1755: And in the leading trainer contest, Richard Hannon (three) has a narrow lead over Tom Dascombe, Hughie Morrison and Aidan O'Brien (all on two). That's all folks. Please read Frank Keogh's report on
Fame And Glory's success
today, and I'll see you again at lunchtime tomorrow.
1752: With that success, jockey Richard Kingscote joins Eddie Ahern on two winners apiece, but the one they're still trying to catch is Richard Hughes on three. Ryan Moore, with just one win, has had a stack of seconds and can look forward to some good rides to come on Friday and Saturday.
1748: The emotion breaks free for former England striker Michael Owen, who bred this horse, who co-owns him and who has invested a lot of time and effort in the trainer Tom Dascombe's yard. Owen wipes away tears to tell BBC Sport: "Owining a horse that wins at Ascot is one thing, but breeding one, this is different and it doesn't get any better. We had a winner yesterday and it's been quite special. Richard deserves success. It was a time for patience last year and that patience has paid off. It's all down to Tom and Richard and all the staff."
RESULT - King George V Stakes (Handicap)1. Brown Panther (Richard Kingscote) 4-1JF
2. Census (Richard Hughes) 6-1
3. Well Sharp (Philip Makin (40-1)
4. Communicator (Jamie Spencer) 16-1
BROWN PANTHER WINS THE KING GEORGE V STAKES 1738: Brown Panther will surely win by a fair distance.
1737: Significant progress is being made by Brown Panther.
1737: Going uphill, Apache is third so is handily positioned.
1736: Mica Mika, the bottom-weight horse, is among the early leaders.
1735: They're off in the King George V.
1734: "Look at that horse, that is beautiful," says Willie Carson of Census. Brown Panther is another to take the eye, bred and co-owned by football's Michael Owen.
1732: Apache is the 4-1 favourite as they go to post. He's the top weight, ridden by Joseph O'Brien for his dad Aidan, who won the big race today with Fame And Glory.
1726: The last race may not be the most valuable of the week despite its grand title - the King George V Stakes. But it is still sure to be an absorbing handicap, featuring 18 three-year-olds, and they'll be covering a mile and a half of rain-softened ground. The in-form team of Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes - who have Census in this one - could be the ones to beat here.
1721: The winning jockey in the Tercentenary Stakes was Jimmy Fortune, who says of Pisco Sour: "He's a horse going the right way and could be anything." Turning his attention to the yard he does most of his work for, that of Andrew Balding's, he adds: "Early this year, Andrew's horses had been needing the run, but that was due to the dry spell we had." Balding and Fortune have Discoteca in the last race, off at 1735, and it's raining again.
1716: If, unlike our tweeter karenlb below, you can watch this on a Freeview television, I should inform you that the last race of the day is available on the red button.
karenlb on Twitter:
"I wish there were subtitles on the live coverage of Ascot being streamed on bbc.co.uk - sneakily watching at work with sound off!"
Winning trainer Hughie Morrison: "I had to feel hopeful, then I looked at the quality in this race and had a few doubts. But he came out of the Derby fantastically and you have to congratulate Epsom for the ground they had that day because he came out of it better than he went in."
RESULT - Tercentenary Stakes1. Pisco Sour (Jimmy Fortune) 20-1
2. Alkimos (Kieren Fallon) 13-2
3. Slumber (Michael Hills) 10-1
1708: Third in the Dante Stakes, ninth in the Derby, a winner today - and a quick double for trainer Hughie Morrison. Named after a particularly fine South American cocktail of Peruvian and Chilean origin.
PISCO SOUR WINS THE TERCENTENARY STAKES 1705: Same two horses fighting it out approaching the finish, with Pisco Sour also challenging.
1704: Leading on the rail is Happy Today, with Hunter's Light also prominent.
1703: They're off in the Tercentenary Stakes.
1659: Happy Today, a 33-1 outsider earlier in the day, is attracting plenty of support, according to BBC betting expert Gary Wiltshire. Gary, a former bookmaker, has had a grand old day teasing all the bookies who took a caning from Fame And Glory
1656: Aidan O'Brien, bidding for his third winner of the week, saddles Marksmanship. Unraced as a two-year-old and a winner of his only start this season - I'd stick him on my shortlist.
