Well Champions’ Day came and went; and all I expect most will remember it for was that stirring victory for Frankel’s brother Noble Mission. Not too much comment about the whip ban and the £10,000 fine for Doyle in just holding Al Kazeem at bay. I thought that might have got the whip rules debate restarted. In desperate conditions, the jockey did what he felt he had to do to win; and in a driving finish for a major race would any other jockey have been counting? Those soft southerners still have not managed to sort out their organisation at Ascot with the steps from the Grandstand lawn to the Grandstand still a free-for-all watched over by a dozen security people rather than a simple one way system. Even the guys on The Apprentice could surely manage better. When they announce the crowd figures, I expect that they will gloss over all the free tickets given to owners who had won on any Champions Series raceday and the students. I wonder how many of the students were first timers. Absolutely no idea what the dozy punters were doing piling on Night Of Thunder to reverse Moulin form with Charm Spirit. Hughes held the favourite up on the rails then switched to the outside and then back to the rail again, losing ground that may have lost him the race if we assume that the winner was not idling in front. If you had been standing six feet away from Kirsten Rausing and Sir Mark Prescott before the Fillies and Mares you would have overheard their optimistic assessment of the owners’ chances with her two runners, had a couple of shillings on each and collected on the winner. Not happy with leaving the punters with their bus fare home, the bookies even pocketed that in the last although it seems incredible that the dual Cambridgeshire winner went off at 20/1. This was probably my last Champions’ Day, indeed probably my last visit to Ascot. If I go next year, somebody will be quoting me...
No, why did Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox and Jo Whiley do them topless or something? I should have tried to get a lift back to the Big Smoke with Sara Cox as she had her “Sounds Of The 80s” Radio 2 show to get back for quick.
I only ever go to the royal meeting (yes it's a bit hoity toity but brilliantly organised) or the jumps at Ascot now. The Champions day and King george meetings are a nightmare at times - mainly down to cack handedness on the part of the organisers.
I did see Sara flicking through her CD collection. lol. How these people get DJ gigs i'll never know. Terrible music as well. Like a social club disco. Did any of you catch the fight in this area? Was quite amusing i must say.
