— #The0.9Unit (@GrahamLynn23) June 18, 2021
Bit of tinkering, but we’ll be off with the action at 2.30pm
Racing goes ahead today at #Ascot with a full card as planned after an inspection involving officials, trainers and jockeys.
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 18, 2021
The stalls for the Coronation Stakes will be moved slightly and there will be some rail movements with distance amendments to be confirmed shortly. pic.twitter.com/lcS3jcanel
Right, we can get on with finding the winners now. Those updated non-runners are here ...
Here are the current non-runners for day 4 of the Royal Meeting @Ascot. For more detailed updates throughout the afternoon, see here https://t.co/JeCXKO26xt pic.twitter.com/iNtHwSn24C
— BHA Stewards (@BHAStewards) June 18, 2021
Royal Ascot gets go-ahead after inspection
Racing at Royal Ascot this afternoon has been given the go-ahead after an extended inspection of the track by officials, trainers and jockeys.
The card was long odds-on to be abandoned on Betfair’s “Will Racing Go Ahead?” market as the inspection began at 12.45. Alternative plans to move some races to the straight course, or run a 10-race card on Saturday, were also being discussed.
In the end, however, it was decided that by moving rails at several points around the track to protect runners from patches of false ground, it would be possible to stage the entire seven-race card today.
Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Oisin Murphy represented the weighing room in the inspection party, while trainers Aidan O’Brien, Ralph Beckett and Richard Hannon also took part.
Showers, some heavy, are forecast for the remainder of the afternoon, and the official going at Royal Ascot is now soft, heavy in places. Two Group One contests, the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes, are the feature events on the card at 3.40 and 4.20, while the first race, the Albany Stakes, is due off at 2.30.
Racing has not been abandoned due to waterlogging at Royal Ascot since 1964, when the final days of what was then a four-day meeting were lost to the weather.
Updated
Matt Chapman is one of ITV Racing’s presenters ...
I think @Ascot will be on…
— Matt Chapman (@MCYeeehaaa) June 18, 2021
Meanwhile, we’ll be getting a decision very soon ...
The inspection party has returned. pic.twitter.com/1IuSxLjlWM
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 18, 2021
The Queen has a horse thrown-in at the weights in the Wokingham Handicap on Saturday. Hold on ...
The Queen expected to attend Royal Ascot on Saturday to view bumper TEN race card if rain forces delay https://t.co/E1oaJoaV3l pic.twitter.com/hD0hgAEv9K
— Sun Racing (@SunRacing) June 18, 2021
We miss the Royal Procession!
Today's Royal Procession is bang average. https://t.co/pZtzeokpYJ
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) June 18, 2021
Aidan O’Brien has joined the throng prodding the turf
Aidan O'Brien out on the course just jumped into a car and joining the other delegation looking at the round course @Ascot pic.twitter.com/8y8knUo0oG
— Bill Esdaile (@BillEsdaile) June 18, 2021
We await a decision ...
Lots of discussion going on @Ascot pic.twitter.com/D4n0SZbiyG
— PA Racing (@PAracing) June 18, 2021
Frankie’s out there now splashing through the puddles. Nice hat!
Track check! @FrankieDettori and @oismurphy walk the @Ascot course as we await the inspection... pic.twitter.com/hKUmdGkQDB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2021
The tide seems to be turning for racing to go ahead.
The mood seems to be turning more positive here @Ascot.
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 18, 2021
Ryan Moore is out walking the course now, with the official inspection soon to follow.
The inside and outside of both the round and straight courses appear to be the problem areas, but clever rail positioning may be enough.
It is still lashing down here at Ascot, with half an hour to go before the inspection which will decide whether racing can go ahead on day four of the Royal meeting. Meanwhile, in a lively market on Betfair, with just over £60,000 matched thus far, the odds on racing being abandoned are down to 2-5, while a thumbs-up from the officials is 7-4 against and drifting.
There are seemingly a few options open to the track, with the first and most likely seeming to be that racing will be abandoned for today.
