Best Royal Ascot for years ...

THE 2012 RENEWAL OF ROYAL ASCOT SHOULD GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST EVER. WE HAD AN AMAZING START WITH FRANKEL SHOWING TO ALL WHAT A CHAMPION MILER HE IS DESTROYING HIS FIELD BY 11L AND ENDED WITH THE UNBEATEN AUSSIE MARE BLACK CAVIAR TAKING THE DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES FOR HER 22nd CONSECUTIVE WIN. 


IN-BETWEEN WE WERE SPOILED BY A GOLD CUP ONE-TWO FOR GODOLPHIN AND ASCOT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT FRANKIE DETTORI'S TRADEMARK LEAP OFF COLOUR VISION IN FRONT OF HER MAJESTY.


AND IT IS HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN THAT WE WERE THERE TO SEE, ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT ALONG WITH A FIT AGAIN PRINCE PHILIP AND GAINING HER 21st ROYAL ASCOT WIN WHEN ESTIMATE WON THE QUEEN'S VASE UNDER RYAN MOORE ON FRIDAY.


OK THE SUN COULD HAVE BEEN OUT A BIT MORE, ESPECIALLY SATURDAY, BUT IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE FOR 5 DAYS AND WE'VE SEEN SOME AMAZING RACING. 


SEE YOU NEXT YEAR? 

ROYAL ASCOT 2012 DAY FIVE

DAY FIVE (SATURDAY)


Well done Ryan Moore getting ESTIMATE home comfortably to delight Her Majesty on her 21st Royal Ascot success, and has helped make this the best Royal meeting for some time. Only Black Caviar now on Saturday to ensure that the week ends on a high note. 
  
SELECTIONS


2.30 -- CHILWORTH ICON / LOVELY PASS


3.05 -- MEMPHIS TENNESSEE [NAP]


3.45 -- BLACK CAVIAR


4.25 -- ELUSIVITY / PALACE MOON


5.00 -- CAMBORNE / ETERNAL HEART


5.35 -- SIMENON / OVERTURN


GOOD LUCK
DAISY

ROYAL ASCOT 2012 DAY FOUR

DAY FOUR (FRIDAY)


Good day for Godolphin with the 1-2 in the Gold Cup yesterday. Could do with a Royal Winner this week during Jubilee year so perhaps ESTIMATE can go in at 5pm today.
  
SELECTIONS


2.30 -- NEWFANGLED / KOSIKA


3.05 -- NOBLE MISSION


3.45 -- SAMITAR


4.25 -- RETRIEVE / GATEWOOD


5.00 -- ESTIMATE / MACBETH


5.35 -- GLOBAL VILLAGE / CASTLES IN THE AIR


GOOD LUCK
DAISY

ROYAL ASCOT 2012 DAY THREE

DAY THREE (THURSDAY)


FAIRLY UNEVENTFUL DAY ON WEDNESDAY NOT SURPRISING COMPARED TO WHAT WE ENJOYED ON THE OPENING DAY. 


LADIES DAY TODAY, SADLY LOTS OF RAIN FORECAST BUT I'M SURE THE GIRLS WON'T BE PUT OFF AND A BIG TURN OUT AGAIN FOR GOLD CUP DAY. 


SELECTIONS

2.30 -- GALE FORCE TEN / MORAWIJ


3.05 -- THE FUGUE / VOW


3.45 -- FAME AND GLORY (NAP)


4.25 -- FAST OR FREE / MISTER MUSIC (ew)


5.00 -- WROTHAM HEATH / REWARDED


5.35 -- ANOMALY / PRUSSIAN (ew)


GOOD LUCK
DAISY

ROYAL ASCOT 2012 DAY TWO

DAY TWO
WEDNESDAY


GREAT TO SEE THE MIGHTY FRANKEL WIN BY 11L YESTERDAY TO STAMP HIS AUTHORITY ALL OVER THE MEETING. 


I DOUBT WE'LL SEE SUCH A PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE AS THAT TODAY BUT IT'S ULTRA COMPETITIVE AS YOU'D EXPECT AND HERE GOES;


2.30 -- SENTARIL / SWISS SPIRIT


3.05 -- CHACHAMAIDEE / LAY TIME


3.45 -- FARHH / PLANTEUR


4.25 -- BOOM N BUST / BRAE HILL


5.00 -- JUBILEE DIAMOND / UPWARD SPIRAL


5.35 -- DUNTLE / LADYS FIRST


GOOD LUCK
DAISY

ROYAL ASCOT 2012 DAY ONE ... SELECTIONS

DAY ONE OF THE 2012 ROYAL MEETING WILL KICK OFF WITH FRANKEL GIVING US A DISPLAY OF HIS QUALITY SO NO POINT PUTTING THAT UP IN THE FIRST RACE, SIT BACK ENJOY. 