1655: OK, so bring on the 1700, the Tercentenary Stakes. Kieren Fallon is looking for his first winner of the week, and Alkimos is his mount for this 1m 2f race for three-year-olds. A handy sort and this one looks likely to go well, I'd have thought. Sir Michael Stoute trains Tazahum and that might start favourite.
1647: More on the Britannia Handicap now. I understand Sagramor was a first Royal Ascot winner for trainer Hughie Morrison, so well done him. The Tichborne defied his big price to produce a prominent ride and land some big each-way money for bargain-hunters.
1634: So, the winner of his last start at Haydock, Sagramor was expected to be favourite for this until the late money came for Chain Lightning. Nicely-timed ride from Nicky Mackay, but spare a thought for Ryan Moore who's had a string of second places this week and has to settle for another runner-up spot here.
RESULT - Britannia Handicap1. Sagramor (Nicky Mackay) 8-1
2. Cai Shen (Ryan Moore) 20-1
3. The Tichborne (Jack Mitchell) 100-1
4. Belgian Bill (Tony Culhane) 10-1
SAGRAMOR WINS THE BRITANNIA HANDICAP 1628: Plenty are dashing to the far side to pick up what they think will be the quicker ground. Two groups emerge, Rigolleto among those to show up prominently...
1627: Chain Lightning, 16-1 this morning, is now 6-1. If that wins the bookies will be walking home. They're off!
1625: We're straight into the Britannia Handicap now - big field, one-miler - your guess is as good as mine as to what will win it!
1617: The O'Brien camp practically own this valuable race now. Yeats famously won it four times, and the way Fame And Glory stayed the distance so comfortably, who's to say he won't do something similar?
1613: Aidan O'Brien adds that the plan for the rest of this season for Fame And Glory is as follows: take a break, then just one race before another tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Next season, he promises BBC Two that he'll aim this fantastic horse at the Gold Cup again. And meanwhile, leading bookmakers lick their wounds, the big industry-leaders (Ladbrokes, Coral etc) said to have lost around £1m each.
Winning jockey Jamie Spencer on BBC Two: "We didnt go very fast early, so I was delighted when Geordieland injected a little bit of pace. My fella wasn't keen, he wanted that injection of pace to make it into a race. It was a very easy push-button ride for me. Great training performance too from Aidan."
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien on BBC Two: "I'm delighted for everybody, delighted for Jamie [Spencer], who gave him a great ride. Thanks for everybody for letting a horse with his class run in a Gold Cup. Very few mile-and-a-quarter Group 1 winners run in the Gold Cup. When horses have so much class they can often stay. Class makes them stay and it's the ultimate test when you go that extreme distance. Class is very hard to replace and Jamie was very confident and gve him an unbelievable ride."
1558: Really versatile horse, this Fame And Glory. Would have had a glittering three-year-old career had he not run into the Sea The Stars juggernaut. A quick word too on the second. Mind you, that young jockey Mickael Barzalona knows what he's doing on a racecourse, quality performance to get that one into the frame and briefly challenge the winner.
1555: Jockey Jamie Spencer knew exactly what he was doing, switching the horse off in the middle of the pack for almost the whole race, before hitting the "go" button on the apex of the final bend. Quality ride, quality training performance from Aidan O'Brien, and a massive body-blow for the bookies.
RESULT - Gold Cup1. Fame And Glory 11-8F (Jamie Spencer)
2. Opinion Poll 16-1 (Mickael Barzalona)
3. Brigantin 16-1 (P C Boudot)
FAME AND GLORY WINS THE GOLD CUP 1551: Fame And Glory has to come now... and he does.
1551: Duncan is the new leader, Geordieland suddenly going backwards.
1550: Geordieland is being produced for a run with five furlongs to go.
1549: They are all fairly strung out, with Fame And Glory in mid-division, tucked inside and racing a little keenly, while Duncan is making a little move.
1548: Tastahil is right at the front, while The Betchworth Kid, the mount of Hayley Turner, is in the rear. A circuit to go.
