A changing of the guard
So farewell to another Royal Ascot, the 2021 version an infinite improvement in terms of atmosphere on the ‘behind-closed-doors’ version last year. This year the midsummer Flat highlight was refreshing for the diversity of winners from a variety of stables but after his rollercoaster day on Friday, Oisin Murphy went on today to cement his position as leading jockey for the week and was the first winner other than Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Johnny Murtagh to grab the riding glory at the Royal meeting since 2007. After landing the jockeys’ championship last season it looks as if we are seeing a changing of the guard ... see you all next year.
Congratulations to @oismurphy on his first #RoyalAscot Top Jockey title! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/lpNFUBHdtd
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2021
Updated
Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm) result
1 Stratum (R L Moore) 4-1
2 Calling The Wind (David Egan) 40-1
3 The Grand Visir (R Kingscote) 17-2
15 ran
Also: 7-4 Fav Falcon Eight, 9-2 Stag Horn 4th
Non Runners: 1,2,10,11,13
Willie Mullins arrives at Royal @Ascot just in time!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2021
Stratum and Ryan Moore absolutely hack up in the Queen Alexandra #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/8M9w4LHep3
Updated
Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm)
And they’re off ... Barbados and Stag Horn among the leaders early with favourite Falcon Eight in midfield ... Green Book is just behind the leaders ... Stag Horn takes it up from Green Book with Who Dares Wins in third ... a circuit to go and well strung out in this marathon test ... Calling The Wind is in fourth with Barbados also still up there among the leaders ... Morando is in fifth with The Grand Visir just behind and Falcon Eight is second last ... Stag Horn has lead all the way ... and they have six furlongs to go ... Falcon Eight makes his move ... Stag Horn and Green Book are at the front ... Falcon Eight has a lot to do ... Calling The Wind is challenged by Stratum who begins to power clear and Ryan Moore will end the week on a winner with Stratum, a convincing winner.
Updated
Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm) betting
- Falcon Eight 9/4
- Stratum 4/1
- Stag Horn 9/2
- Morando 15/2
- The Grand Visir 15/2
- Barbados 14/1
- Who Dares Wins 18/1
- Green Book 40/1
- Calling the Wind 40/1
- Global Heat 40/1
- Cleonte 50/1
- To Be Wild 80/1
- Single 100/1
- Table Mountain 100/1
- Monete 150/1
- Full betting via Oddschecker here
Updated
Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm) preview
The Queen Alexandra Stakes – the longest Flat race in the calendar - has been the odd-one-out at the Royal meeting for years, and the track even tried to ease it off the schedule a quarter of a century or so ago, prompting a concerted, and ultimately successful, campaign to preserve it. But like the two-and-a-half mile Ascot Stakes Handicap on Tuesday, it has taken on a new lease of life in recent years as a result of the growing strength of the jumping game, in Ireland in particular.
Nicky Henderson, Alan King, Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins are among the jumps-oriented trainers to have saddle the winner in recent years, and Mullins (Stratum) and King (Who Dares Wins) both have fancied runners today. The favourite, though, is Dermot Weld’s Falcon Eight, bidding to give the trainer his 18th Royal Ascot winner, no less than 48 years after his first success here with Klairvimy in the King Edward VII Stakes in 1973. Frankie Dettori keeps the ride on Falcon Eight after a riding masterclass to win the Chester Cup in May, and while this is an even sterner test of his stamina, Falcon Eight’s class may well be enough to pull him through.
Selection: FALCON EIGHT
Updated
Congratulation to Oisin Murphy on his triumph as leading jockey at Royal Ascot
Congratulations @oismurphy 🏆
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 19, 2021
Watch LIVE
📺 @ITV4
📱 https://t.co/HGM9TtXkhB#ITVRacing #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/5m6rCOY5hI
Indeed! For those who don’t remember Ile de Chypre veering across the track like Foxes Tales here you go
Thought we were going to have another Ile de Chypre moment there…
— Tony Coleman (@RuaTrindade) June 19, 2021
Golden Gate Handicap (5.35pm) result
1 Foxes Tales (Oisin Murphy) 13-2
2 Visualisation (D P McDonogh) 16-1
3 Irish Legend (C T Keane) 22-1
14 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav King Frankel 4th
Non Runners: 1,5,16
Lest is be forgotten that’s another winner for Greg Wood our tipster who has had an excellent week.