THE REST OF THE MEETINGS SELECTIONS FOLLOW;

2.30 -- FRANKEL by 5L or more.


3.05 -- ORTENSIA / MARGOT DID


3.45 -- POWER / GABRIEL (EW)


4.25 -- DAWN APPROACH / SIR PRANCEALOT


5.00 -- ASHBRITTLE / MONTEREY


5.35 -- ASK DAD / POLISH MAX


Should be some nice prices today aside from the opener. 


Good luck today.

ROYAL ASCOT 2012 TUESDAY ... and do dress up correctly.

DAY ONE OF THIS YEARS ROYAL ASCOT AND NO SURPRISE IT WILL ALL BE ABOUT FRANKEL IN THE OPENER. A 1/6F IN THE PAPERS SHOULD WIN BY A DISTANCE, THOUGH NOTHING CERTAIN IN THIS GAME YOU CAN GET 7/2 "THE FIELD" IF YOU THINK THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF THIS SUPERSTAR GETTING TURNED OVER HERE TODAY.


THE REST OF TODAYS SELECTIONS WILL BE GIVEN LATER ON BUT WE MUST COVER THE IMPORTANT ISSUE OF "WHAT TO WEAR" AS ASCOT HAVE REVISED THEIR DRESS CODE FOR 2012 AND MANY PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET SHOWN THE RED CARD LATER ON. 

Royal Enclosure Dress Code

Please note the dress code below is NEW for 2012. 

A Royal Enclosure Style Guide has been produced for the first time this year and helps to bring to life some examples of the kind of outfits that are expected at Royal Ascot. Click Here to view.

Ladies

Ladies are kindly reminded that formal day wear is a requirement in the Royal Enclosure, defined as follows:

• Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer
• Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater
• Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code
• Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour
• Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.

Ladies are kindly asked to note the following: 

• Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted
• Midriffs must be covered
•  Fascinators are no longer permitted in the Royal Enclosure; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm).

Gentlemen

Gentlemen are kindly reminded that it is a requirement to wear either black or grey morning dress which must include:

• A waistcoat and tie (no cravats)
• A black or grey top hat
• Black shoes.

A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility’s terrace, balcony or garden.  

Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden.

The customisation of top hats (with, for example, coloured ribbons or bands) is not permitted in the Royal Enclosure.

HOME TO CHESTERFIELD...

FIXTURES PUBLISHED THIS MORNING AND AFC WIMBLEDON KICK OFF WITH A HOME TIE VS CHESTERFIELD ON AUGUST 18th. NOW THAT DATE IS A BIT TOUCH AND GO WITH THE NEW STAND COMPLETION DATE AT THE KINGSTON ROAD END BUT ALL BEING WELL IT'S OPENING WILL COINCIDE WITH 3pts OFF THE RECENTLY RELEGATED SPIREITES.


WHILE THE REST OF THE SEASON FIXTURES ARE OFFICIALLY TO BE CONFIRMED THE FIRST FEW GAMES ACCORDING TO THE PUBLISHED LIST ARE AS FOLLOWS;


Wed 15 Aug Stevenage [Capital One Cup R1]
Sat 18 Aug Chesterfield H
Tue 21 Aug Burton Albion A
Sat 25 Aug Bradford City A

Sat 1 Sep Dagenham & Redbridge H
Sat 8 Sep Northampton Town A
Sat 15 Sep Rochdale H
Tue 18 Sep Torquay United H
Sat 22 Sep Wycombe Wanderers A
Sat 29 Sep Accrington Stanley H

FIXTURES OUT MONDAY ...

THE 2012/13 SEASON FIXTURES ARE RELEASED ON MONDAY. 


WHO WILL YOU GET FOR THE FIRST GAME? (*) 


HOPEFULLY THE OPENER WILL BE AWAY TO GIVE US ANOTHER WEEK TO GET THE NEW STAND COMPLETED, ELSE I WOULD RATHER START WITH SOMEONE LIKE ROTHERHAM TO GET THE FAT CHEAT OUT OF THE WAY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. 


