Actually even an old jumps enthusiast like me enjoyed Day 1 of this Ascot malarkey. Toronado proved himself to be the best older miler around but if and when Kingman meets him I'll be filling and refilling the wheelbarrow on the younger horse. Sole Power was stunning, a real push button 5 furlong speedball. A horse I never really warmed to until today. He was simply running all over them at all stages. Tomorrow Treve should be landing the cramped odds and in style too. I really like Alexander Anthem against the yank in the Queen Mary. Shame that prat Pricewise has ruined the price but I'll get 4/1 tomorrow morning somewhere.
Stick stealing my thunder again it's ok I'll pass the baton over to him let him feel wanted by some one
You dont take 2 seconds off track records if you dont like fast ground. We are talking about one of the best fillies of all time here, not some plodder that needs mud, she will love the ground tomorrow as it is going to be perfect flat ground, and if she runs her race then we are all collecting. Im waiting on a 16/1 treble with Kingman and Toronado, a 4/1 double with Kingman and a 2/1 single and im not concerned about the ground in the slightest. She is the best horse in the world and I hope she shows everyone tomorrow.
Im sure none of us want to see Treve beaten. I was merely adding a word of caution based on a couple of facts I extracted. I can't see her getting beaten but, if she is, there are facts to support such an outcome. However, as Joe says she did break the course record at Chantilly on good ground (but Timeform, in their wisdom, rated that performance 10lb below her Arc performance). That does prove that she does act on the surface and maybe she actually improved 10 lb from Chantilly to the Arc and would have achieved at least that rating in the Arc on good ground. There is nothing to suggest otherwise and, as a 3yo, she could easily have improved 10lb from June to October. Also The Fugue's highest rating was achieved in September, 3 months after Treve's Chantilly race. So, with just normal improvement as a 3yo, Treve could have been expected to have improved most of that 10lb by September which would have given her a Timeform Master Rating (on good ground) higher than The Fugue's highest Master Rating on good ground. The chances that The Fugue has improved more than Treve are infinitely less than zero. So by analysing the Timeform ratings more closely (rather than just dragging a couple of bare facts out) I agree with Joe. She will not be beaten by the ground and will therefore not be beaten. Apologies also to Bob.
Is anyone watching the football/ If Russia lose, their goalie will find it very difficult to face anyone tomorrow, poor sod.
2.30 Ascot That Is The Spirit 14/1 Ever since I saw him bolting up on debut at Doncaster back in May, I've felt That Is The Spirit could be a very good horse and having remained unbeaten in 3 starts to date I don't see any reason for David O'Meara's gelding to be anything but that. Having landed a few tidy bets over 7f when routing a decent enough field on debut, That Is The Spirit was pitched into a tough 18 runner handicap at York's Dante meeting under top weight off a mark of 90 where he extended his career record to 2-2 as he bolted up again despite showing inexperience late on when he wandered out in front. That Is The Spirit was pitched into a Listed contest on his 3rd and final start at Epsom on Oaks day and although a photograph was needed to confirm his unbeaten record remained intact I thought he was much, much more comfortable than the margin suggests. Sent to the front in what has been his traditional style thus far, That Is The Spirit looked to have put the contest to bed when he quickened off the front in a decisive move at about the 3 pole and the gap he had created was still the same 1f out where Danny Tudhope thought he had the race sewn up as he eased up a bit on That Is The Spirit who nearly got caught by the late rattle of Parbold. I'm absolutely sure that a convincing win would have been the result had Tudhope ridden That Is The Spirit all the way to the line and I think he's going to come on a lot for that run both physically and mentally. On the evidence thus far, That Is The Spirit has looked far from the finished article from a mental standpoint as he has had a good look around on more than one occasion before getting a bit lonely in front and I think the experience of a large Oaks Day crowd well strengthen his mental resolve and the sharp, undulating nature of Epsom's track will have taught him greatly. Drawn today in stall 20, Tudhope has the option of sticking close to the nearside rail or merging with a group down the middle and if there is any bias at Ascot it looks to be with those drawn high judged by the Windsor Castle Stakes that closed the opening day's card. Although this is a tough contest, the brilliant O'Meara has stated that he feels this could be his best horse to date and I certainly think he is a very decent horse and at 14/1 I fancy him to extended his unbeaten winning sequence to 4. 