Updated
Golden Gate Handicap (5.35pm)
And they’re off ... King Frankel gets out fast with Stay Well ... Foxes Tales is last ... Fantastic Fox is free in the lead ... King Frankel challenges ... Foxes Tales now burst through, veers left but wins with ease. Oisin Murphy celebrates ... knowing he will now be leading jockey at Royal Ascot.
It’s @oismurphy as #RoyalAscot2021 leading jockey!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2021
Foxes Tales veers dramatically late but wins the Golden Gates for @AndrewBalding2 🥇 pic.twitter.com/7UnqraBIUR
Updated
Golden Gate Handicap (5.35pm) betting
- King Frankel 5/1
- Fantastic Fox 5/1
- Alfaadhel 6/1
- Foxes Tales 13/2
- Seasett 13/2
- Baton Rouge 14/1
- Pythagoras 16/1
- River Alwen 16/1
- Visualisation 16/1
- Glentaneous 20/1
- Without Revenge 20/1
- Irish Legend 25/1
- Stay Well 25/1
- Sir Rumi 33/1
- Full betting vis Oddschecker here
The July Cup at Newmarket promises the be quite some race next month
8-1 Rohaan July Cup if you supplement @chriskiely500 ! https://t.co/v4JV7El8fZ
— James (@jamesaknight) June 19, 2021
Golden Gate Handicap (5.35pm) preview
The 34th of the 35 races at Royal Ascot is never likely to be one of the highlights and there are several non-runners too on account of the ground, but this is still a competitive heat with no fewer than five of the runners vying for favouritism at around 6-1. That includes the mounts of Frankie Dettori (King Frankel) and Oisin Murphy (Foxes Tales) and so this race could yet prove to be a pivotal moment in the race for the top jockey prize.
Alfaadhel, whose trainer, Roger Varian, has been very quiet so far this week, and his stable companion Fantastic Fox have obvious chances too while Ben Curtis has a fair chance of getting off the mark for the meeting on Seasett, but Foxes Tales will do for me with Murphy taking the reins after Silvestre de Sousa opted for Fantastic Fox. He was eight lengths in front of Alfaadhel in a maiden at Newbury in April, and while Alfaadhel has since improved markedly on that debut run, he is giving 5lb to Foxes Tales here.
Selection: FOXES TALES
Wokingham Handicap (5pm) result
1 Rohaan (S W Kelly) 8-1
2 Fresh (K Shoemark) 15-2
3 King’s Lynn (R L Moore) 3-1 Fav
4 Chiefofchiefs (J P Spencer) 14-1
21 ran
Non Runners: 2,8,10,19,23,25,26,28,29
Trainer David Evans, who has been around forever, and has his first Royal Ascot winner, has a glint in his eye and is being cheeky when he says to Rishi Persad that “he’s six out of ten in terms of excitement”. Evans said: “It’s hard to believe it’s happened. I couldn’t really see till the last 100 yards. It’s a stupid rule [he couldn’t race in the Commonwealth Cup]. The July Cup would be the plan.”
Updated
Wokingham Handicap (5pm)
And they’re off ... Air Raid and Desert Safari are away fast ... Punchbowl Flyer is there ... Hey Jonesy running well ... Rohaan arrives late to win well. King’s Lynn, the Queen’s horse, got into all sorts of trouble again but the winner deserved that coming from last to first and winning in style.
What a ride that was from Shane Kelly! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/QIJ8HaiUvZ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2021
Updated
King’s Lynn, not surprisingly if you’ve been following these jottings all week, is being very well backed to give the Queen a winner in the Wokingham Stakes next.