1546: We're off in the Gold Cup.
1545: The monster gamble on Fame And Glory shows no signs of abating. Bookie Geoff Banks tells BBC Two: "We'll need a blood transfusion if he wins."
1544: Remember that extraordinary celebration from young Mickael Barzalona when he won the Derby on Pour Moi? The young Frenchman's not without a chance on Opinion Poll in this race, though the ground may not have come quite as soft as he would have wanted?
1541: While we're waiting for the Gold Cup to start, allow me to draw your attention to a
video clip of Ladies' Day
assembled by our team here at BBC towers.
1538: Clare Balding is doing her pre-race build-up which is a bit like Martin Brundle's "grid-walk" before a Formula 1 race, lots of last-ditch interviews, building the suspense nicely. "I'm not quite happy with your English weather," the French trainer of Kasbah Bliss, Francois Doumen, tells her. What do you mean
your English weather? Paris is officially wetter than London, isn't it?
BBC betting analyst Gary Wiltshire: "There are fortunes coming in for Fame And Glory. They'll take the 2-1, the 15-8's gone and the 7-4 too. The way they're going this could start even money. I've never seen money like this for one horse in my life at Royal Ascot."
1530: What tickles your fancy in the Gold Cup? Fame And Glory will surely find this extended distance something of a test, although his trainer sent Yeats to multiple victories in this race. Duncan, trained by the experienced John Gosden, is a six-year-old lightly raced this year who should be well prepared for this. The best of the rest is maybe Blue Bajan.
1526: Two ladies in the Royal Enclosure are being asked to name the designers who have produced their outfits today. Wonder what the gnarled old punters in their local bookies make of these bits. Apparently one of them is wearing burnt ostrich feathers on her hat, I kid you not.
1523: The model Stella Tennant towers over winning jockey Kevin Manning as she presents him with his winning trophy for that fine success in the Ribblesdale. Meanwhile, Fame And Glory, a horse with a fine CV and the probable favourite for the Gold Cup, is having his bridle put on right now,. His next duty will be to head to the pre-parade ring.
1519: Royal Ascot coverage switches to BBC Two now as we begin the countdown to today's big race, the Group 1 Gold Cup.
Paul in Derby, via e-mail: "Re: Depriving punters of a winning bet (see 1454). What about the punters who were deprived of a winning bet on the horse that finished second and may well have won had the jockey not broken the rules?"
Winning trainer Jim Bolger on BBC One: "After she won at Cork it was always the plan she would come out of the race alright; we used that race instead of giving her some work. All she does is eat and sleep, she only exerts herself on the racecourse. We'd have preferred good ground, but she got there anyway, she's very courageous and stuck at it." The Irish Oaks and the Prix de l'Opera are on this one's agenda now, he adds.
1512: Richard Hughes appeared to be lining up his fourth winner of the meeting, when Field of Miracles had the field stretched out behind him, but Banimpire, a four-time winner already this season, including last Sunday at Cork, jsut got her nose ahead when it mattered.
RESULT - Ribblesdale Stakes1. Banimpire 6-1 (Kevin Manning)
2. Field of Miracles 16-1 (Richard Hughes)
3. Dorcas Lane 10-1 (Paul Hanagan)
BANIMPIRE WINS THE RIBBLESDALE STAKES
1508: PHOTO FINISH - Banimpire probably got it from Field of Miracles.
1508: Sunday Bess drops out of contention, Field of Miracles still out in front. Banimpire is second.
1507: Rumh is out wide, biding his time half a mile out.
1506: Field of Miracles is the new leader under Richard Hughes.
1505: They're off in the Ribblesdale, with Sunday Bess making the early running.
1504: The tiny Zain Al Boldan is the mount of Kieren Fallon. Despite a weak run in the Oaks, she's got some fine form behind her.
1502: Just a few minutes until the Ribblesdale Stakes, for three-year-old fillies, over one and a half miles. Favourite at the moment is Rumh, ridden by Frankie Dettori for the Godolphin operation. Irish hopes are with Banimpire.
