Royal Ascot / Editor / 18 June 2008 / 6 Comments

Geoffrey Riddle brings you all the trackside chatter from day two of the big one. Email him with your questions and musings on theriddleratbetfair@googlemail.com

5.40pm.
We are officially AHEAD OF THE GAME, I repeat, we are officially ahead of the game. I couldn't be happier for McEvoy and Dunlop. What a win!!

NB: Did you notice how the Aussie jockey angled our winner closer to the stands rails? There can be no doubt, at all, that the stands rails [drawn low] is the place to be. Make sure you keep that in mind tomorrow.

Good afternoon all, and we'll do it all again tomorrow. I think I'll be in fine voice for the sing-song around the bandstand now.....

5.20pm
Strong word for Festivale, the tip given to us this morning by Bill Esdaile.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has never won here, (not from my records anyway) but trainer John Dunlop has, 33 times. There has been around 30k matched on it, which is not bad for a horse trading at around the 12 mark.

She was third to Infallible earlier this year, which Jimmy Fortune considered his best ride of the meeting in the Friday's Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

I feel a bit like a golfer. Bad first day, came back today to avoid the cut. What have the next two days got in store ahead of the weekend?

4.40pm

I believe the term "BACK IN THE GAME" is required here. I feel like Russell Crowe [him again?] clawing his way back, having just been stabbed in the arm pit by Joaquin Phoenix [or Brian Meehan? Can I have that doppelganger?].

Click here:
http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1908788.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19390335F8FA9CA92A6F85C07B8589EBB9A9930FDCFC4C15FBB

Then here:
http://www.geocities.com/lorraine685/splash3.jpg

See what I mean? Alright, Meehan at least looks like Phoenix's father...

Anyway, Duke of Marmalade's defeat was not taken too well by me. I'm surprised that this computer is even working. God knows what would have happened if I was using a Blackberry. It would probably be embedded in the concrete above the parade ring for the rest of time after I had thrown it down in disgust.

But Bankable though. Oh sweet Bankable, how I relished the fact that you failed. Call it schadenfreude if you like. And yes, I did you use www.dictionary.com for that one. Who cares if I can't spell. I'm back in the game.

4.15pm
Newsflash:
Get your hands off the mouse! Duke of Marmalade is on course to go to the Breeders Cup, but his next assignment relies exclusively on where Henrythenavigator goes.

Aidan O'Brien said after the race in the press conference that the Breeders Cup was the Danehill colt's ultimate aim. There are also significant reasons for thinking that he will improve dramatically as well.

O'Brien said: "He had a pin inserted at the top of his shin bone as a two-year-old, which caused him significant problems. We had that corrected this winter and he has just improved, and continued improving."

It was also interesting to see his reaction when asked about The Duke's next engagement. "At the moment I would say that he should stay at 1m2f, but he has the speed back to drop to a mile, which would bring in the Sussex [at Goodwood]."

O'Brien was less sure about extending the three-year-old, however. "He could, [pause] could get 1m4f but it all depends on where Henry [as in 'the navigator'] goes."

Chew on that....

3.55pm
There must be a great amount of gnashing of teeth among Betfair layers right now. What a sensational performance by Duke of Marmalade. It will make the price of every Aidan O'Brien runner this week at least a few points shorter.

The delectable Laura Stephens, Stan James's PR woman, tells me that her firm go 7-1 from 12s about the winner for the King George next month. As The Duke crossed the line, it is just 7 on Betfair right now. That is sure to plummet after, what as quite honestly an exceptional performance.

Interestingly, Stephens sports a dark blue Mac today, a shade not far removed from Coolmore's colours. Did she know?

Bankable is now 2.88 for the Hunt Cup. He bids to become the shortest-price winner since Pall Mall in 1959 I believe. He bids to be the first favourite for ten years to even make the frame. He is drawn high, where my beloved Dandy Man struggled so badly in the King's Stand yesterday.
Frankie Dettori yesterday actually said that the going may actually have gone against him, in that it was too firm.