King’s Lynn could supply Her Majesty The Queen’s 25th #RoyalAscot winner in the Wokingham Stakes. pic.twitter.com/9aKEXCkXPZ
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2021
Wokingham Handicap (5pm) betting
- Kings Lynn 11/4
- Fresh 7/1
- Pendleton 9/1
- Rohaan 8/1
- Ropey Guest 10/1
- Punchbowl Flyer 14/1
- Chiefofchiefs 14/1
- Mr Lupton 14/1
- Aberama Gold 16/1
- Gulliver 18/1
- Air Raid 28/1
- Indigo Balance 28/1
- Danzeno 28/1
- Hey Jonesy 33/1
- Lampang 33/1
- Desert Safari 40/1
- Snazzy Jazzy 40/1
- Raaeb 50/1
- Zargun 50/1
- Barbill 66/1
- Above 66/1
- Full betting via Oddschecker here
Updated
Wokingham Handicap (5pm) preview
The Wokingham is never a race to approach with anything but an expectation that you will end up wondering why you bothered, but a soft-ground Wokingham on turf that may have started to dry out a little – always the worst kind at this track – is about as trappy as it gets. But that will not stop any of us trying to find the winner, and all eyes will be on King’s Lynn, in the royal colours, not least now that the Queen herself has made her first visit of the week. Many punters will see this as her way of tipping the regal wink to her loyal subjects that King’s Lynn is “expected”, as they say, and having run exceptionally well to finish seventh, less than three lengths behind the winner Oxted, in the King’s Stand Stakes here on Tuesday, he certainly looks like a blot on the handicap. On very different ground, though, and just four days after such a huge effort at Group One level, a price of around 4-1 seems ridiculous against a field with its typical mix of hardened handicappers and progressive youngster, several of whom could ultimately prove to be every bit as “thrown in” as the favourite.
On that basis, I’m quite keen on the claims of Fresh (he’s by Bated Breath out of Kendal Mint), from the James Fanshawe yard. He was a course-and-distance winner last time out despite having to weave his way through from an unpromising position, has plenty of scope for improvement after just nine starts and his trainer knows just what it takes to win at this track and trip, having landed both the Wokingham and Diamond Jubilee (twice) in the last 10 years.
Selection: FRESH
Updated
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm) result
1 Dream Of Dreams (R L Moore) 3-1 Fav
2 Glen Shiel (Hollie Doyle) 7-1
3 Art Power (S De Sousa) 7-2
12 ran
Also: 20-1 Happy Power 4th
Non Runners: 3,10
Dream Of Dreams wins the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at the third attempt for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/OOvGqCNFf8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2021
Updated
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm)
And they’re off ... Dream Of Dreams very quickly away with Glen Shiel ... Art Power is also prominent ... Final Song is there and Glen Shiel is being pushed along ... Dream of Dreams is gaining ... Dream of Dreams finally gets there to win after two seconds in the race.
“Any winner here is a great thrill,” says Sir Michael Stoute, an outstanding trainer renowned for giving very little away after a race. Dream of Dreams is now 5-1 favourite for the July Cup at Newmarket.
Updated
Climate change protesters disrupted racing at Royal Ascot on Saturday after chaining themselves to the running rail by the winning post after the opening contest.
Updated
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm) betting
- Dream Of Dreams 3/1
- Naharr 3/1
- Art Power 9/2
- Glen Shiel 7/1
- Sonaiyla 12/1
- Happy Power 16/1
- Ventura Rebel 20/1
- Final Song 33/1
- Summerghand 33/1
- Royal Commando 33/1
- Namos 40/1
- Garrus 66/1
- Full betting here via Oddschecker
Updated
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm) preview
The final Group One of the meeting and what may well be the final chance for Dream Of Dreams to get this race on his cv, having finished a close second in the last two runnings. It won’t do anything for his stud value as he has long since been a gelding, but it would be very satisfying for Ryan Moore, who arrived a split-second too late behind Hello Youmzain 12 months ago. That form gives him an obvious chance on ground that should not be an issue, but he has run some stinkers over this course and distance too, including when setting off as the 3-1 favourite for the Sprint on Champions Day last year.
That race was won by Glen Shiel, famously giving Hollie Doyle her first win at Group One level, and Archie Watson’s gelding will definitely appreciate the rain as he attempts to give the trainer a decent consolation prize after losing the Commonwealth Cup in the stewards’ room on Friday. Starman, who would have surely started favourite had the rain not arrived, is a non-runner, but Nahaarr and Art Power are also live contenders for a very open renewal.
Selection: GLEN SHIEL
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) result
1 Wonderful Tonight (W Buick) 5-1
2 Broome (R L Moore) 9-4 Fav
3 Hukum (Jim Crowley) 8-1
10 ran
Also: 40-1 Thunderous 4th
Winning trainer David Menuisier said of his impressive winner: “She’s only 85% fit today and to have my first Royal Ascot winner is a thrill. She will go where the ground is the softest with the ultimate aim the Arc.” Wonderful Tonight is 12-1 from 20-1 for the King George back at Ascot.