4.25 Ascot Certify 14/1 I completely agree with a few of the guys on here that Charlie Appleby's filly Certify looks incredibly overpriced given that she has won 5 of her 6 career starts and if correctly putting a line through her latest disappointing 4th when apparently in season then her price looks absolutely bonkers. Formerly trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, Certify was crowned Europe's Champion 2 year old filly at the end of 2012 when she rounded off her debut season with an impressive victory in the Group 1 Shadwell Fillies Mile at Newmarket in September that year. Going into her 3 year old season one of the main early season contenders, Certify's career was derailed with the shock announcement of Al Zarooni drug scandal and with this filly found to have had Anabolic Steroids in her system she was banned from racing until late 2013 and was subsequently put away for the rest of that season. She finally made her reappearance to the track on the back of a 489 day absence at Meydan where she showed she had lost no class when readily winning a Group 2 to take her career record to 5-5 and it was 21 days later where she disappointed when apparently in season as she finished a disappointing 4th (had easily disposed of the winner that day at Meydan 3 weeks earlier) and I definitely don't think she gave her true running that day. She's been subsequently freshened up for 118 days since that poor display and I think she looks primed to run a huge race today. Boasting a victory over 2nd favourite and last years 1,000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern from their 2 year old careers, Certify undoubtedly has the talent to play a huge role in this field today and if ready to do herself justice tomorrow I think she could surprise a few at a 14/1 price tag that is absolutely insulting to what she has achieved on the track. 5.35 Ascot Muteela 8/1 It's not original taking the favourite in a 24 runner contest but I absolutely adore the attitude of Mark Johnston's well bred filly Muteela who puts her unbeaten record on the line here today as she attempts to improve her career record to 4-4 and I think an 8lb rise to a mark of 95 for her most recent success is very fair and one I think she can definitely overcome. Having scored in a Lingfield AW maiden in October last year on sole 2 year old start, this half sister to Middle Park & Mill Reef winner Awzaan bolted up on handicap debut off a mark of 78 when making all in to win by 4L and I just loved her uncomplicated, resilient attitude that day. Upped 9lb to a mark of 87 and pitched into a better race against some nice unexposed types, she again answered that challenge as she made all before showing a really gritty attitude to repel a late challenger to score from a potentially very well handicapped rival in Pretzel and the handicapper's decision to only raise her 9lb to a mark of 95 looks a lenient one in my eyes. Drawn in stall 22, it's the same adage that applies for That Is The Spirit in that she could be well drawn as there seemed a bias towards high numbers yesterday and you've just got to hope she is in a race that will probably split into at least two groups given the fields size. If she is, I think its going to take a very well handicapped and resilient horse to stop her off a mark of 95 and I think 8/1 is a very fair price about her.
My horse football accumulator was let down by them pesky Brazilians last night but today we make amends! Treve, the Dutch and Croatia to beat a very poor Cameroon side pays a shade over 9/4 - fill them boots
Same post as yesterday, John Quinn has some very good juveniles and I can see him having another winner at the Royal Meeting.
annoying start to the day - tried to get on the Coral website for the 7/4 offer on Treve but it crashed on me, due to the demand I guess. thought that I would still have a bit of 4/6 but then I notice it has been backed into 4/7! That is a crazy price.
Morning All. Today's Lucky 15, all @ Royal Ascot. 2-30.Muwaary. 3-05.Tiggy Wiggy. 3-45.Treve. 5-00.Abseil. Good luck to all.
Starting to get nervous about Treve now, have her in a large bet with Secret Gesture, Toronado and Kingman, thought she was a banker a few days ago but having doubts, does not seem to be the same confidence about her from connections as they has with Toronado either and that is a worry. Tempted to lay the bet off. Frankie has also said she should win "if she is back to her best" and gets a "clear run", so even he does not sound very confident.
You could have a bad day today ROTO because I fancied all 3 of those when I looked last night/early morning. Blame me if they don't win.
Yeah, I know, probably got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning, but, honestly, I find some of these long-winded missives bloody irritating. Surely most of this formline crap can be read in the sporting media, in some form or other? I think somewhere between the long-winded columns and the mysterious encrypted code of UncleC. would be ideal?
Got to love McCoy - 57 winners already, 6 rides booked today between Uttoxeter and Southwell, another 6 at Ffos Las tomorrow. Amazing. His last 10 rides have been 1134P12121.
Tote Placepot £ 0.20 2:30 Ascot Great White Eag' P/5369540/0001559/F 2:30 Ascot Muwaary 2:30 Ascot Mustajeeb 3:05 Ascot Spanish Pipedre' 3:05 Ascot Anthem Alexander 3:45 Ascot Treve 4:25 Ascot Sky Lantern 4:25 Ascot Esoterique 4:25 Ascot Integral 5:00 Ascot Abseil 5:00 Ascot Prince Of Johan' 5:00 Ascot Gabrial's Kaka 5:00 Ascot Fort Bastion 5:35 Ascot Odisseia 5:35 Ascot Muteela 5:35 Ascot Crowley's Law 5:35 Ascot Secret Pursuit Total Stake £ 57.60 This is my place pot today. Don't often do these but fancied an interest in every race whilst keeping stakes low.
I really like the chances of Tiggy Wiggy today and also Muteela as stated by Ron. Gone for an each way yankee Tiggy Wiggy The Fugue(Should relish the ground) Certify Muteela
