Eagle Top winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Rains bring relief to Gosden for Eagle Top bid
JOHN GOSDEN was happy to get wet at Ascot on Friday as rains eased the way for Eagle Top to take his place in the £1 million King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the track on Saturday.
RELATED LINKS
“This is very welcome when the owner has paid £75,000 to supplement,” said Gosden of his Royal Ascot winner, who looks set to take his place alongside stablemates Romsdal and unbeaten Oaks winner Taghrooda in one of the biggest races of the British Flat season.
Gosden added: “It wasn’t exactly forecast, but I see now on my weather map that there could be more coming from Holland. All we wanted was for it to be on the firm side of good, just not really quick. If we get another inch people will be pulling them out for the other (soft) reason!”
Eagle Top, owned by Lady Bamford, is a general 9-2 fourth favourite in a market led by runaway Royal Ascot winner Telescope from Taghrooda and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician.
A dramatic thunderstorm during racing significantly altered the ground from good to firm to good to soft.
The rain came down at Ascot on Friday turning the ground good to soft
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
A sustained period of warm and dry weather led clerk of the course Chris Stickels to water earlier in the week but the Berkshire venue experienced heavy rainfall during the opening day of the three-day meeting, prompting two changes in the ground description over Friday afternoon.
“We got 8mm this afternoon and there is still a chance of a thunderstorm later on,” Stickels said. “Saturday is expected to be mainly warm and dry, but the threat of a thunderstorm still persists.”
Stickels did offer an optimistic outlook on the prospect of drying ground, adding: “Today’s rain will soak through so there’s a chance we will be good by tomorrow.”
Flintshire (left) winning last year’s Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp
PICTURE: Scoop Dyga
Flintshire ruled out of King George at Ascot
FLINTSHIRE, a general 12-1 chance for Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, has been found to have an elevated temperature and will not run at Ascot.
RELATED LINKS
A big performance in the Group 1 showpiece was expected from Flintshire, with last year’s Grand Prix de Paris winner set to race on his preferred fast ground.
However, connections were not happy with his condition on Friday morning and have taken the decision to pull him out of the race.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Flintshire’s owner Khalid Abdullah, said on Friday: “Andre Fabre has reported that Flintshire has a temperature above normal this morning and therefore will not run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.”
Following the news, William Hill have tickled their King George prices, although much of punters’ focus remains locked on the market leaders.
Spokesman Jon Ivan-Duke said: “Telescope (2-1) and Taghrooda (9-4) dominate the market and they account for the vast majority of bets.
“At bigger odds, there’s been a trickle of interest for Trading Leather (12-1), but it really is all about the front two.”
Flintshire’s absence leaves eight contenders and trainer John Gosden is likely to make a decision on Eagle Top’s participation after walking the course on Friday.
The ground at Ascot, which also hosts a six-race card on Friday, remains good to firm, good in places after a dry night.
Ascot Saturday 26 JUL 2014
GOING: GOOD TO SOFT. (Partly cloudy)
STALLS: Straight – Centre; Round – Inside
| 1:30 |
TITANIC BELFAST WINKFIELD STAKES (LISTED RACE) (CLASS 1) (2yo) Winner £17,013 6 runners7f Good To Soft RUK Race Conditions: £30,000 guaranteed For 2yo Weights colts and geldings 9st 3lb; fillies 8st 12lb Penalties a winner of a Listed race 3lb; of a Pattern race 5lb Entries 16 pay £ 150 Penalty value 1st £17,013.00 2nd£6,450.00 3rd £3,228.00 4th £1,608.00 5th £807.00 6th £405.00 |
| NO. FORM | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12412 |  |
Diaz | 2 | 9-3 | Mark Johnston60 | Joe Fanning | 92 | 95 | 101 |
 23 Azamour (IRE) — New Girlfriend (IRE) (Diesis) |
|||||||||
| 2131 |  |
Disegno | 2 | 9-3 | Sir Michael Stoute59 | Ryan Moore | — | 20 | 101 |
| 31 Fastnet Rock (AUS) — Seven Magicians (USA) (Silver Hawk (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 3425 |  |
Kodi Bear | 2 | 9-3 | Clive Cox59 | Adam Kirby | — | 87 | 113 |
| 39 Kodiac — Hawattef (IRE) (Mujtahid (USA)) | |||||||||
| 4613 |  |
Muhaarar | 2 | 9-3 | Charles Hills77 | Paul Hanagan | — | 98 | 113 |
| 16 Oasis Dream — Tahrir (IRE) (Linamix (FR)) | |||||||||
| 551 |  |
Peacock | 2 | 9-3 | Richard Hannon52 | Richard Hughes | — | 66 | 101 |
| 56 Paco Boy (IRE) — Rainbow´s Edge (Rainbow Quest (USA)) | |||||||||
| 63310 |  |
Ustinov | 2 | 9-3 | Brian Meehan57 | Jimmy Fortune | 88 | 77 | 90 |
| 16 Exceed And Excel (AUS) — Tamzin (Hernando (FR)) | |||||||||
| 2:05 |
