Royal Ascot - How I Saw It

[billy the punter]

Tuesday Haradasun was game in victory although not for the first time Kevin Manning ruined a Group 1 with reckless riding showing no concern for horse welfare and his fellow jockeys. Equiano was a winner for Spain! Yes Spain. This is why I rarely bet in Group sprints and when I do I don't play big. You have numerous country's formlines to cotend with. I have no idea if this was a good performance - I'm guessing the world is struggling in this division. Henrythenavigator showed his class, a fine winner. Ravens Pass ran well and proved he was unlucky in the 2000 and that he should've gone close than he did - I backed him place only in the 2000 so even more angry than I was on the day! Like many winners of the race, Twice Over proved to be another over rated Craven winner - not suprised myself. Art Connoisseur was most impressive in the Coventry - would be nice if he is one of the winners of the race that do go on. Missoula got up in a tight finish although I was fuming with the ride Robinson gave Bukit Tinggi , he stops in front so it was big mistake to take it up on him so early. The fact that he was still only narrowly beaten (after looking like he was going to be swamped 0.5f from home) proves he was the best horse in the race at the weights IMO. Flashmans Papers was a shock winner in the last - bar the Coventry the 2yo races are extremely difficult at this meeting. Performance of the day - Art Connoisseur Wednesday Without doubt my favourite day. Great performance from Aqlaam to win this on his first start out of maidens. Disappoinments were Jupiter Pluvius and Calming Influence, the former seems to still be wrong and the latter failed to confirm form with Stimulation (5th). Two poor rides from the jocks on the front two in the 2nd. Ryan Moore taking it up too early on Heaven Sent and it was comedy watching CP Lemaire trying to stoke up the winner. Duke Of Marmalade showed he is a true Group 1 horse with a effortless victory and looks one of the best older horses in training. Phoenix Tower ran ok in 2nd but should've been a little closer to the winner on the book. Pipedream ran well in 3rd and he win find a pattern race soon. Gutted and pleased with the Royal Hunt Cup, my favourite race of the week. I had two massive ante post bets on Royal Power at 33s and 25s and went in again on the day at 40/8.6 on betfair - three big E/W bets and would've been my biggest ever winner. He ran a fine race, I called him the winner 3 out and I was screaming when he hit the front over a furlong out. However the two challengers had the benefit on the rail and he was run out of it, beaten two necks. He ran a fine race and I'm pleased with him. The Queen Mary means nothing to me - not my thing. Backed Illusion in the last and cannot believe she was picked up. She must gain compensation considering she was running 3lb out the handicap. The winner Festivale is useful though and picked up well. Shaker in 4th is also worth noting - Spencer had a mare on her. Performance of the day - Heart = Royal Power, Head = Duke Of Marmalade Thursday Not interested in the first race - no idea if the winner will go on. Michita put the Ribblesdale to bed with her injection of pace two out. Arthurs Girl (stayed on well for 2nd), Elmaleeha (travelled like a dream) and Icon Project (unlucky in running) all run fine races despite being fresh out of maidens. Yeats was fantastic yet again and fully deserved his hat-trick, great training performance. People will say Coastal Path didn't stay BUT this isn't a race to take on when it's your 7th career start. I said before the race to a pal that he'd probably run well this year and win it next year. Geordieland ran true to form, he was a great place only bet. Another great run but he will never beat Yeats all the time he has a hole in his arse. Fifteen Love took the Brittania, had a chance on 2yo form but tailed off on his previous two starts. I try not to back Roger Charlton horses and this is why. The man is THE worse 'top' trainer. Redford travelled sweetly but found little - he is worth another chance. Collection won with plenty in hand, he showed promise so far this season and has always been well thought of. I don't know why he went off 13/2. The 4th Khateed ran well and would've been closer with more luck. Colony was another over priced winner, I backed him and the 3rd and 4th - Dream Desert and Moonquake. Both ran on really well and perhaps Dream Desert should've been given a better ride, think the holding up tactics to get the trip were overdone. Performance of the day - Yeats Friday The likable Jim Bolger has found another Galileo that has the speed to win at shorter trips at two. I'm sure he'll let us know his plans for this filly. Yes I am being sarcastic. Campanologist took advantage of quickening off a slow pace. Not sure Conduit was given every chance with the ride. Bronze Cannon's run can be ignored, he was asked an impossible task after being held up way off this slow pace. Lush Lashes won the Coronation for the punters pal. Infallible proved what most of us feared - she doesn't stay. Shame Spacious is trained by James Fanshawe. He has no idea how to train a 3yo. Supaseus won a Wolfterton that was ruined by the amount of non-runners. Patkai was most impressive in the Queens Vase - and we were worried about him staying? I really thought the wrong horses were at the head of the market for the Buckingham Palace. As expected outsiders filled the first 12 places. I've backed Regal Parade on every start bar his first this season and he really deserves this prize, a great performance considering he has gone up 6lb in the handicap since his seasonal debut. Mentions in behind for Laa Rayb and Meydan Dubai, will be looking carefully at them NTO. Performance of the day - Regal Parade Saturday The form of the first is probably decent with Seaway running against some useful types already. However, what are the chances that the Queen will own a good horse? Macarthur ground down Multidimensional who looked all over the winner. The latter coming back to form well. Those of us who took the massive price about him (played small at 40) were counting our money. Was 1/10 in running. Speed Gifted will find an easier pattern race NTO. Kingsgaite Native is another that came back to form. He did well being a 3yo but not the first time he has beaten his elders, he is clearly forward for his age. US Ranger was disappointing - a never nearer 5th. I just can't get my head around the appeal to these races. Big Timer ran a great race in the Wokingham. Intrepid Jack was well behind and would've been closer with a clear run, although he has a hadbit of running like this - it was the first and probably the last time I back him. Machinist was also well behind and made some good headway, he'll be winning soon. Sugar Ray was game in victory. Mad Rush again going down gallantly in defeat. Ezdiyaad travelled ok but didn't get home, both are not to be written off. Honolulu looked a good thing in the last, he is a Group horse without doubt and this was a drop in class. He is very interesting for the future. Ajaan travelled well but didn't get home. Performance of the day - Kingsgaite Native Performance of the week - Yeats, followed by Duke Of Marmalade Lets hope there is a few future winners mentioned above. Any thoughts with the above or other horses to take from the meeting?

[mowgli77]

Re: Royal Ascot - How I Saw It A bit off topic but is Yeats pronounced Yeats (sounds like sheets) or like Yates as it looks like YEATS but they always pronounce it YATES. :unsure