Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 27 September 2009 /

On the final day of the Ascot Festival, the Riddler is still at the Berkshire course to bring you all the talk around the track, the latest market movers and post-race reaction. Email him with your views and tips at theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com.

5.15pm
1: Elna Bright
2: Alfathaa
3: Credit Swap
Well that was a bizarre ending, wasn't it? Bucked Off raced on his own under Martin Dwyer in a ludicrous position, and was then swamped by the field halfway through. I didn't quite see where Elna Bright came from, but the gelding was tanking inside the final furlong.

Poor old Richard Hills couldn't quite conjure the magic of earlier this afternoon and even the cheek-pieces couldn't get him over the line in first place on Alfathaa.

Well folks, that's it as far as thoroughbred racing is concerned. There's two pony races on now, which are not being traded on Betfair. Shame, because some of these young jockeys looked an absolute shambles in the weighing room. Ill-fitting silks not tucked in, kit in both hands and jumbled up, and loads of mousy brown ruffled hair. One who stood out was William Twiston-Davies, who had all his kit under one arm, and was standing confidently, almost arrogant. He's one to look out for.

I hope you'll forgive me for not staying and relaying it all. It's a big week next week and I need to recharge. We are at Newmarket from Thursday to Saturday for the Cambridgeshire meeting, and then it's off to Paris for the Arc. Join me on Thursday from 11am. Good evening all.

4.45pm
I like a bit of cheek-piece action, it concentrates the mind, and Alfathaa might be interesting under man of the moment Richard Hills. On the other hand, I not much of one for these lightly-raced types in handicaps, and, to me, Fanunalter looks a weak favourite.

As a result, I'm going with the old stagers, Huzzah and Credit Swap. I'm always wary of Michael Wigham runners, because he knows a thing or two, and likes to push the limits. Toby Atkinson gives off a useful 7lbs and his run last time out was a pipe-opener after a nice summer holiday.

Although Huzzah doesn't win nearly often enough, he is just 1lbs higher than when finishing second here in the Royal Hunt Cup. He never travelled at York at the Ebor meeting, and before that he was drawn pretty badly at Goodwood. All in all, he looks a cracking price in the place market at the same odds as you can get the Botti favourite...oh er.

4.25pm result:
1: Electrolyser
2: Oasis Knight
3: Swingkeel
The market spoke correctly and the Betchworth Kid ran the worst of the big three, but it was Electrolyser, who stole the show. Jockey Philip Robinson rode a terrific race from the front. When they fanned out into the straight, the sprint started, but Robinson gave his mount a breather, which was enough to get him home.

4.10pm
"Ding-dong" goes the gong. "The placings remain unaltered." Phew. There seems precious little between the first three in the betting in this stayers race. Swingkeel looks solid, and his last run at York last month continues to work out well. Oasis Knight's run behind Mourilyan and Victoria Montoya at Goodwood last time looks very strong, and as a three-year-old he gets a generous 12lbs weight-for-age allowance.

There are just six runners though, so one has to finish out of the places, so whoooose it gonna be?

4pm
Colin McKenzie, the former Daily Mail racing writer, has a share in the Betchworth Kid, the stayer trained by Michael Bell that features in the next race.

McKenzie can't understand why the horse is a drifter - [2.74] out to [5.5] - and he's backed it with his own hard-earned. What's more, Hayley Turner is in the irons, and her roomie, Amy Weaver, has been telling everyone and anyone who will listen that the four-year-old will win.

That run at Salisbury last time out puts him right bang into contention, but it was on soft ground, and the gelding's form figures on Good To Firm are Win: 1 Placed: 4 Unplaced 11. The question is, therefore, is the horse so much better than the rest, that the going will be immaterial?

3.50pm result:
1: Pleasant Day
2: Guest Brook
3: Keen Bidder.
Martin Dwyer has his whip in the correct hand, and although Pleasant Day drifted right over from the centre of the track to the far side rail, he won with something in hand.

