Muggy, sultry, almost humid. Grey skies dominate. For now…
Off we go. Five days of fabulous sport, and every day will tell a tale or seven. Glorious winners, desperately unlucky losers, gaps that close and those that open, the life changing placepot that is let down in the last, the massive outsider that has the Tote ladies calling up for more cash…
All of the above, and much more, will happen this week…
The Royal Procession and the entire meeting wonderfully supported by The King and Queen. When our sport’s greatest patron Queen Elizabeth died, there was concern that the strength of the Royal Family’s support might waver. Who knows about the next generation – but for now we have a Monarch who understands the importance of these five days for showcasing not only a sport but a nation…
I have the inside line that he and The Queen will be in the first carriage up the course. Anybody find me a bit of 5/1 about that happening….??
Tuesday is undoubtedly the best day’s racing. A Group 1 fest…
The Queen Anne, the first race, a fantastic renewal. More Thunder was desperately unlucky not to win The Wokingham last year which was very tough for connections. But less tough for connections of the winner. Did I ever tell you about the time….??
More Thunder might well get his Ascot redemption in a Group 1…
Other “stabs” for me – Mrair each way in the Coventry, Overpass to dominate for Australia and probably come back and do it all again on Saturday, Bow Echo to blow them away and then hats off for a Royal winner with Reaching High. The last two races are impossible, and powder dry and drinking somebody else’s wine makes sense at that point…
Whilst unsettling headwinds lurk at several levels, the Royal Meeting will grab the headlines, paper over several cracks, and shout this great sport from high Grandstand rooftops…
When it is done and dusted, those deep cracks must be addressed before the precipice is reached. But that is for next week and beyond…
Here’s hoping that we see racing on the front pages over the next few days for all the right reasons…..!!
