Thought this might prove a decent way of looking back on the week that was. Best jockey has to be Murtagh after winning the top jock title but another that really impressed me without getting much glory was Paul Hanagan. I thought his ride in defeat against Al Kazeem was nothing short of magnificent. Ride of the week for me. Anyone have any high or low points, top rides etc.
It will not be the greatest piece of rocket science to nominate the tragedy that followed the winning post in the Hardwicke Stakes as the worst moment of the week. Although from the point of view of the Ch4 TV horse racing viewer, that nauseating “fashion” commentator will be a close second. Just when you thought that the fop in the top hat on the BBC could not be beaten... In terms of performances, it is maybe not the hardest call picking the sparkling performance of the 1000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern in destroying a top quality field to win the Coronation Stakes on Friday. On a personal note I did not have penny on Just The Judge and she lost, so she is not totally jinxed by me. Richard Hannon’s filly showed a decisive turn of foot in a race where there were no hard luck stories and she demonstrated that she is the best three year old filly over a mile in Britain. It will be interesting to see what they choose to do from here: stick to races against the girls over a mile, take on the boys or step up to ten furlongs against either sex. Apologies for not being very controversial...
Best Riposte winning the Ribblesdale Estimate winning the Gold Cup Sky Lantern showing what a good filly she is The finish between Dawn Approach and Toronado Paul Cole, Clive Brittain, Clive Cox and Jonathan Portman all having a winner Adam Kirby riding his first Gp 1 Wesley Ward being a good sport Worst:- BBC World preferring to report on a Netball game in Florida for 5 minutes every hour than show the victory of Estimate and the Queen's subsequent reaction. Thomas Chippendale's death was the worst thing (and bugger all to do with animal cruelty, just the way us mammals are built). Very sad for everyone. That Henry Cecil wasn't there.
The BBC seem to be going out of their way to ignore racing/paint it in the worst possible light. The only mention of Ascot on a Radio 5 news bulletin on Saturday night was the death of "Tom Chippendale", no mention of the Diamond Jubilee winner. Channel 4 did not cover themselves in glory over the incident either. Jim McGrath's comments were inane, Emma Spencer interviewing Johnny Murtagh was insensitive and showing the pictures of Thomas Chippendale's lad sobbing in the parade ring utterly inexcusable.
Best Moment Mr Henderson winning the Listed Wolferton Handicap with Forgotten Voice who was having his first run on the level for 1,060 days, I say again 1,060 days. Undoubtedly one of the training performances of our age from a man who just continues to astound with his training capabilities. Worst Moment Undoubtedly the death of Thomas Chippendale. Also following the race we had one of the most astounding and quite frankly macabre sights on a racecourse namely the ‘victory’ presentation taking place. When it comes to poor taste this takes some topping and why Ascot or the winning connections agreed to it taking place is totally, totally beyond me. You would have thought the former would have said ‘We will send the trophies onto you’ or the latter would have insisted ‘This isn’t appropriate just forward the trophies to us’.
Emma spencer was unbelievable. You just thank goodness that they don't cover the london marathon "so Mrs Jones - your daughter collapsed and died after 20 miles. If she'd have finished do you think she'd have beaten her personal best?" Best thing was Estimate and Riposte winning and when asked to sum up Thursday John Gosden was excellent as always.
Best: York Glory winning - only a fiver eway on but profit for the meeting. Sky Lantern winning - didn't have a bet. Worst: Echo what others have said in the death of Thomas Chippendale and all the bleedin' fashion talk!!
There was a couple of decent performances through the week, Some of them named above but War Command impressed Me the most in the Coventry. How he came from last to first and spreadeagled the field with that turn of foot was impressive it looked an absolute beast of a performance... Worst part of Royal Ascot was the demise of Thomas Chippendale. Saw him in the parade ring at Doncaster before the St Leger - Beautiful looking horse, Didnt run to scratch that day but winning at Royal Ascot twice isn't easy and he won the Hardwicke very well. Lovely horse and it was very sad what happened
I'll have to pinch some of Bustino's. Best 1. Riposte winning the Ribblesdale - very emotional 2. Estimate winning the Gold Cup. Great to see the Queen getting excited 3. Sky Lantern showing what a good filly she is. Hope to see her on Arc day (not in the Arc) 4. The finish between Dawn Approach and Toronado. The one we were hoping to see in the 2000Gns. Worst. Thomas Chippendale. Elation to despair
