There is positive news to start the day at Ascot, which has somehow managed to remain rain-free since 6pm on Friday evening allowing Chris Stickels, the clerk of the course, to report unchanged going: good-to-soft, soft in places on the inner hurdles track where much of the action will unfold, and heavy for the milers and sprinters on the straight course.
And it seems likely to stay that way, with the latest forecast suggesting “a generally dry day with the outside risk of a shower”, so a card that might have descended into a muddy farce should be able to take its proper place in an outstanding day of sporting action.
That said, it will be a tough, demanding afternoon for horses and jockeys alike. Heavy ground at Ascot is widely seen to be as gruelling as it gets, not least when it has had a few hours without rain allowing it to get a little “gluey”. The runners in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes , in particular, will need to get every inch of the mile, and even on the inner track, the runners in the Long Distance Cup and Champion Stakes may be grateful for the shorter trip in both events: 82yds less than normal for the stayers’ race and 78yds less for the day’s feature race.
The early news in the betting is that Stradivarius, the only odds-on shot on the card, is a little uneasy in the market for the Long Distance Cup, drifting to 4-6 from an overnight price of 4-7 with most firms, following support for Aidan O’Brien’s Kew Gardens.
Donnacha O’Brien, the trainer’s son, will be aboard his father’s main runners this afternoon as Ryan Moore, the stable jockey, seems to have drawn the short straw by heading to Australia to trail home last on Ten Sovereigns in the hugely valuable Everest a few hours ago.
And it could be a big day for Ireland’s reigning champion jockey as Magna Grecia, who took the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with O’Brien in the saddle back in May, has joined The Revenant at the top of a very open market for the QEII, with both runners available at 5-1.
Chris Cook’s tips for today’s races are in his preview here and listed below and all the news and views from Ascot will be in this space as the richest afternoon in British racing unfolds from 1.50.
Ascot 1.35 Mabs Cross (nb) 2.10 Stradivarius 2.45 Delphinia 3.20 Happy Power 4.00 Magical 4.40 Lord North
Catterick 1.40 Leoch 2.15 Secret Smile 2.50 Van Gerwen 3.25 Moss Gill 3.55 Appointed 4.30 Confrontational 5.00 Jan De Heem 5.35 Smart Lass
Stratford 1.45 Mercy Mercy Me 2.20 Bells Of Peterboro 2.55 Skeaping 3.30 Western Climate 4.05 Song Of The Sky 4.35 Hurricane Rita 5.10 Superefficient
Ffos Las 1.50 Alanjou 2.25 Miss Honey Ryder 3.00 King Alfonso 3.35 Tidal Flow 4.15 Monsieur Lecoq 4.50 Joueur Bresilien 5.20 Oscar Asche
Market Rasen 2.00 Velkera 2.35 South Seas 3.10 Anytime Will Do 3.45 Rouge Vif 4.20 San Benedeto 4.55 Getaway North 5.30 Dont Go Gentle
Wolverhampton 5.05 Sayesse (nap) 5.40 King Of Arms 6.15 Yamato 6.45 Chamomile 7.15 With Caution 7.45 Paths Of Glory 8.15 Shauyra