Royal Ascot Day 2 Review: Even clouds can't cast shadow on O'Brien's festival

Royal Ascot / Editor / 18 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

Chris Barnett is our man with the mic at Royal Ascot. The only interview he hasn't managed so far is the Queen. So come on Chris, pull your finger out.

Early on day two at Royal Ascot , the sun deserted the masses who had made their way to the Berkshire track. A large scattering of cloud was the only colour to be gleamed from the sky, and even the odd spot of rain here and there was added along with a brisk breeze just to make sure the ladies had to keep any eye on their hats as well as the horses at the course.

Just in time for the arrival of Her Majesty, the sun came and popped its' inquisitive head around the clouds to warm up the day, although the breeze decided to stick around for just about the whole of Wednesday's events.

There were more than one horse that was fully expected to win here today. Both Duke Of Marmalade and Bankable, the handicap good thing, were backed as though there was no tomorrow, but it was only Aidan O'Briens charge, Duke Of Marmalade, that duly obliged. I managed to speak exclusively to the master of Ballydoyle, not only about 'The Duke' but also his winners from yesterday, Haradasun and Henrythenavigator and how Yeats is expected to do in his quest for a record equalling Gold Cup tomorrow. Stable jockey, Johnny Murtagh was very excited about Duke Of Marmalade's run and the scope this horse has with a variance of distances and Aidan O'Brien confirmed that the Breeders Cup will be on the agenda for the son of Danehill.

Bankable could only finish 5th in the Royal Hunt Cup after all the support he was attracting under Frankie Dettori. It was Richard Hughes and Richard Hannon who came out top with Mr Aviator hanging on in a close finish to beat Docofthebay and Royal Power.

Earlier in the afternoon, William Haggas provided the winner of the opener, the Jersey Stakes over 7 furlongs when Aqlaam was an impressive winner for Richard Hills. Godolphin's Il Warrd finished second and Dream Eater for the Balding stable, third. The Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at 3.05 went across the channel, when French trained and ridden Sabana Perdida, ridden by Christoph Lemaire and trained by Alan Royer-Dupre outstayed Sir Michael Stoute's Heaven Sent, who drifted badly to the right in the final furlong after gaining a length lead, only to see the French filly go past to swoop close home.

To end the day, the final two races seemed difficult to assess with so many winners in the fields. The Queen Mary Stakes at 4.55 went the way of Mick Quinlan's filly, Langs Lash, a nice winner for jockey Alan Munro, whilst the last race at 5.30 the Sandringham Handicap was won by John Dunlop's Festivale under Australian jockey, Kerrin McEvoy.

Day 3 is Ladies Day and features the Gold Cup with Yeats aiming to be the only other horse to complete a hat-trick of wins since Sagaro did it back in 1977. You can listen to Betfair's exclusive interview with Aidan O'Brien to hear his thoughts on the chances of this happening. And the way Ballydoyle have their horses primed right now, it would be a brave man who bet against it. Thursday also features the Ribblesdale Stakes for the fillies, the Britannia Handicap and the Listed Hampton Court Stakes, but we get underway at 2.30 with the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over 5 furlongs. It should be another great day of racing at Royal Ascot, especially for the ladies.