Updated
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm)
And they’re off ... Albaflora and Wonderful Tonight are out fast ... Broome is in midfield ... Deja and Highest ground at the rear ... Sir Ron Priestley now takes the lead ... Thunderous and Hukum are just behind ... Wonderful Tonight and Broome just behind ... Wonderful Tonight has taken off and shot into the lead ... and powers home for an impressive win.
Smashing filly! Wonderful Tonight puts in a sensational performance to win the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes for @DavidMenuisier and William Buick at Royal @Ascot pic.twitter.com/HgX9QfYDyl
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2021
Updated
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) betting
- Broome 11/4
- Illaraab 4/1
- Wonderful Tonight 11/2
- Albaflora 7/1
- Hukum 8/1
- Japan 10/1
- Highest Ground 18/1
- Sir Ron Priestly 18/1
- Thunderous 40/1
- Deja 50/1
- Full betting via Oddschecker here
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40pm) preview
John Gosden scratched Logician, the 2019 St Leger winner, this morning while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mogul and Tiger Moth were both taken out on Friday, but Ballydoyle still has two fancied runners in this in the shape of Broome and Japan. The latter is a Group One winner while Broome has always come up short at the highest level, but he was only a short-head away from a maiden Group One win at the Curragh last time and looks more likely to be suited by today’s testing ground.
Wonderful Tonight, who gave David Menuisier his first Group One success in the Fillies’ & Mares’ race on Champions Day, is another very live contender, while Ilaraab, the winner of handicaps off 84, 90, 95 and 104 on his last four starts, is another up-and-comer with possibilities if he handles the ground.
Selection: BROOME
Some news about this year’s Derby winner from the Charlie Appleby camp after their victory in the Jersey Stakes there:
Charlie Appleby confirms to ITV that Derby winner Adayar remains on course for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at @Ascot next month.
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) June 19, 2021
Updated
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) result
1 Creative Force (James Doyle) 5-1 Jt Fav
2 Naval Crown (W Buick) 5-1 Jt Fav
3 Vadream (J P Spencer) 28-1
18 ran
Non Runner: 3
Trainer Charlie Appleby, who trained the first two home, said: “I worked them together [recently]and I don’t want to doing that again - they are both so genuine. [Stable jockey] William Buick [who chose the second-placed runner] had a hard choice. The Prix Maurice de Gheest for the pair of them would be on the menu and then head to the Saudi Sprint in the winter.”
Updated
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm)
And they’re off ...Naval Crown and Memento lead in one group ... Creative Force and Mutasaabeq and Storm Damage in the other group ... Creative Force and Naval Crown are fighting it out with Rhythm Master fighting hard but Creative Force wins.
Creative Force finishes ahead of Naval Crown for a @godolphin 1-2 in the Jersey Stakes! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/5uDyBiYu00
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2021
Updated
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) betting
- Creative Force 11/2
- Mutasaabeq 13/2
- Naval Crown 15/2
- Khartoum 8/1
- Storm Damage 10/1
- Tactical 12/1
- Light Refrain 16/1
- Bellosa 16/1
- Fundamental 18/1
- Mehmento 18/1
- New Mandate 18/1
- Fast Raaj 22/1
- Rhythm Master 25/1
- Vadream 25/1
- Nando Parrado 40/1
- Legion Of Honour 50/1
- Spycatcher 70/1
- Great King 100/1
- Full betting via Oddschecker here.
Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) preview
A fairly typical renewal of the Jersey Stakes, with beaten horses from the 2,000 Guineas dropping back in trip to tackle some lightly-raced types that skirted around the Classics. Mutasaabeq, who lost his unbeaten record when only seventh at Newmarket, did not settle there and should be suited by this stiff seven, but for all that he won his novice on heavy ground, his last two starts have been on good-to-firm and the deep stuff at Ascot tends to be a different test entirely.
Creative Force, who progressed from handicapping to win a Listed race at Newbury in May, has also yet to see ground this testing, though it is a sign of his standing at the Charlie Appleby stable that he was sent to the Royal meeting for the Coventry Stakes last year. Khartoum, who started the season with entries in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the Irish Derby but ended up winning a handicap at Naas in mid-May, is Aidan O’Brien’s only runner, while Naval Crown, another Appleby runner, is also unproven on the ground.