PRINCESS MARGARET JUDDMONTE STAKES (GROUP 3) (FILLIES) (CLASS 1) (2yo) Winner £28,355 8 runners 6f Good To Soft CH4 Race Conditions: £50,000 guaranteed For 2yo fillies Weights 9st Penalties a winner of a Group 3 race 3lb; of a Group 1 or Group 2 race 5lb Entries 12 pay £ 500 Penalty value 1st £28,355.00 2nd £10,750.00 3rd £5,380.004th £2,680.00 5th £1,345.00 6th £675.00 |
| NO. FORM | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18151 |  |
Accipiter | 2 | 9-0 | Chris Wall | Ashley Morgan | 88 | 84 | 99 |
| 15 Showcasing — Mexican Hawk (USA) (Silver Hawk (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 271 |  |
Explosive Lady | 2 | 9-0 | K R Burke74 | Martin Harley | — | 71 | 92 |
| 21 Alfred Nobel (IRE) — My Girl Lisa (USA) (With Approval (CAN)) | |||||||||
| 3471 |  |
Goldcrest | 2 | 9-0 | Henry Candy69 | Dane O’Neill | — | 87 | 100 |
| 23 Assertive — Level Pegging (IRE) (Common Grounds) |
|||||||||
| 451 | |
Muraaqaba | 2 | 9-0 | Mark Johnston60 | Paul Hanagan | — | 61 | 100 |
| 29 Dubawi (IRE) — Nufoos (Zafonic (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 51251 |  |
Osaila | 2 | 9-0 | Richard Hannon52 | Frankie Dettori | 93 | 84 | 109 |
| 9 Danehill Dancer (IRE) — Mennetou (IRE) (Entrepreneur) |
|||||||||
| 66592 |  |
Pastoral Girl | 2 | 9-0 | James Given78 | Dale Swift | 82 | 88 | 96 |
 22 Pastoral Pursuits — Talampaya (USA) (Elusive Quality (USA)) |
|||||||||
| 72412 |  |
Rosie´s Premiere | 2 | 9-0 | Dean Ivory80 | Richard Hughes | 82 | 88 | 96 |
| 15 Showcasing — Golden Rosie (IRE) (Exceed And Excel (AUS)) | |||||||||
| 8323 |  |
Tongue Twista | 2 | 9-0 | Nick Littmoden60 | J-P Guillambert | — | 72 | 101 |
| 15 Stimulation (IRE) — Lady-Love (Pursuit Of Love) | |||||||||
| 2:40 |
WEATHERBYS PRIVATE BANKING HANDICAP (BOBIS RACE) (CLASS 2) (3yo) Winner £28,012 11 runners 1m Good To Soft CH4 Race Conditions: £45,000 guaranteed For 3yo Weights highest weight not less than 9st 7lb See note below:Weight raised 6 Minimum weight 8-0 Penalties after July 19th, each race won 6lb NOTE: Any horse rated above 110 shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 9st 7lb Subsequently, the excess over 110 in any rating shall be added to the weightallotted to that horse without limitation to the highest weight to be carried American Hope’s Handicap Mark 99 Entries 25 pay £ 225 Penalty value 1st £28,012.002nd £8,388.00 3rd £4,194.00 4th £2,097.00 5th £1,048.00 6th £526.00 |
| 3:15 |
LONGINES INTERNATIONAL STAKES (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (3yo+) Winner £93,375 29 runners 7f Good To Soft CH4 Race Conditions: £150,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ Weights highest weight not less than 9st 10lb Weight raised2 Minimum weight 8-0 Penalties after June 28th, a winner 3lb; of 2 or more races 5lb (NOTES: 1. Any horse rated above 115 (or 122 if such a horse is 3yo) shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 9st 10lb; Subsequently, the excess over 115 (or 122 if such a horse is 3yo) in any rating shall be added to the weight allotted to that horse without limitation to the highest weight to be carried) Gabriel’s Lad’s Handicap Mark 110 Entries 65 pay £ 325 Penalty value 1st £93,375.00 2nd £27,960.00 3rd £13,980.00 4th£6,990.00 5th £3,495.00 6th £1,755.00 |
| 3:50 |
KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (SPONSORED BY QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) Winner £603,961 9 runners 1m4f Good To Soft CH4 Race Conditions: £1,065,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ Weights 3yo colts and geldings 8st 9lb; fillies 8st 6lb; 4yo+ colts and geldings 9st 7lb; fillies 9st 4lb; southern hemisphere allowance: 4yo 4lb Entries 12 pay £ 5500 Penalty value 1st £603,961.00 2nd £228,975.00 3rd £114,594.00 4th £57,084.00 5th £28,648.00 6th £14,377.00 |
| 4:25 |
LONGINES HANDICAP (LADIES´ RACE) (FOR LADY AMATEUR RIDERS) (CLASS 3) (3yo+ 0-90) Winner £8,110 13 runners 7f Good To Soft RUK Race Conditions: £13,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ Rated 71-90 (also open to such horses rated 70 and below) to be ridden by lady amateur riders who, prior to July 23rd, 2014, have ridden at least one winner under any Rules of Racing and had a minimum of ten rides under any Rules of Racing Weights highest weight not less than 10st 10lbMinimum weight 9-5, 3-y-o 8-12 Penalties after July 19th, each race won 6lb Born To Surprise’s Handicap Mark 90 Allowances riders who, prior to July 23rd 2014, have not ridden more than 10 winners under any Rules of Racing 3lb; 5 such winners 5lb Entries 21 pay £ 65 Penalty value 1st £8,110.00 2nd £2,515.00 3rd £1,257.004th £629.00 |
Long Handicap: Sheikh The Reins 9-2
| 5:00 |
CANISBAY BLOODSTOCK HANDICAP (BOBIS RACE) (CLASS 4) (3yo 0-85) Winner £7,762 10 runners 1m4f Good To Soft RUK Race Conditions: £12,000 guaranteed For 3yo Rated 66-85 (also open to such horses rated 65 and below)Weights highest weight 9st 7lb Minimum weight 8-2 Penalties after July 19th, each race won 6lb Trip To Paris’s Handicap Mark 84 Entries 22 pay £ 60 Penalty value 1st £7,762.00 2nd £2,310.00 3rd £1,154.004th £577.00 |