1457: "We're seeing quite a lot of saucer hats this year aren't we," says BBC One's fashion presenter Suzi Perry. Do you like saucer hats? Now we cut to footage of a model wearing a "hat" that looks more like a crumped pancake. Millinery... utter mystery to me, sorry.
1454: Clare Balding and Willie Carson are discussing the turmoil surrounding rules regarding the use of the whip -
Frankie Dettori picked up a lengthy ban
yesterday after winning on Rewilding. Willie does not like the idea of the winning horse losing the race because it would deprive the punters of a winning bet, instead he suggests jockeys should compete for three months without a whip in hand.
1450: The French-trained Brigantin [see also 1338] is being tipped in all sorts of place at the moment. I'd say it'll take a horse with lots of class to beat Fame And Glory in the Gold Cup.
E-mail from David McBride: "My best bets today are Brown Panther in the 1735 and Brigantin each-way in the 1545. I have got a £50 each-way double on them both."
1445: Willie Carson notes that this horse is only one month past his official two-year-old birthday, making him the youngest one in the race. There seem to be plenty of indicators that Bapak Chinta is one to follow, perhaps a contender for the 2,000 Guineas next year.
Winning jockey Philip Makin on BBC One: "It's brilliant [to have a first Royal Ascot winner]. I've not sat on a two-year-old as sharp as him. He did it very easily at Hamilton in his first race, but when I let him off [the bridle] I was half-thinking what's going to happen? He tried his guts out and didn't really like the ground, he'll be better on faster ground."
1439: This winner was drawn in stall two, so if you're looking for indicators of where the quicker ground may be for the one-mile Britannia Handicap at 1625 (a crazy 30-runner affair that one) bear that in mind.
1435: Ridden confidently up the centre, and always prominent from about three furlongs out, this
Bapak Chinta put concerns about the soft ground to one side, with a good, clean run under Philip Makin. Willie Carson says on BBC One: "This colt gets the trip really well. He's listened to what the jockey's told him and taken notice of it too."
RESULT - Norfolk Stakes1. Bapak Chinta 6-1 (Philip Makin)
2. Boomerang Bob 20-1 (Seb Sanders)
3. Crown Dependency 8-1 (Richard Hughes)
1432: BAPAK CHINTA WINS THE NORFOLK STAKES 1432: Bapak Chinta has the lead...
1431: Silverheels is 4-1 favourite... and they're off!
1430: Lots of money for
Bannock in the opener, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa. If you've taken a price on this one you'll be happy, he's into about 9-2. They're going into stalls...
1426: They're heading down to post for the Norfolk Stakes now. American trainer Wesley Ward, who has
Everyday Dave in this and has won at Royal Ascot in the past, is another who's a wee bit unhappy about the soft ground. "I'm hopeful he'll be able to handle it," he tells Clare Balding.
BBC One's racing analyst Mick Fitzgerald: "This ground will be very stamina-sapping. We'll get a good guide as to what it's like after the first race. Some horses just like it on a slow surface, like Rafael Nadal on clay."
Mind you, Nadal's not too bad on fast tennis courts either...
BBC Sport's Clare Balding on Twitter:
"Lots of money for Opinion Poll in the Gold Cup and I can see why. Also I'd be thinking Kasbah Bliss [in the same race] will run well. Hard race to work out."
1415: Trained in north Yorkshire by Kevin Ryan,
Bapak Chinta is the likely favourite for the Norfolk Stakes. Bred in the United States, he was a tidy winner of his first race on the Flat, in May. Jockey Philip Makin says on BBC One: "He's only run once and he couldn't be any more impressive. He continues to show us a lot and it was always the plan to come here but we're a bit concerned with this rain that's come down."
1410: Just 20 minutes away from our opener, a five-furlong Group 2 dash for two-year-olds. We have one filly in the field,
Pyman's Theory, a quietly-fancied entry from Tom Dascombe's yard. The bills at his yard are picked up by Michael Owen, and Dascombe had a winner yesterday.
1407: Whoops, back comes the rain as we prepare for the National Anthem.