With Ace Aussie, the outsider I’d tipped each-way, now a non-runner, the percentage call is probably Mutasaabeq at around 7-1 to give a boost to the Guineas form but this is as open as a handicap.
Selection: MUTASAABEQ
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) result
1 Point Lonsdale (R L Moore) 10-11 Fav
2 Reach For The Moon (L Dettori) 11-1
3 Great Max (James Doyle) 15-2
10 ran
Also: 16-1 Sweeping 4th
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said of the wining colt, who is a best-priced 20-1 for the 2,000 Guineas with Paddy Power and Betfair: “He’s very brave. He’s typical of a colt by Australia – he keeps his head low. He’s very smart – for a horse bred to be a middle-distance horse he has always shown a lot of speed. He’ll come back to the Curragh for something like the Futurity [and is in all big two-year-old races].”
Updated
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm)
And they’re off ... Withering slowly away with Sweeping leading early ... Reach For The Moon and Masakela are on the far side alone ... Reach For The Moon is challenged by New Science with Point Lonsdale trying to get there ... Point Lonsdale may have got there. He has ... by a neck or so from the Queen’s runner.
Point Lonsdale just edges ahead of Reach For The Moon to win the Chesham Stakes
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 19, 2021
A great battle to the line but the royal runner was denied
Watch LIVE
📺 @ITV
📱 https://t.co/fJXuj4d6h6#ITVRacing #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/18orTXodKk
Updated
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) betting
- Point Lonsdale 5/4
- Masekela 5/1
- New Science 7/1
- Great Max 17/2
- Reach For the Moon 9/1
- Sweeping 14/1
- Withering 40/1
- Radio Caroline 40/1
- Out In Yorkshire 50/1
- Sharp Combo 66/1
- Full betting via Oddschecker here
Queen's Hat Stakes (2pm) result
1 Green 3-1 fav
Updated
It’s the Queen’s Hat Stakes imminently ... they’re in the stalls ...
Size of the crowd around paddock suggests a special visit imminent on @itvracing… pic.twitter.com/OVolHPqx3f
— Ed Chamberlin (@chamberlinsport) June 19, 2021
Updated
The amazing story of Nando Parrado, one of the 16 survivors of the Andes mountains in 1972, was recounted on ITV. The horse named after him runs in the Jersey Stakes at 3.05pm.
"I haven't stopped laughing in the last 48 years, I shouldn't be here"
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 19, 2021
The story of how a 150-1 Coventry Stakes winner got his name, told by the man who lent it to him - Nando Parrado
Watch LIVE
📺 @ITV
📱 https://t.co/fJXuj4d6h6#ITVRacing #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/pQfYFk0ZEh
More non-runners with the ground changing since declaration time 48 hours ago
3.05 Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
No 3 Ace Aussie
5.35 Golden Gates Handicap
No 1 Isle of Sark
No 16 Dingle
6.10 Queen Alexandra Stakes
No 10 Kloud Gate
The full list is updated throughout the day here.
Updated
Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) preview
Aidan O’Brien’s cat will be arranging to leave the country for a few weeks if Point Lonsdale fails to justify favouritism here. The son of Australia is around 6-4 to follow up his effortless success in a maiden at the Curragh 16 days ago and give his trainer only his second winner at the meeting. His chance is obvious, and O’Brien has run some very useful sorts in this Listed event over the years, including the subsequent Group One winners Churchill and Maybe, but there are enough opponents that have shown a similar level of form in their limited careers to date to pass him over at such short odds.
New Science, an easy winner on good-to-soft ground at Yarmouth on debut, is an obvious contender, and so too Masekela, another colt with one run and one win on the board. Unlike the other two, he is stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time here but he is bred to get at least this far – and significantly further next year – and represents an operation in blinding form in Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.
Selection: MASEKALA
James Knight, trading director at Coral, is lively on Twitter and even though it might be a case of “off with his head” he asks a very pertinent question concerning Her Majesty
I'm sure there is a reason involving the Queen coming and going or something, but why can't Royal Ascot start earlier each day? The revised seven race cards and programme have been brilliant, but no-one wants a 6.10pm finish every day?