And yet, Bankable's form credentials look so alluring. I feel like the fly in the film "A Bug's Life". You know the one who flies toward the Bug Zapper light saying in an entranced voice, "It's so beautiful."

3.30pm
This Fight Club thing might have some legs.

Trainer Roy Brotherton has been bullish about his charge for a while apparently. He said last week: "You don't pull out just for one horse. Plenty of handicap snips have got stuffed in the past. This is a good horse. He ran a fantastic race first time out when it was not the plan to front-run. He had a lot of Group horses behind him and will be better for the run." Will be all crowing like a peacock, sorry like Tom Peacock, in just under an hour?

The phot lads are getting in on the act. There are some extremely pretty girls here. "I'm surprised you don't get done for taking pictures like that," one pap said to the other a minute ago.

Apparently Gary Lineker is here. That is not fact by the way, but a small fag end from someone. Can that be true? Isn't he looking after Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria?

3.00pm
Never really liked the Jersey stakes anyway. Tom Peacock, the racing reporter for the Press Association is quite enthusiastic about the chances of Fight Club in the Royal Hunt Cup. The horse is ridden by Seb Sanders, and is drawn in the middle of the track where Aqlaam just hacked up.

On the face of it, a horse who has come seventh on its latest start is not getting anyone excited, but that run was in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. If you trawl through his form, he was second to Soldier Hollow four years ago. A long time ago, I know, but class is permanent isn't it?

What's more, the seven-year-old is currently trading at 100. Yes, 100.

As far as the fashionistas are concerned, there is a lot of black on show here today. I've counted at least eight women in black. Have they dressed up for the demise of Bankable and Duke of Marmalade?

I notice also below that a certain Sam Eldridge has been crowing that, while I may be down on my luck, he is most certainly up. Good for you, Sam. What are you backing in the next?
E-mail me at theriddleratbetfair@googlemail.com

2.30pm:
Oooh, didn't she look good, eh? Her Majesty looked radiant on a dull day.

I've plumped for Strike The Deal and War Officer, one on each side of the track. Spent lunch pouring over the form and trainer Jeremy Noseda reckons that Strike The Deal would be more suited by the 7f, rather than the longer races he has been contesting this season.

2pm
I've had a chat with Tony Calvin, Betfair's indefatigable Press Oficer. "I'm in the laying camp today," he said.

"I think that Bankable may well drift out to around the 2.5 mark, and possibly further of Duke of Marmalade gets beat. We could be in the position at 4.20pm, where layers have scooped up on the O'Brien runner, and are ready to press up their winnings, whatever the price.

"Bankable does have a lot going for him, but at around the 3.2 mark in a 30-runner handicap, you want everything going for you. That far side [where Bankable is drawn] looked a lot slower yesterday, and you could well get the situation where he wins his race on the far side, and wins it well, but the near side horses cop. Much like Dandy Man yesterday in the King's Stand really." Why did he have to bring THAT up again.

The band have started up, the Queen's on her way, and lunch is being served. Catch you lot later. I'm having pork chop, with rosmary potatoes and assorted veg (Mr Birdseye, I presume...?)

1.30pm
Right all you Pipedreamer fans, I'm going to put a dampener on your hopes of winning this afternoon's Prince of Wales's Stakes.

John Gosden, the affable and easy going trainer of last year's Cambridgeshire winner, told me just now that the ground will probably be too quick for his charge. "We've missed the rain, and I'm pretty sure it'll be too quick for our guy today." Hammer blow.

Still, the incisive Mr Guedeja-Marran told me yesterday that Equiano was too much of a baby to win the King's Stand Stakes, and look how that turned out. Gosden is primary evidence however, and we all know from our history GCSE what it means to rely on secondary evidence. In this case, the poor house.

12.45
Bill Esdaile, of City Am fame and Square in the Air, was talking up Red Rock Canyon in the Prince Of Wales's a minute ago. He's been placed in nine of his 12 starts (the horse, not Esdaile) and will be setting the pace for stablemate Duke of Marmalade.

