Day 4 had its own piece of magic in the shape of SKY LANTERN who i touted pre season to be the beez neez only to see my words of grandeur destroyed when it got comfortably beaten fto then i deserted it when it hacked up in the Guineas and i didnt have as much on as i should have due to me also backing Just the Judge...but wow what a run and what a burst of speed to kill the race off!!...simply fantastic and Kiyoshi.....also another great run and win for the blog cracking stuff and this was still very green so a lot more to come from this.
The Irish tasted yet more success but not with the one horse who i fancied to bolt up ( Battle of Marengo ) but with Leading Light for AoB the SoB ruining the Disclaimer / Cecil party ( which tbf 2f out looked in the bag as it was cruising then just emptied ) but the victory was a very good one and this could be a touch special.
Day 5 and its wind down time but i would like to go out on a high and i would like another taste of the Placepot Pie...so without further ado i shall cast my eye over the Ascot card for the final time this week c'mon all lets smash it !! ;).
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ROYAL ASCOT ~ DAY 5 ~
RACE 1
Chesham Stakes
WIN - FREEDOM SQUARE -EW - BUNKER - 2nd @ 3.72
LONG - BERKSHIRE - 1st @ 23.0
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SUMMARY :This is a tough race for 2 yr olds so early on , a 7f test that for the last 2 years has been one by a couple of very decent sorts that progressed but previously had been won by horses ranging between 11/10 and 25/1 with no real set pattern although i feel getting a view from the paddock will make this task easier , but without such aides i am going to have to go what i know , Johnston , Godolphin and AoB all arrive mob handed and look intent on taking this prize back with them but even from there 6 entries between them i dont see the winner.
The three i want fighting for me are FREEDOM SQUARE a good looking son of Lawman that has raced over 5f , 6f and 7f already winning the 6f Maiden quite cosily but prior to that run had run in a 7f Maiden and was only beaten a shorthead and a neck so in theoretically you could say it has won its last two and is a proven winner ( almost ) over this trip which is a major plus with stamina assured, speed of the plate and a good battling attitude this is almost the perfect 2 yr old and a big run is assured.
The 2nd defender i will have is BUNKER from the formidable Hannon/Hughes team and this son of Hurrican Run was a bit green fto hitting flat spots then running on really strong at the end and winning quite easy it must be said and this looked liked it was already needing this step up in trip and should go well.
Finally i will have BERKSHIRE from the Cole outfit and this son of Mount Nelson ran in what i consider to be quite a hot maiden fto coming home in 3rd but far from disgraced with the form looking strong although the winner Championship went off near to Fav for the Coventry and doing little there is no doubt that Championship is a very smart prospect and there will be more to come from that and with improvement assured i feel Berkshire can run into a place or better and very decent odds.
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NOTES :
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RACE 2
Hardwicke Stakes
WIN - EKTIHAAM - Slipped and unseated rider -EW - UNIVERSAL - 3rd @ 13.42
LONG - DANDINO - 2nd @ 17.40
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SUMMARY :Over the last 5 years this race has gone to the favourite or near favourite and has been won by some classic types in Harbinger and Sea Moon and has been kind to me over the years so im expecting to nail the winner of this.
I love Noble Mission but it only just gets this trip and i mean just as come the line it will be on its last breath and this is so much a stronger race than the one it got beat in and the one it won that i give this no chance at all today and is reluctantly written off.
Th confusing aspect of this race is the form, MOUNT ATHOS for me HAS to be a LAY @ 3.75 ( Fav ) yes it comes here in winning form but looking at the form and the manor of the victories it doesnt really amount to much , yes it won some nicely titled races but again has beaten either vastly inferior opposition or has beaten horse running above their pay grade and a lot of dire hcappers tbh so i dont think the form is really worth the paper its written on ( famous last words ) and with this being at least 3 grades higher in respect of opposition it simply has to be laid.
Similar comments can be applied to Sir John Hawkswood who arrives on the back of a couple of decent wins but beat little more than decent Hcappers again and the form doesnt really add up to much given the context of the race.
EKTIHAAM however has much stronger looking form even judged by its lto victory when beating Thomas Chippendale ( runs here ) , Main Sequence , Number Theory and Highland Castle over 1m4f in the Buckhounds Stakes here at Ascot making this a CD winner and that can prove vital at the quintessential track and for me looks the likeliest winner.
I also see UNIVERSAL getting involved in the finish as this strapping galloper has improved no end and has beaten Noble Mission last two times they have met and has earned his place at the table and will make them all go.