Yes she really did make it all herself
|
1402: I've just dug out a photo of Miss Ballooniverse, so you can see for yourself just how marvellous/ridiculous she looks, depending on your taste. At the opposite end of the sartorial spectrum, of course, are the outfits on show right now in the royal procession, with the horse-drawn carriages plying their way down the finishing straight now. In the fourth carriage today are Mr and Mrs Middleton, the parents of the Duchess of Cambridge. I think she's wearing cream, while the Queen is in pink.
BBC Sport's Frank Keogh at Royal Ascot: "A horse called Silverheels was bound to be popular with the well-heeled ladies on Ladies' Day, and the Ryan Moore mount is into 6-1 from 8s in the opening Norfolk Stakes. In the Gold Cup, apparent outsider Aaim to Prosper has been popular, now 40s from 66-1. Two being well supported in the concluding King George V Handicap are Apache and Brown Panther."
1357: Some truly mad outfits on show today. The Press Association has reported the following: "Miss Ballooniverse accessorised her 1950s-style emerald green dress coat by Jane & Marilyn with a hat made entirely of balloons - and, for that finishing touch, a balloon umbrella. The balloon artist, who would not give her real name, said: 'I made the umbrella just as I was leaving the house. I would have been soaked to the skin otherwise.' "
1350: "It's brightened up now, the sun has come up - and that means we can enjoy the finest of the fashions. You cannot wear anything that's too extravagant, it's the ultimate dressing-up day for grown-ups."
From Michael Auchincloss on Twitter: "Here's hoping Fame And Glory can stay over the extended distance and softer ground, beast horse. Pyman's Theory for the Norfolk Stakes."
1344: Today is Ladies' Day, but it could potentially be a day to remember for one particular lady, if the excellent jockey Hayley Turner can be the first woman to ride a Royal Ascot winner since Gay Kellaway in 1987.
She talks BBC Sport's Frank Keogh
through her two chances today, Creme Anglaise (1505) and The Betchworth Kid (1545). Both are said to be "mudlarks", lovers of the soft going we're going to have today.
1341: Stacks of non-runners in the first race. The Norfolk Stakes, over the minimum trip of five furlongs (barely half a mile) will go off without
Ballesteros, Bear Behind, Caspar Netscher, Frederick Engels, Lupo d'Oro and
Ebony Clarets. Take those six out and you're left with 15 going to post in the 1430. In addition, one comes out of the field for the final race of the day, no
Eternal Heart in the 1735.
1338: Today's feature race is The Gold Cup, off at 1545 BST. In this,
Fame And Glory represents the ever-powerful yard of Irish trainer Aidian O'Brien. In 2009, this horse frequently found himself second best to that year's
nonpareil,
Sea The Stars. Among Fame And Glory's rivals for the marathon race - a full two and a half miles - is Brigantin, sent across The Channel by Andre Fabre. Having already taken this year's Derby back to France, Monsieur Fabre is after another English Group 1 prize.
1334: Let me give you a rundown of the six races on offer today.
1430: Norfolk Stakes
1505: Ribblesdale Stakes
1545: Gold Cup
1625: Britannia Handicap
1700: Tercentenary Stakes
1735: King George V Stakes 1330: Televised coverage with Clare Balding and Willie Carson will go live on BBC One at 1345. Until then, do you fancy letting me have your tips for today? Or if you wish to save your powder dry and provide some thoughts after any of today's races then be my guest. You can
text to 81111, starting your message with RACING or ASCOT,
tweet with hashtag #bbcracing, or e-mail
racing@bbc.co.uk. 1324: Donning his slightly damp top hat for a third day is our very own
Frank Keogh. Here's his take on today's racing: "Heavy showers hit the racecourse, and a few summery outfits, on the morning of Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot, but the afternoon may be brighter. The gruelling Gold Cup is the big race and will be a big slog on the softened ground. The first two days have been full of talking points and day three will bring more with a possibility of big-priced winners as the weather rains on the parade of some leading contenders."
1320: It's Ladies' Day, when the female patrons at Royal Ascot are set to don their most glamorous frocks of the week - and wouldn't you know it? It's been wet all morning in Berkshire, very wet indeed in fact. But it's brightening up a touch, and I'm certainly looking forward to the day's racing...
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