UPDATE TOMORROW WHEN FIXTURES ARE CONFIRMED.




(*) Franchise customers need not reply.

Fair play to England, and Saturday's NAP.

WELL THEY'VE RUINED MY PRE-TOURNAMENT WAGERS WITH THAT 3-2 WIN OVER SWEDEN WHO WILL NOW PROP UP THE GROUP INSTEAD (DAMN). 


 ENGLAND STILL NEED A RESULT AGAINST THE UKRAINE NEXT TUESDAY TO BE SURE OF PROGRESSING AND I STILL HAVE A CHANCE OF PICKING UP SOMETHING IF FRANCE WIN THEIR LAST GAME AND WIN THE GROUP SO ALL NOT LOST YET. 


PLENTY OF RACING THIS WEEKEND WITH LARGE FIELDS THE NORM MAKING THE HANDICAPS ESPECIALLY TRICKY. OUR MAIN SITE IS UPDATED WITH THE MEETINGS AT SANDOWN AND LINGFIELD. 


SAT NAP - BOUNCY BOUNCY [4.00 SANDOWN PARK]

CAPITAL ONE LEAGUE CUP ROUND 1

AND IT'S STEVENAGE AWAY!!


AT LEAST IT'S NOT THEM FRANCHISE TWATS FROM AROUND THOSE PARTS EH

The first round matches are scheduled for the week commencing 13 August, but ties can be played on Saturday, August 11, or on the Sunday, if both clubs are in agreement.


The full draw for the Capital One Cup is as follows:


Round 1
Derby County v Scunthorpe United
Rochdale v Barnsley
Port Vale v Burnley
Notts County v Bradford City
Hull City v Rotherham United
Fleetwood Town v Nottingham Forest
Carlisle United v Accrington Stanley
Doncaster Rovers v York City
Crewe Alexandra v Hartlepool United
Bury v Middlesbrough
Chesterfield v Tranmere Rovers
Sheffield United v Burton Albion
Blackpool v Morecambe
Leeds United v Shrewsbury Town
Preston North End v Huddersfield Town
Oldham Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday


Cheltenham Town v Milton Keynes
Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers
Stevenage v AFC Wimbledon
Exeter City v Crystal Palace
Yeovil Town v Colchester United
Birmingham City v Barnet
Bristol City v Gillingham
Northampton Town v Cardiff City
Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aldershot Town
Walsall v Brentford
Millwall v Crawley Town
Torquay United v Leicester City
Dagenham & Redbridge v Coventry City
Peterborough United v Southend United
Swindon Town v Brighton & Hove Albion
Watford v Wycombe Wanderers
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient
Oxford United v AFC Bournemouth

AFC WIMBLEDON Pre Season Friendlies

Full AFC Wimbledon pre-season fixture list: 

 READING at home (Saturday, July 14)
 Maidenhead United away (Tuesday, July 17)
 Bognor Regis Town away (Saturday, 21 July)
 Woking away (Tuesday, July 24)
 Eastbourne Borough away (Saturday, 28 July)
 PRESTON NORTH END at home (Tuesday, 31 July) 
 WEST HAM XI at home (Saturday, 4 August)
 PORTSMOUTH at home (Wednesday, August 8).


I think the four home games will be for me, can't see me making any away games this season. 


League Cup (sponsored by Capital One) Draw to take place Thursday 14th at 9.30am.

ENGLAND VS FRANCE LATER, MON NAP.

ENGLAND  VS  FRANCE [K.O. 5.00]


IF NOTHING ELSE THIS SHOULD AT LEAST HELP TO KEEP THE STREETS CLEAR AFTER 5PM FOR THE JOURNEY HOME TONIGHT. THE HEART WANTS A WIN OVER THE FRENCH OF COURSE, BUT THE HEAD RULES AND SAYS LES BLUES SHOULD TAKE THEIR UNBEATEN RUN TO 22 WIN A VICTORY HERE. BACKED AT 6/4 FOR THE GAME AND 15/8 TO WIN GROUP D FRANCE TO WIN 2-0 IS THE PICK. 


RACING TODAY AT FOLKESTONE, NEWTON ABBOT, PONTEFRACT AND WINDSOR.


TODAY'S NAP RUNS IN THE  6.10 WINDSOR -- RED REFRACTION