The Stewards are sitting deliberating at the moment, but if they chuck the winner out, I'm convinced they've got a super yankee of Richard Hills, who past the post second on the favourite, Guest Brook

3.40pm
Brian Meehan's Pleasant Day continues to drift, which is a shame, because I thought he had a fair chance. Perhaps the blinkers, which are on for the third time, are not expected to keep that improvement curve going. That run at Doncaster behind Audacity of Hope on Good To Firm was in a pretty quick time, and the winner as gone out and won again. According to the ratings, there is precious little to find between Pleasant Day, and the favourite, Guest Book.

That statement is also applicable to Astonishment, who will love the trip and going and is the oldest in the line-up, as well as Richard Fahey's Bahamian Music.

Guest Book on the other hand is one of three in the race who were born in April, a trio which includes Desert Auction and Nom De La Rosa. The favourite is a strapping sort, so should have improved a lot since his last run at Chepstow, and should continue to do so as he fills out his frame.

3.15pm result:
1: Sayif
2: Tamgin
3: Mullein
4: High Standing
The decision of Stephen Donohue to go to the far side on Tamgin looked weak, and the poor lad raced on his own. You can see why he did it, because for the last two days all the action has been over there.

Still, he raced on the far side, forcing the pace and driving down his mount's price all the while on Betfair. The gelding's odds plummeted to an astonishing [2.02] in-running. I whacked in my money at [3.0], but a fair few of you got out at a much better price than that. Well done.

Sayif was always travelling well and won that pretty easily, to be honest. He looks back to his juvenile form, when he was second to Bushranger in a Group 1. Richard Hills continues to fire in the winners as well, and his ride in the next race, Guest Book, has been nibbled at and is now trading at [3.35]. If Hills wins the next, I might work out the four-timer for you...

3.05pm
Much like poor old Campanologist, JJ The Jet Plane seems to have few connections here to give him the pre-race prep talk. No Richard Hannon senior or junior, from what I can see and his price is back out to [14.0].

Although Art Connoisseur has run his two best races here at Ascot, winning the Golden Jubilee and the Coventry, his trainer, Michael Bell is not confident at all. "Our boy is in good form at the moment, but it is his penalty that is the worry," he said.

High Standing looked an absolute picture in the paddock. He bossed it and looked a real physical specimen. He may not be a flashy favourite, but he looks like he'll give you a real run for your money.

Lastly, Tamgin, the Pricewise horse. VCbet reportedly went 20-1 this morning, Coral went 9-1. The great Seagull tipped it, but as it is a front-runner, it may actually better to get on Stephen Donogue's mount as a back-to-lay prospect. "He's a good each-way bet," Jeff Pearce says. "He's there to be shot at, though."

At [15.5] there seems a lot of room for manoeuvre in backing him and then laying him in-running at something like [3.0].

2.40pm result:
1: Mawatheeq
2: Campanologist
3: Kingdom Of Fife
Mawatheeq stayed all day there, and all those who feared that he wouldn't knew their fate a long way out. Campanologist made a brave bid for home, but Richard Hills just wound him in and scooted clear inside the final quarter, with Kingdom Of Fife for the Queen just nicking third.

It was Hills's second victory of the day, having won on Record Breaker, although once again, I'll leave out what the double paid out.

Earlier in the day I flagged up that JJ The Jet Plane had been a big drifter - from 8.4 to 16.5. But Richard Hannon's colt is now [13.0]. Watch the price like a hawk, because if it shortens dramatically, then things are getting interesting.

2.32pm
No Saeed Bin Suroor. No Simon Crisford. No Frankie Dettori. No Ted Durcan. No Ahmed Ajtebi. Godolphin flag-bearer Campanologist might as well not be running as far as the Dubai-based operation is concerned. Ok, penalised runners have a good record in this - four from nine in the last decade - but he looks lonely.

Although Campanologist doesn't need to lead, he'll be taken for it big time, if Dane O'Neill tries to force the pace.

Matt Williams in his trading post column suggests a lay of the Godolphin runner in-running. It's a fair shout, although you'll be hoping then that he front-runs and helps to cut the throats of all those who are trying to make all.