An alternative would be to run a five-race card on the straight mile, which was completely relaid when the grandstand was rebuilt 15 years ago and drains rather better than the round course. That could accommodate all but the King Edward VII Stakes and the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, both of which are run over a mile-and-a-half.
And if there is no way to race today, it might be possible to run a 10-race card on Saturday, which would include the Commonwealth Cup, Coronation Stakes and King Edward VII Stakes from today’s card. With rain forecast to continue at least sporadically until the early hours of the morning, however, there is an obvious possibility that the track will remain unraceable on Saturday.
Updated
Oh dear, we need an Option 4
If Ascot is off today - hardly a certainty they race tomorrow either.
— 𝙳𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚝 (@david_stewart) June 18, 2021
Heavy rain still forecast right up to midnight #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/orCt3UHSSj
The Press Association reporter is taking shelter in his jalopy in the car park ... where none of the traditional picnics are taking place!
Grim in the car park @Ascot pic.twitter.com/WjKuz8Itg5
— PA Racing (@PAracing) June 18, 2021
Ascot contingency plans published
There are three options currently open at the moment.
1) Racing goes ahead as planned today (inspection 12.45pm)
2) Racing goes ahead on the straight course with a five-race card including the Coronation Stakes moved to the straight track (two lost races rescheduled to tomorrow)
3) Racing is abandoned today and there will be a 10-race card tomorrow including the Coronation Stakes, Commonwealth Cup and King Edward VII Stakes. If option three is activated, all ten races will be shown on ITV.
Provisional Order of Running for Saturday ten-race card:
1.20pm Chesham
1.55pm Hardwicke
2.30pm Commonwealth Cup
3.05pm Coronation Stakes
3.40pm Diamond Jubilee Stakes
4.20pm Jersey Stakes
5.00pm King Edward VII Stakes
5.35pm Wokingham
6.10pm Golden Gates
6.45pm Queen Alexandra
If option two is activated, the nine-race card will be shown on ITV and the exact order of running would follow.
Updated
And the likeliest scenario right now it seems is a ten-race card on Saturday ...
I’ve had a rubbish week on the tipping front but looking at conditions here right now I suspect we’re heavily odds-on to be watching a ten-race card @Ascot tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/3LHrQrpitf
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 18, 2021
Plans under discussion are for straight-course only races today at Ascot or a ten-race card tomorrow
#RoyalAscot #inspection: if racing off today will be the first time at the Royal meeting since waterlogging of 1964; contingencies revolve around races on straight course-only today or 10-race programme, Saturday (saving group-level races)
— Cornelius Lysaght (@CorneliusRacing) June 18, 2021
Inspection set for 12.45pm
Official at Ascot will inspect the course at 12.45 to decide whether the fourth day of the Royal meeting can proceed as planned, after “torrential” rain from Thursday evening changed the going from good-to-firm to soft by 7am this morning.
“Following 26mm of rain since racing yesterday and with a few false patches of ground which means the ability to race may be marginal,” the course said in a statement on Twitter, “an inspection has been called for 12.45. We are also looking at options to re-align the rail to avoid these areas.”
An uncertain weather forecast for the next few hours is also causing concern, with showers, some of which could be heavy, possible throughout the afternoon.
The change in the ground has already had an impact on the fields for Friday’s two Group One contests, with Clive Cox deciding to scratch Supremacy and Diligent Harry from the Commonwealth Cup (3.40) while Primo Bacio is a non-runner in the Coronation Stakes at 4.20.
Predictable ... and the ground is going to be pretty desperate if the meeting does get the go-ahead
GOING CHANGE ☔
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 18, 2021
The going at Ascot has now changed to soft, heavy in places pic.twitter.com/ZbiHOUGhgi
Hugh Taylor of At The Races is a shrewd punter and his analysis of this situation is ... it’s too close to call and will be down to the weather gods.
heavy rain in Guildford for last 15 minutes that radar suggests is heading towards Ascot. Radar does suggest just showers after that band has passed through, so probably depends on how it takes that band
— Hugh Taylor (@HughRacing) June 18, 2021
It’s a fluid situation ... inspection now set for 12.45pm ... and the betting is now 1/2 that the meeting will be off ... Ascot clerk of course Chris Stickels has also said: “We are going to realign [the areas of track I am not comfortable with] and by moving the rail I would be pretty hopeful, assuming we don’t get much rain. However, we are forecast further showers, some heavy and thundery, which doesn’t help us.”