— James (@jamesaknight) June 19, 2021
Queen's Hat Stakes (2pm)
The Queen is back at Ascot today and the traditional betting markets have opened for the colour of her headwear. Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral and bet365 are reportedly all offering odds. Pink, blue and green have all opened up as favourite with different firms, report BestofBets.com. If you want a form guide they tell me the monarch has worn blue and pink numbers an impressive 57% of times on the first day of Royal Ascot since 2005 and this will be her first appearance this week. Get your money on for the ‘opening’ event.
- 3/1 Green
- 4/1 Blue,
- 5/1 Pink,
- 6/1 Yellow
- 6/1 Red,
- 8/1 Orange
- 8/1 Purple
- 10/1 Cream/White
- 12/1 Silver
- 14/1 Gold
- 20/1 Brown
- 25/1 Black
- Ladbrokes betting
Updated
Here’s the horses who have decided the squelchy stuff underfoot is not for them or have reported in sick
Non-runners list (and it’s long)
3.40pm Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
1 Bangkok (Going)
8 Logician (Going)
9 Mogul (Going)
10 Pablo Escobarr (Going)
13 Tiger Moth (Going)
4.20pm Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
3 Emaraaty Ana (Going)
10 Starman (Going)
5.00pm Wokingham Handicap
2 Chil Chil (Going)
28 Count Otto (Going)
19 Edraak (Going)
25 Fleeting Prince (Going)
29 Great Ambassador (Going)
10 Lexington Dash (Going)
23 Repartree (Going)
26 Streamline (Going)
8 Tis Marvellous (Going)
5.35pm Golden Gates Handicap
5 Tamborrada (Going)
6.10pm Queen Alexandra Stakes
11 Lethal Steps (Going)
13 Scaramanga (Self Cert - Going)
1 Withhold (Going)
It’s going to be pretty demanding out there on the track this afternoon but at least this should be a quieter day for Chris Stickels, the clerk of the course at Ascot after yesterday’s drama with an unexpected lunchtime inspection.
The going for day five of Royal Ascot is ‘Soft, Heavy in places’. Stickels reported: “We had 44mm of rain yesterday, but it has been dry since 10pm last night. It is going to be a generally dry but overcast day. We may get a possible occasional shower later.”
Chris Stickels with the final Going report of #RoyalAscot 2021! pic.twitter.com/YrTMXu1F8N
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2021
Preamble
By my reckoning – and it’s been known to go awry – it is 18 years since Aidan O’Brien reached the final day of Royal Ascot with so little to celebrate. In 2003, he blanked at the entire meeting, but in every year since, he has had at least two wins on the board before the final afternoon. But not this year, when Love’s win in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday is all that Ballydoyle has to show for its considerable efforts this week.
O’Brien has some fair chances at the top of today’s card but this has not been a meeting to remember either for the master of Ballydoyle or Ryan Moore, his No 1 rider, who has also just the win on Love to his name.
Moore has plenty of big runners today – so many, in fact, that he is still only 14-1 to be the meeting’s leading rider despite trailing Oisin Murphy by three winners and Frankie Dettori by two. Five of his seven rides, in fact, are expected to start at 9-2 or shorter, including Dream Of Dreams, the favourite for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at 4.20pm (all times BST).
But overall, his current tally reflects the fact that this has been a good meeting for some of the weighing room’s grafters and up-and-comers, with Cieren Fallon, Gary Carroll, Laura Pearson, Clifford Lee, Marco Ghiani, Ben Coen, Hector Crouch and Jason Hart all registering a first winner at the meeting over the first four days. Among the trainers, meanwhile, David Loughnane and Johnny Murtagh have both got off the mark, leaving Joseph O’Brien as perhaps the most high-profile trainer still looking for a Royal success (he has two chances today, Isle Of Sark and Visualisation in the Golden Gates Handicap at 5.35pm).
The weather news from Ascot is that it has been dry at the track since 10pm on Friday night, following the epic downpour – 44mm – which arrived earlier in the day and at one point put the racing in serious doubt. The official going is soft, heavy in places – the first furlong of the straight mile and, as ever, Swinley Bottom are particularly testing according to the Weathertrax map.
The action is under way at 2.30pm, tips for the final afternoon are here and more in-depth previews of all seven races will be along as the day unfolds.
