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High: I enjoyed all the meeting and the punting went well on the whole. Field Of Gold was brilliant on Tuesday and I very much enjoyed Trawlerman winning the Gold Cup.
Low: I can’t really think of much other than one or two reverses. La Botte just failing to get up was frustrating but no one’s fault. Seraph Gabriel getting chinned on the line today hurt a bit!
I enjoyed most of it, just feels like its a day too long. Some of the races continue to baffle me with how similar they are, particularly the 2yo races, but to be fair there were big fields for most of those races and a good spread of winning connections and jockeys. If the fields continue to fill its hard to argue with the programme changing.
Terrible for me although I only betted on 25 of the 35 races. One winner today at 14-1 halved my losses, nevertheless it is quality racing and Coolmore failed to hit a Group 1 which was pleasing.
The more I know the less I understand.
I nay had one bet, backed Tornado Alert at 14/1 ante post for the Hampton Court and hedged it in running to cover the stake. But I did have a highlight – Kieran Shoemark winning two races, and displaying dignity and confidence in his post race interviews. Plus Ed Walker reaping the reward of standing by a young rider who in my view has been harshly and unfairly treated. Could have, should have won the Guineas? Yes, but so too couid have, should have plenty of others won plenty of races. Didn’t notice Haggas slagging Off Tom Marquand after the Wokingham, etc.
Good to see the Gosdens back with three Group 1s. Probably the best quality winners too.
Field Of Gold looks the miler they all have to beat.
Trawlerman put up a performance that would’ve challenged Kyprios even at his best.
Ombudsman made the breakthrough at Group 1 level. A performance probably good enough to see him start favourite in the Eclipse.Although O’Brien did well in the minor Group races – particularly with 2 year olds… Going a Royal Ascot without a Group 1 winner is unusual for him. Maybe doesn’t have quite as many stars without the Galileo influence.
At last we’ve got a couple of top class sprinters… Well, not “we” exactly… One’s French and one’s Japanese.
Nice to see Eustace, Eve JH, Twomey and Walker all make breakthroughs in different ways.
Bit disappointing all the good horses failed to fire in the Queen Anne.
In fact, I suspect many of the good horses failed to run to their best all week, probably because they (for once) under-watered. Even some that normally act well on good-firm didn’t act on that ground… Many of the straight track races ruined by the draw / pace differences.Betting highlights – the less said about that the better.
Value Is EverythingLots of highs, particularly Rebel’s Romance and Trawlerman winning, love seeing the older horses performing so well, and of course the exciting younger horses Field Of Gold, Ombudsman and Humidity. Also refreshing to see good wins for smaller yards.
Only low for me was the sad loss of Harry’s Girl.Highs – Field of Gold and Charles Darwin.. Plenty of different winning trainers, owners
Lows – Rosallion getting chinned… Albert Einstein not making it
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Highs –
Ombudsman, Field Of Gold, Trawlerman and the brilliant Rebel’s Romance winning today.
The weather and the crowd behaviour seemed more appreciative of the horses.
Agreed the smaller yards winning more races and also seeing the Norwegian horse War Socks run such
a brave race today he really tried his heart out, would have loved to have seen him win.
Lows – The loss of Harry’s Girl.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...High – The competitive nature of the week, felt it was one of the tougher ones as the majority of them looked deep races on paper.
Low – Having a bet in every race because this is my holiday (Like Cheltenham) but I should know better and leave some alone. Also, not having a piece of Charles Darwin and not having much at all on Carmers and Merchant. I blame the heat for sizzling my brain.
Roll on the next day of racing.
Really enjoyed the meeting .
Highs , Rebel Romance and Trawlerman. Also good to see OTI from OZ bookend meeting with Sober and Docklands .
Low , not many As mentioned above Harrys Girl injury . Also Amo getting no winners . He seems to polarise opinions but i like to see some of these people that put a lot in get some success . There is some money sloshing round for some of these horses pre meeting at Goffs .Highs , American Affair winning ( had 16s ) and another couple of nice priced winners , good to see some smaller trainers winning , Mullins showing he is the best trainer in the world
Low , Dickensian not winning was a sore one , the Gold Cup was won impressively but a 7 year old winner shows it wasn’t particular strong , surely Mullins must be plotting a go at it soon
I think field of gold will have a fight v lake Victoria. She is some machine. Highs were jim goodie winning his group one,Charles Darwin and John Murphy winning the coronation. Lows were no kyprios and so many fancied horses seemingly not coping with the firm ground. A worrying trend imho.
Highs –
Field Of Gold’s turn of foot stood out as my top pick.
Trawlerman’s relentless Gold Cup.
Ombudsman trying to lockpick his way through the field before a striking victory.
My Cloud landing the Royal Hunt cup.
John and Thady Gosden clinching top trainer.
The horses getting immediate hydration after the races.Lows –
Harry’s Girl demise.
Seconditis with my bets on Rosallion, Hammer The Hammer, More Thunder and Seraph Gabriel.
Treanmor’s flop in the Chesham.
Ryan Moore!
Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Heyes getting paid for old rope and poppycock.
The five day meeting being too long.Highs- Attendances – glorious weather- super competitive racing (Cheltenham please note)- Gosden’s fantastic three – Murphy, the Doyler and Shoemark showing it’s not all about the mighty Moore- Ed Walker showing he belongs at the top table- Graffard and Zahra Khan showing true sportmanship- Walsh and Rishi Persad being consummate pro’s
Lows- No Princess of Wales presenting trophies – hope she’s alright- Letting a Stewards Cup winner go unbacked in the Wokingham- Seeing Harvey in a swimming pool -Having to put up with Charlotte & (especially) Mark- I have no problem with the fashion/celeb filler spots- just find someone less annoying.
My partner has no interest in racing but wanted to watch the Royal parade and whilst I could tell her who the racing people were in the carriages why didn’t the commentator saying who they were not also say where they were sat in the carriages. It is no good saying that is xyz and not state which ones they actually are in relation to where they are sitting.
On the subject of my partner she can’t wait until the warm weather so she can live in her various flip flops hence why I have been backing Time For Sandals so why I decided not to at Ascot is still beyond me and her come to that
The more I know the less I understand.
I don’t believe the five days are too much. The mixture of Group 1s, other pattern races, 2 year old races and the handicaps works well.
One or two races could be questioned. The Queen Alexandra is an anachronism but it is only one race. I don’t particularly like the Ascot Stakes and the Copper Horse being on the same day.
However, I think the Royal meeting is now the best of the year. Better than Cheltenham, which has far too many races serving no purpose other than to stretch the meeting to four days. Better than Goodwood, which fills up the five days with moderate handicaps and maidens. And certainly better than Epsom, which really does look like the poor relation now.
Agree to disagree but you could easily lose 7 races without impacting on the meeting much. Most of them would be the handicaps they added in during covid that weren’t there before but the Queen Alexandra is first on the chopping block regardless. Sober should have been in the Gold Cup not running off levels against horses vastly inferior to him. The Palace Of Holyroodhouse is a monstrosity too. A 5f sprint for 3 year olds? If you’re good enough have a go in the Group 1.
I don’t know why we have 4 or is it 5 different 2 year old sprints? The fields do fill but there will be lots of social runners in there, at a guess probably 50% of the total 2 year olds running over the 5 days. I much prefer the best 2 year olds facing each other at Newmarket, Goodwood etc onwards personally
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