The @Ascot inspection will now take place at 12.45pm.
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 18, 2021
Clerk of the course Chris Stickels says: "We have found areas of the track I'm not comfortable with, one bit being down the hill and another turning into the straight."
Updated
Officials are reported to be discussing contingency plans now in case they have to abandon today’s meeting.
Updated
Inspection set for Royal Ascot
Update: there will be an inspection at 12.30pm today to see if today’s meeting can go ahead at Royal Ascot. More details to follow ...
A 12.30pm inspection is to take place @Ascot to determine if the fourth day of the royal meeting can take place.
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 18, 2021
Areas of the track - including down the hill and on the home turn - are giving clerk Chris Stickels cause for concern.
More to follow on https://t.co/cuP9ySCVYv
Updated
It’s on a knife edge with Betfair – now 5/6 the meeting is off ... and 5/6 the meeting goes ahead!
Will Ascot go ahead today? 5/6 your pick - pic.twitter.com/wxPxGbbMI5
— Barry Orr (@BetfairBarry) June 18, 2021
Updated
These horses won’t be running whatever the conditions later (thanks to the Sporting Life website for the update)
3.05 4 Gloucestershire
3.40 2 Diligent Harry 8 Method 10 Saint Lawrence 11 Supremacy 20 Sacred
4.20 11 Primo Bacio
5.00 2 Illykato 8 Mamba Wamba 9 Ready To Venture 17 Lucid Dreamer 23 Rising Star 24 Beheld 28 Riknnah 29 Companionship
5.35 7 Pirate King 10 Tyson Fury 15 Grand Bazaar 16 Lost Eden
6.10 9 Get It 18 Noorban
Updated
It’s damp ... and there’s a lot more precipitation in the forecast so hold on to your hats ... especially if you’re heading for the Royal Enclosure where headwear is compulsory
Rain now falling again at Ascot.
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) June 18, 2021
Good morning ... are we heading for a 1964 situation? That year Royal Ascot was truncated after heavy rain forced the abandonment of the final two days of what was then a four-day meeting. That is certainly the concern after torrential rain last night forced Ascot into announcing that an inspection could be on the way this morning. Stay here – we’ll keep you posted.
Found on @guardian - the first & last time Royal Ascot was abandoned due to the waterlogged course.
— Jess Stafford (@jess_stafford_) June 18, 2021
Let’s keep our fingers crossed it will remain like that 🤞🏻 pic.twitter.com/oDRkzyRwfO
Preamble
Ascot could hold an inspection of the course before the start of racing on Friday, the fourth day of the Royal meeting, after more than 20mm of rain from Thursday evening changed the going to soft, with more rain forecast to fall throughout the day.
The ground was good-to-firm for the first two days of the meeting, while Chris Stickels, the clerk of the course, applied around 4mm of water to the entire track on Tuesday evening to maintain it at that description. After 2.4mm of rain on Wednesday evening, the turf was still good-to-firm for the Gold Cup card, but the drenching since the last race on Thursday has seen a rapid deterioration.
“We’re just about to go and walk it now with the stewards, which is a standard course of action anyway at this time of day,” Stickels told ITV Racing just before 10am. “But obviously we’ll just monitor the conditions. As we speak, I understand that water is starting to puddle out there in the odd place … so we just need to go and have a look at that. It’s been torrential, really.
“I had another quick look at 7.30am and by then we’d had 20mm since yesterday. I haven’t been to the rain gauge since but it’s been pretty steady since then and conditions will continue to deteriorate. I should think it’s quite likely now [that there will be an inspection]. Unless it stops and improves by the time we get out there and look at it, I think we probably will need to have an inspection.”
Updated
