Well Day Three of Royal Ascot was an absolute classic, you couldn't help but feel that Sir Henry was looking down on the racing. First of all America got their first Royal Ascot 2013 win with No Nay Never for Wesley Ward in emphatic style. Thirty five minutes later Riposte gave Lady Cecil the win everyone wanted leaving not one dry eye in the house. It was only fitting that Tom Queally rode the winner in the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah, what a brilliant tribute to Sir Henry. As if that wasn't enough, Estimate out battled Simenon and Top Trip to win the Gold Cup in the Royal colours of The Queen.
The day could hardly have started slower for No Nay Never as he walked out of the stalls giving away a couple of lengths to his rivals. He soon put that right with an electric burst of early speed and found himself in front 50 yards later on. Joel Rosario was just niggling along on his mount and was headed for a while, but No Nay Never quickened again in awesome style to win by a length. To make the victory all the more impressive, No Nay Never didn't just win after missing the start, he also broke the 2 year old track record. Back in second was the favourite from Ballydoyle, Coach House who ran very well but didn't have the pace to go with the winner late on. Wind Fire ran a blinder to come third but today was all about the rapid No Nay Never.
One of the most emotional wins in Royal Ascot history occurred in this years Ribblesdale as Lady Cecil's filly Riposte came late to win. This comes just over a week since the great Sir Henry Cecil lost his battle with cancer and was important to all at Warren Place. She looks to have a nice future after quickening well off a slow pace and had the race put to bed shortly after the 2 furlong pole for Tom Queally. Just Pretending gave chase in second but Ballydoyle were forced to settle for another runner up spot with Elik just behind in third. Winsili went off favourite after Alive Alive Oh and The Lark were both non runners, she could only manage fourth however. Ascot was left a wash with tears as everyone came together to celebrate the win of Riposte for Lady Cecil.
Next we had an epic over the 2 and a half mile Gold Cup distance. Around the two furlong marker, Estimate, Simenon and Top Trip clashed to battle to the line, but it was the Queen's horse Estimate that came out on top by a neck. Simenon ran with credit in second and rumours are he could be Melbourne Cup bound for Willie Mullins. Top Trip eventually faded back into third but only a length behind Simenon and two lengths clear of Colour Vision. Our selection, Model Pupil ran a good race but just didn't have the late pace yet still plugged on for seventh. Another year on his back and he will be a serious contender. The highlight of this race will always be the scene's of the Queen jumping for joy with a smile from ear to ear cheering home her horse. A great day for racing!
Roca Tumu battled his way to landing the Brittania Stakes, fighting off Godolphin's Tarkini under Silvestre De Sousa. The Joanna Morgan trained horse prevailed by a length with a further half a length back to Queensbury Rules for Ryan Moore. Our selection Wentworth was staying on late in the day but couldn't reach the leaders, in the end doing no better than fourth.
John Gosden got his first winner of the week as Remote ran out a very impressive winner of the Tercentenary with a strong late run. William Buick had left plenty of work to do turning for home with Chopin holding him against the rail, eventually the opening came. He began to storm down the outside and claimed Windhoek and Van Der Neer inside the last furlong to win well. Shikarpour ran on strongly to get second under Christophe Lemaire and no doubt will be winning Group races soon enough. Van Der Neer acquitted himself nicely over the longer trip, but looks to have been beaten by two real top class individuals losing nothing in defeat.
Elidor sprang a bit of a surprise and in the process lost his maiden tag under a delighted Martin Harley for his boss Mick Channon. It wasn't the strongest pace and many were finishing strongly late on, Bold Sniper and Space Ship were never nearer than on the line. They finished 3rd and 2nd respectively and should both be winning a similar contest soon enough down the line. Our selection was Number One London who was being ridden along turning for home but not losing ground and with a small chance. That chance disappeared when becoming the pinball between a few horses and faded to third last.
Once again Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. He may also be running a Swoop at the weekend so feel free to enter that through twitter. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Luke -1.67 George -3
2:30 - Sandiva Joyeuse
3:05 - Mutashaded Battle Of Marengo
3:45 - Viztoria Sky Lantern
4:25 - Bana Wu Labarinto
5:00 - Nearly Caught Leading Light
5:35 - Campanology Smarty Socks
For the first time Luke takes the lead this week, and the crowd go wild!! I shall keep premature celebrations to a minimum. We have a tough day of racing to get through and our preview starts right now.
