Thursday, 21 June 2012: There is heavy rain forecast for the early hours of Thursday morning Ascot time, with further showers forecast to fall through the afternoon.
Several trainers will be having a serious look at the track before racing today in case it should be worse than soft on the round course.
This is Ladies Day although the Gold Cup G1 is the highlight of the afternoon with Flame and Glory on 10/11 although he is one who would prefer the track stays around good. We like Opinion Poll and we have liked his recent runs in particular and think the 5/1 is OK. The other Godolphin runner is Colour Vision, with Saeed bin Suroor and Dettori rides. John Oxx's Sadler's Room is lightly raced, looks a promising stayer, is 4/1 but is he ready yet?
The opening race is the Norfolk G2 for 2y over 1000m with 12 to run. Mick Channon's Cay Verde ticks lots of boxes not least of which is Craig Williams to ride. Ahern is also owned by the same Qatar connections and is 9/2. Richard Hannon saddles both Annunciation at 6/1 and Mister Marc at 7/1, and his record with 2yow means they should be respected.
The Ribblesdale G2 for the 3yo fillies over 2400m is a re-run of the Oaks without Was. The Fugue was unlucky in that race and holds the call here on 7/4 ahead of Shirocco Star 5/1 who finished ahead of her in the Oaks, Vow who was fourth is on 11/2 and very good value for Colima, who was 5th in the Oaks is on 25/1, and Twirl on 20/1.
The Tercentenary (ex Hampton Court) is G3 over 2000m with 11 to run. The market is not necessarily the best guide here - it has Wrotham Heath, one of three Khalid Abdullah runners, on 9/2 but we prefer the stablemate Stipulate on 7/1 and Energiser for Germany on 12/1.
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