Finally we shall have the admirably tough Dandino who on the face of it has a few pounds to find but will exploit any weakness in any runner and if it goes for him he could surprise.
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NOTES :Ektihaam slipped up whilst in front and making the pace , but my MAX LAY on Mount Athos was easy money ;).
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RACE 3
Diamond Jubilee Stakes
WIN - SOCIETY ROCK - 2nd @ 5.50EW - SLADE POWER -
LONG - MINCE -
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SUMMARY :For me this is THE sprint race of the week with a lot of battle hardened veterans taking on each other for the umpteenth time mixed with some new faces and some improvers this is a true test and was won last year by the brilliant Black Caviar...but only just.
Fallon has left his usual ride ( Krypton Factor ) to take the seat aboard SOCIETY ROCK and this is the one to beat by some way, all class, bags of speed, can race on or off and can be switched for position this is a slightly injury prone superstar and it will take a wonder performance to lower his colours.
SLADE POWER is also worth a mention as this speed demon can mix it with the best of them and if on a going day can easily take a hand and even win , this is a very quick horse.
And i will not be leaving my beloved MINCE out this little beaut is a class act and is true group class at best but has been a bit disappointing this term with a couple of runs lacking the usual sparkle but if running back to form can easily mix it up and get her head in front.
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NOTES :Poor ride imo from Fallon and Mince looks a spent force.
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RACE 4
Wokingham Stakes
WIN - REX IMPERATOR -EW - NOCTURN -
LONG - SHROPSHIRE / YORK GLORY - 2nd @ 17.0 / 1st @ 17.6
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SUMMARY :29 RUNNERS , 6F AND ITS A HCAP.....Nothing much else to say really...
Last year's shock winner Dandy Man was drawn 15 with four of the five who followed him home drawn middle to high. Epsom Dash winner Duke Of Firenze could hardly have a better stalls position and with just a 4lb rise to contend with has to be in the firing line, a remark that also applies to Rex Imperator, who travelled smoothly throughout over 7f at Doncaster last time but faded close home. Gabrial's Lad is closely matched with the likely favourite on their run here last October though both have undoubtedly improved subsequently. The latter made a really nice comeback behind Hamza at Newmarket and that form has worked out very well. YORK GLORY looks capable of winning a race of this nature and was probably unlucky not to have beaten Kingsgate Choice at York last time when Duke Of Firenze was fifth. Kevin Ryan's charge wouldn't want the ground too fast so any further rain would greatly aid his chances and he's handed the verdict. Nocturn is drawn near the middle but should have no problems crossing to the far side and he's a rapidly improving sprinter on a very fair mark.
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NOTES :
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RACE 5
Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap
WIN - RYE HOUSE - NON RUNNER - ( 2nd for the placepot )EW - HAMMERFEST -
LONG - USTURA - 3rd @ 9.40
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SUMMARY :A 19 runner Hcap over 1m4f and this is another tough as teak race to call but i am quite keen on RYE HOUSE yes im aware its been raised 9lb for a very lto win over the trip and yes it has shown better figures on ground with a degree of cut but i have a feeling this has been specifically laid out for this and im expecting a very big run.
HAMMERFEST could be a blot for Monsieur Hammond and Jim Crowley along with USTURA who is improving with experience and is another coming into this on a low mark of just 92 and will get every assistance from SDS.
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NOTES :
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RACE 6
Queen Alexandra Stakes
WIN - COURTESY CALL -EW - SHAHWARDI - 2nd @ 5.0
LONG - MASHAARI -
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**16 Lines on the Place Pot hit @ £844 = £3380.00 BoooooM ;)
SUMMARY :The final race of this brilliant meeting and its a 2m5f marathon trip contested by a mind boggling 20 runners ( after the other couple of long distance races i was unaware we had such a array of stayers ).
It is fair to say this is probably the lowest classed event of the week , the weakest looking race and its full of NH types although if he consents to run then Mad Moose might be worth a tickle at decent odds.
The winner in a more realistic fashion tho should be COURTESY CALL from the same yard that gave me todays monster boom team Henderson and i have been reliably informed that this is another that comes here in great heart and will give a solid account but really can he make it 3 from 3 at Ascot??....i may as well have a go , i have nothing to lose.
I am also expecting a good run from SHAHWARDI the french raider was 2nd to Simenon in this last year and this will have been its year target and will have been trained and prepped just for this and is sure to go close.
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NOTES :
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A tough looking final day with some decent races to enjoy and a couple im quite keen on , not gonna hold my breath for the Placepot mind lol..have a great day and enjoy ttfn x.
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