Royal Ascot - Albany Stakes - Sandiva
Newfangled was a very impressive winner of this race last year, unfortunately she was fatally injured in her next run when having the world at her feet. Another smart filly lines up here today though with Sandiva, from the in form Richard Fahey yard in the hands of Frankie Dettori. She is unbeaten in two visits to the racecourse winning impressively both times, once at Nottingham and once at Naas. Her first win was very much an introduction to racing for her as she was horribly green and Tom Eaves nursed her home, still winning comfortably. Next time out she was stepped up to 6 furlongs which bought about more improvement and in a much better race. It shows how highly connections rate her to send her over to Ireland to run in a listed race, beating a much more experience Heart Focus. Fig Roll was third in that race and she ran a very good fourth in the Queen Mary earlier in the week when a selection on here. Richard Fahey can finally get a winner on the board after a whole host of second's here with Sandiva. (5/2)
1st - Sandiva
2nd - Joyeuse
3rd - Wedding Ring
Royal Ascot - King Edward VII Stakes - Mutashaded
I was absolutely devastated yesterday to find that the price on Mutashaded had gone, due to that pesky Pricewise putting him up as a selection. It looks a pretty weak King Edward VII headed by Derby Disappointment Battle Of Marengo and other horses that must improve against him. But it is clear that we haven't even scratched the surface of quite how good Mutashaded is, and he is held in high regard by Roger Varian. Like Sandiva he has only ran twice which makes him very less experienced than his rivals, but also very unexposed against them. On debut Mutashaded ran a little green and was also outpaced, but in testing ground he quickened nicely to score by a comfortable length and a quarter. It is also worth noting that he opened up in the betting at 5/1 and was consequently backed in to 9/4. He then took the winter off as he is a big horse and probably needed a little time to grow into himself, but then in May returned at Sandown off a mark of 79. He made fairly easy work of it when asked to quicken, but it looked nothing more than a prep run as he was already entered here. On that run, the step up to a mile and a half looks perfect for him and more improvement is expected. Mutashaded to turn over Battle Of Marengo. (8/1)
1st - Mutashaded
2nd - Battle Of Marengo
3rd - Tha'ir
Royal Ascot - Coronation Stakes - Viztoria and Agent Allison
Viztoria looks like a horse that is dying to run on faster ground which she will get here today after a pipe opener at The Curragh. That remains her only run as a three year old after looking promising as a two year old when winning two from three races. Her only defeat came at Maisons-Laffitte in France in a Group two when second to the classy Penny Pictures. Other than that defeat she has looked potentially top class in all three other runs, winning easily on each occasion, and will relish the step up to a mile today. Her only start as a three year old came in a Group 3 at The Curragh when carrying a pound overweight and still beating her elders. The form of the race may not have worked out well with only Moonstone Magic back in third winning next time out, but she looked a class above them. Viztoria looks an exciting horse and we could see her at her best over a mile and can take this race today. (11/1)
Also a quick mention for Agent Allison who is a huge price after a disappointing run in the 1000 Guineas when not really handling Newmarket. She is worth another chance after running a good race at Newbury the time before when slow away to come second behind Maureen. Jim Crowley takes the ride. (66/1)
1st - Viztoria
2nd - Just The Judge
3rd - Agent Allison
Royal Ascot - Wolferton Handicap - Bana Wu
Richard Hughes is without a winner so far this week and will be keen on getting one today to save any last day blushes. Andrew Balding's filly, Bana Wu sneaks into this at the bottom of the handicap on the back of useful runs in higher class races. Her strongest form is at Newmarket when possibly not handling the undulations too well and needing a bit further. Even with that holding her back she managed to get fourth, three lengths behind the winner, Dank, who was third to Duntle earlier in the week. She then bit off a bit more than she could chew last time behind Noble Mission, and probably didn't stay the 2 furlongs further than we have today. Her one win came over this distance at Newbury when a very short 2/5 favourite and in a race she should win easily. However, now in a handicap and on a workable mark, she can make her presence felt and grant Richard Hughes his first winner of the week. (16/1)
1st - Bana Wu
2nd - Forgotten Voice
3rd - Rewarded
4th - Labarinto
Royal Ascot Queen's Vase In Memory of Sir Henry Cecil - Nearly Caught
There would be no more fitting winner than Disclaimer for Lady Cecil and Tom Queally in the race dedicated to Sir Henry. But preference is for one that may not leap off the page at you from the yard of Hughie Morrison with George Baker in the saddle. Nearly Caught is much more inexperienced than his rivals, but made a lasting impression on debut to win over a trip that looks too short. George Baker was again in the saddle that day at Windsor, and only had to use the whip once, in a victory that saw him running away from the field by 2 lengths. By this season's super sire New Approach, Nearly Caught tackles a trip 6 furlongs longer than on debut, that's not saying he wont stay. He needed a lot of time to quicken at Windsor and the ground may have helped but he needed a stamina test sooner rather than later. In behind him that day, from 3rd down to 6th has thrown up 2 winners and 2 horses placed in their next two runs. This shows it was a fairly strong maiden and despite the larger price Nearly Caught can definitely ruffle a few feathers. (33/1)
1st - Nearly Caught
2nd - Leading Light
3rd - Disclaimer
Royal Ascot - Buckingham Palace Handicap - Campanology
Johnny Murtagh has ridden plenty of Royal Ascot winners but Campanology can give him his first training Royal Ascot win here. Last time over a mile he had a pretty poor run and switched wide late on made good ground to come fourth in a big handicap at the Curragh. The key to him looks to be the fast ground which he of course gets here on the straight course which should help him. There has already been a bit of early money for him but is still a very tempting price considering his first run for Johnny Murtagh last time. He showed excellent pace at the Curragh so I don't think the drop back to a mile will be any trouble for him at all. One thing is for certain though, if anything in front is tiring late on he will be eating into their lead with every stride. One last thing is that he is tongue tied for the first time which could bring about some more improvement. Campanology to win the last and grant Johnny Murtagh his first training win at Royal Ascot. (16/1)
1st - Campanology
2nd - Smarty Socks
3rd - Mont Ras
4th - Mezzotint
NAP - Sandiva
Nb - Campanology
Happy Punting today guys!
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