The Day Frankie Won a Bumper - Ascot Day 4

I was unable to watch Ascot live on Thursday but as soon as I got back to my house, the Sky+ was in action and I was watching Frankie bumping 'El Littlun' out of the way and striding on to a glorious Gold Cup win.  


You can watch it again here:

I was so very pleased for him - particularly as Colour Vision was a speedyequines tip and I was on (along with the other three Ascot winners - ahem!).  Mickael shouldn't be too despondent though - he was given a top class race-riding lesson there and Frankie might even teach him the flying dismount one day......the day when there happens to be a largish manure heap in the winners enclosure!

Ryan Moore and son (how cute is this?)
(copyright Andy Hooper for Daily Mail)

Random Thought of the Day

............It must be awful to be a Racing Post reporter (or any sports journo come to that!) and find yourself posted to Ffos Las on a wild, wet Thursday night during the week of Royal Ascot.

A quick zoom through tomorrow's Ascot:

14:30  Albany Stakes

Channon, Hannon and Noseda have pretty much a monopoly on this race the past ten years as they've won seven renewals between them with Mick Channon on three and the other pair two apiece.  Channon has just one runner, Sandreamer, Hannon has three (with Hughsie riding Tassel) and Noseda has two runners with Dettori and Fallon booked for the rides so it looks as though he means business!  The Gold Cheongsam would appear his best shot.  Of these three trainers, Sandreamer looks to me the best but the way Newfangled won on soft at Newmarket (Buick didn't need to reach for his whip at all) has persuaded me that this is the winner with Sandreamer an each way pick.

• Newfangled 1st
• Sandreamer (ew) NR

15:05  King Edward IIV Stakes

High draw has the advantage in this field (12 of the past 18 winners at this distance have been drawn high) so I've concentrated on Thought Worthy, Astrology and Thomas Chippendale.  It didn't take me long to hone in on Astrology with winning form on both soft and good and the only one of this three to have tasted success in a group race. 

• Astrology   UP

15:45  Coronation Stakes 

The round mile has a definite bias towards those drawn high (the straight mile has little bias at all).  Elusive Kate, Laugh Out Loud and Homecoming Queen should all be a the head of affairs ensuring a good gallop right across the spread (one high, one mid and one low drawn) .  Homecoming Queen is the speediest of them and could make all from her low draw but I'm tempted to think that the race could be set up for a closer and Fallen For You and Russelliana could take advantage with the former having the slight edge for me.  I'll back both each way and hope I've read this right..........

• Fallen For You e/w  1st
• Russelliana e/w   UP

16:25  Wolferton Handicap

Ottoman Empire was beaten by Gatewood by a neck last time out at Epsom but the handicapper has factored in Gatepost's traffic problems and put him up 7lb (OE up 2lb).  Ascot is a very different track to Epsom but Gatepost has won at Salisbury which is enough to convince me that he fly past the winning post ahead of the other on this right handed, testing track too.  One to keep any eye on is Con Artist.  Where Frankie was proving his worth to the boys in blue by winning Thursday's Gold Cup, then so is SdS after some glory.  With his treble on Wednesday night at Kempton nursing his confidence back to where it should be (it surely must have taken a knock or two lately), then I think he has a good chance of a place here.  His feats over the winter in Dubai, winning aboard 2nd and 3rd string hopes have taught me that you should never underestimate SdS wearing a red cap!

• Gatewood  1st
• Con Artist e/w  UP

17:00  Queen's Vase

I wouldn't want to be backing anything here over 2 miles on possible softish ground unless I could be sure that it will stay (or as sure as you can be about a 3yo at this trip).  Stamina is a big nagging doubt about Athens so I shall have to leave him alone.  Andrew Balding is convinced that Minimise Risk will stay but I'm not.  Yazdi is interesting but Estimate is the one that appeals most with a nice staying pedigree and the ground will be perfect.  I'll be hoping that this is the race that Her Maj gets herself an Ascot winner ....and her vase back.

• Estimate  1st

17:35  Buckingham Palace Stakes

Cavalry charge!  I remember looking at the draws of the previous winners last year and being surprised at the number of them who were drawn at one extreme or the other - either very low or very high...then Manassas went and won from stall 29! Decent Fella won first time out last year so is worth a second look from stall 28.  Haamaat has gone from strength to strength but will need a lot of luck in running.  Gossamer Seed is interesting with JoB taking a rare outside ride for John Joseph Murphy but is pretty high in the weights - I do like this one though!  Atlantic Sport has the very outside draw and just recently the Channon/Harley double act are entering a bit of a purple patch,  This horse has won here before and is carrying a nice low weight, the trainer doesn't have the best record here though.  Finally Imperial Guest practically lives at this track but has only here won once (12 runs) - which is a shade off-putting to say the least.  I think I'll throw a few each way pennies at:

• Atlantic Sport e/w 3rd
• Gossamer Seed e/w  UP
• Decent Fella e/w  UP

........now if Imperial Guest wins this I shall scream