2.05pm result:
1: Record Breaker
2: Australia Day
3: Unleashed
Favourite backers get off to a great start as Record Breaker motors down the middle of the track under Richard Hills for a smooth success.
Australia Day is a real back-to-lay prospect, having gone off around [13.5] and was traded at as low as [3.35]. Record Breaker came right from the pack and £68 was matched at [12.0] in-running.

Night Cresendo was never a factor, and I've now got some ammunition to get stuck into this next race, the Cumberland Lodge.

2pm
Amanda Perrett's whole family is here. And in a magnificent display of traditional family values, Mrs Perrett looked after the kiddies, while Mr Perrett saddled Night Cresendo. Mr Perrett wasn't too keen on his charge's chances though. "He doesn't really go on this going unfortunately," he said, in a resigned manner. "What can we do though? We'll give it our best shot.

Night Cresendo has a terrible record on this going - zero wins from 13 attempts. It must be a place lay. I can't really work this race out, to be honest. I've backed Australia Day the last two times he has run. Surely I can't again. He;s been heavily supported though, with several high street layers flagging him up.

1.20pm
Gerald Delamere, one of the Racing Post's army of analysts, is like an anchovy. Or, perhaps, a cup of coffee, or some grilled aubergine. Yep, you only really appreciate him when you get that little bit longer in the tooth.

The wise old owl always unearths a truffle or two in his column, Today he likes the chances of High Standing, based on, among other things, a profile of runners in the Haydock Sprint Cup being entered in the Diadem.

High Standing won the Wokingham here at the Royal Meeting, and subsequently won the Hackwood at Newbury, too. He came unstuck though in the big Haydock Group 1, but apparently, that doesn't matter. Horses who have won the Diadem have been placed 41325532425 in the Sprint Cup en route to victory here since 1978.

There are about 14 people milling around the grandstand at the moment, which, given it is family fun day here, means that there are around six and half average families in through the gate. That mean's Ascot has made around £200 in gate money at the current entry rate (kids under 16 go free), which will not knock much off their astronomical electricity bill...

1.15pm
Sorry guys, I've had some trouble with the Wifi here at Ascot. The damn thing keeps on switching itself off each time. Perhaps the electricity is running out. Last night, having supped on a fair few real ales, I was driven past the racecourse at some ungodly hour. All I could see was the bright lights of the Grandstand shimmering and illuminating the whole of this sleepy Berkshire town. Why don't they turn off the lights after racing? It's pretty irresponsible. Ascot's carbon footprint must be frightening.

12.15pm
I've had a look at our crazy gang of horses. In the Diadem, JJ The Jet Plane is a big drifter. The Richard Hannon-trained sprinter is [16.5] from [8.4], while there seems very little confidence in Art Connoisseur, who is [14.5] from [8.8].

There is very little trade on the Cumberland Lodge Stakes. Macarthur and Red Rocks have had just under 2k matched on them, while Masterofthehorse, the mount of Kieren Fallon, is a big drifter. It's early days yet though.

11.45am
Good morning everyone and welcome to the third and final day of Ascot's September festival. The sun continues to shine, and the going is still Good to Firm.

There were several surprise results yesterday. And with numerous dubious, but brilliant, characters lining up on today's six-race card, there could be a few eyebrows raised, and some big prices going in here throughout the day.

I mean you've only got to look at the two feature races to see what I mean. What about this list of horses? In the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at 2.40pm, would you really put your mortgage on any of: Red Rocks, MacArthur, Masterofthehorse or the crazed Muhannak? And yet, on their best form, they would be considerably superior, or at least give Campanologist a real run for his money.

The same could be said for the Diadem Stakes. Wokingham winner High Standing is a solid, if unspectacular favourite for the big sprint, and yet the globe-trotting JJ The Jet Plane and Golden Jubilee winner Art Connoisseur would eat him for breakfast if they turned up with their A-Game.

I've got a lot of digging around to do this afternoon if we are going to find out whether any of these potential superstars can get the better of their more prosaic rivals.

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