Swinging for home, two lengths in front, what price will he be in-running on Betfair if they haven't gone off too fast? He's 140 on the exchange right now, and looks an interesting in-running trade. The four-year-old is 15.5 for a place, too.

Esdaile was also keen on Dunlop's Festivale, who was unlucky last time out at York. Do I want to back anymore unlucky horses though after Dandy Man yesterday? No, not really.

12pm:
Going news: Penetrometer geeks: 11.0 on the straight course, 9.4 on the round course, 10.0 overall. For the more archaic, possibly losing punters, Clerk of the course Stickels has uttered: "We were dry overnight and watered the whole track, putting 4mm of water down."
"According to the forecast, there may be light showers today, and then 3-5mm of rain overnight."

'The Choirboy' Walter Swinburn was singing the praises of of his Stotsfold earlier. He is more hopeful of Overturn though, "who were are still finding things out about."

You can tell he was in broadcasting, because when he talks to media he adopts that sonorous voice that people learn when they have to talk on TV.

It's measured. It stop in the right places. It tells you what you need to know. Being a former jockey though, his voice does not have depth howver. Unlike that bloke in the Metal Gear Solid ad on TV at the moment. Here he is at arguably his finest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwhTc3fF0ys

11.45pm
Paddy Power start the ball rolling by announcing that Duke Of Marmalade is the best backed horse of the year with them. Yes, the year. Forget the Cheltenham festival. Can this really be true?

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's Group 1 double yesterday may have something to do with it, the fact that he is Irish could also be responsible, perhaps it is true.

The firm's horse racing trading manager, Ciaran Burke, said: "We've had bucket-loads for this one. People seem to be backing him as if defeat is out of the question."

The Duke has been slammed on Betfair as well. Almost three-quarters of all trade on the Prince of Wales's market is on the O'Brien runner, and his price has shortened from a high of 2.9 down to his current 2.5.

11.30pm
Good morning all, and welcome to day two of the Royal Ascot blog.

I'm slightly worse for wear this morning. This can be understood in two ways as well.
I got slightly jolly last night and didn't mind in the least when people started playing frisbee with my top hat inthe restaurant. As a result, there is a large cut in the material on the rim, and it doesn't sit on my head right any more. It's shabby chic, if you will, which would be alright were I a piece of antique furniture. It's not alright if you are trying to sidle up to the likes of the impeccably dressed Saeed Bin Suroor or Henry Cecil to get a quote.

I'm also down financially after yesterday's efforts. Dandy Man's draw hell in the King's Stand Stakes once more was extremely painful, while Darjina's head defeat to Haradasun and Twice Over's failure to live up to Henrythenavigator's brilliance in the St James's Palace Stakes were significant setbacks.

Ascot is grey this morning, sat under a blanket of cloud. And it was spitting earlier. Imagine if comedian Peter Kay was here. "IT'S SPITTING. IT'S SPITTING. Everybody in!". If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=it%27s+spitting%2C+peter+kay&search_type=&aq=f

If you want to e-mail me click here: theriddleratbetfair@googlemail.com

Comments (6)

1. sam Eldridge | 18 June 2008

   Nice tip yesterday Riddle rat.
   you might be down I'm not. haha

2. James Hilken | 18 June 2008

   Come on riddler another good day at the races please!

3. Richard Murray | 18 June 2008

   Right Mr Riddle, after emptying my betfair account on Dandy man yesterday i am recharged and ready to go...........redeem yourself!!

4. Tom Purves | 18 June 2008

   Looking forward to your updates Mr. Riddle. Remeber the tip on Coombe Hill at Newbury, Priceless.

5. Stephanie Doig | 18 June 2008

   Good work! Wsh I was there, although with your constant updates, I may aswell be! Good tips, although I am still to win....

6. Simon Allsop | 19 June 2008

   Hey Riddler,

   Got any good tips?

   Cheers, Si

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