KEMPTON PARK RACES 2019 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #14 26th JUNE

Continuing with the next instalment of what I hope will prove to be a productive year throughout 2019.

We about to reach the half way point of the year already and with Royal Ascot 2019 been and gone we have the summer festivals at Galway, Goodwood coming soon plus we'll be over to Laytown Beach and the autumn meetings in Ayr. The EFL League One fixtures have come out too and AFC Wimbledon will begin another season at home against Rotherham. The pre season friendlies will begin for us Dons fans in early July and we've a short tour to Germany too so the summer will keep us busy.

Back now after the abandonment of the last meeting due to Thames Water problems we will continue to focus on the all weather horse racing now while the lights still shine brightly here at Kempton Park throughout this year. We are hopeful of better season than we experienced last year but it's just some fun and excitement to mix up the week we have started the first half a little behind to SP though it's positive thus far with regular winners and successful lay bets too. 

Let us continue with this our fourteenth Wednesday night of 2019, and will continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting though we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if there is one available. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1 point level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds than this but for the purpose of these results here we simply record SP returns only. Following a small profit last meeting our deficit is currently on -16.40 points to SP returns overall. We continue to battle hard to reduce this and thankfully there is still plenty of time to get this back on track. 

Throughout the year we will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of anticipated short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures we have been fairly successful with our selections so far and last time got another selections beat which means we are now 12/19 we will continue with this through 2019. 

This Wednesday will be meeting number fourteen for the 2019 AW season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with the split of the 7f Handicap into two divisions. Therefore we have six handicaps this week for us to look through and enjoy. The action which will now commence at 17:15 with a 7f Apprentice handicap contest and the card ends around about 20:50 with our final handicap contest over an extended mile seven furlongs.

Here's a link to this Wednesday's race card; RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a lot of cloudy with more than an average chance of rain a top temperature will be about 16C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:15 -- 7f Apprentice Handicap.

Our bumper card starts earlier than originally planned with a fourteen runner handicap for apprentice riders. As always looking for a little bit of experience amongst these both amongst the jockeys and the horses even though they are all 3yo's. COMEONFEELTHEFORCE [WON 15/8f] won here not too long ago and today's jockey was on board when a good runner up at Lingfield so is selected to run well again for Georgia Dobie stepping back in trip too.

ISLAY MIST [11th 12/1] is dropping back down to a winning mark having shot up after winning at Beverley. A recent 4th at Lingfield suggests she's on the way back and the return to 7f should suit.

18:50 -- 7f Fillies Handicap (Div One).

The fillies handicap event has been split into two and our opening division has 12 runners to browse through and are headed by CHLOELLIE [2nd 5/1] and this 4yo is a multiple course and distance winner here with Oisin Murphy booked to ride might well take a lot of beating at this level despite top weight. 

SERAPHIM [3rd 9/1] from Marco Botti's stable is a lightly raced filly so far and has slowly improved with each run to date, considered in her own class against other fillies and worth a chance here.

19:20 -- 7f Fillies Handicap (Div Two).

The second division has 11 runners headed by VENTURA BLUES a 5yo mare who is generally consistent but hasn't won for couple of years now will be worth looking elsewhere. REGAL BANNER [4th 11/4f] is a 3yo filly with only 4 previous runs and should find this better than when sent off favourite for an unsuitable soft ground event last time out.

LOCAL HISTORY [3rd 6/1] won her maiden at Yarmouth last time and has been made favourite here before when placed that experience should put her in the frame again at least and would not need to improve much to win.

19:50 -- 1m Handicap.

A slightly better grade now and fourteen runners to assess, JUST BRILLIANT tops the weights, but there is not much between these at all. SEVEN CLANS [12th 33/1] won his maiden here but has not been back since, then won three at Wolves as well as a race at Newmarket, first sight of a racecourse this year but if fit to go should run very well at decent price.

Regular runner here KINGSTON KURRAJONG [DH 2nd 4/1] is coming down the weights a bit now but still runs his race and runner up last time suggests another good effort is near.

20:20 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
The top one YOU'RE HIRED is on my list to follow but might be time to drop that here, it's three years since last win and the handicapper has hardly given then a chance dropped only 3lb since then and overlooked. The bottom weight is the interesting one for me RAIL DANCER [Non Runner] might be a 7yo but course and distance winner plus successfully in last two races and placed on last try here at Kempton looks to have a strong chance.

A strong stable and consistency suggests another good run from MAINSAIL ATLANTIC [9th 4/1] with recent Royal Ascot winner Andrea Atzeni on board the 4yo should not be far away.

20:50 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap.

Our finale is a stayers handicap with a max field of fourteen declared and wide open betting market, GREENVIEW PARADISE 5yo Mare and winner at Wolves and Southwell in April and her revised mark might suggest a hat trick will be trickier. Gary Moore sends hurdler DEEBAJ here and is a rare flat runner but well up to winning a race like this if fit to do justice. 

NAFAAYES [3rd 6/1] another 5yo Mare and by sire Sea The Stars has plenty of stamina for this and while better results around Lingfield this is her trip and given another chance to put herself in the frame again.

Staked -- 12 points.

Returns -- 3.875 points.

Results will appear here later during Wednesday evening. We are currently on a deficit of -16.40 points to SP returns for the season, six months of the season to go though. Very poor with just the one winner and several places meaning a loss tonight of -8.125. Thus our deficit increases again and we are now looking at a loss of -24.525.

LAYS -- 12/19. Another successful lay last time around and will see if we can find one or two short priced selections and will post here if we have any for tonight. Again both lost tonight so we move forwards with the lays to 14/21 a 66% result.

Tonight's Lays;

17:50 -- QUEEN OF THE SEA (7f Novice Fillies) LOST 3rd 9/4

18:20 -- QAADDIM (6f Novice) LOST 4th 7/2.

Our fifteenth meeting for this year will be held next week on Wednesday 3rd July so hope to see you then and throughout the rest of 2019 too.

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2019 SEASON -- MEETING #6

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2019.

Welcome to our sixth meeting of the season on Sunday 23rd June. 

1st race 2.20pm, gates open from midday.

The 2019 season continues with Flat Cap and Whippet Family Day this coming Sunday. Sunday racedays have always been extra special for Pontefract Racegoers.

Sunday fixtures are always popular and not only feature the best racing of the year at Pontefract with over £100,000 worth of Prize Money available at each meeting, but they are also the three annual fixtures each season dedicated to families. 

And that's not all! We're going to have a proper Yorkshire Family Day out! With activities including:
  * Whippet racing on the track from midday (pic below).
  * Ferret racing in the Picnic Enclosure throughout the afternoon.
  * Wear your flat cap and you could be one of 500 racegoers to pick up either a free racecard, drinks voucher or betting voucher! 

As well as special events on each Sunday race-day, there will also be a funfair, face painting, circus, free sweets, activity packs and race-cards for kids, pony rides, trips to the starts of races and a ‘Hunt The Golden Horseshoe’ competition on every Family Day!. 

ALL results for these fixtures are recorded to a level stake at Starting Price (SP), and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures. We arrive here on the back of a loss at the last meeting leaving us on -6.305 points to SP as we come into the sixth meeting.

The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good, Good to Firm in places' and our weather for Sunday afternoon is for a generally cloudy day with some chance of rain showers but hopefully not too much rain to spoil the evening we've a forecast maximum temperature around the 17C mark.

Here are our selections for the eight races on Sunday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process using stalls one and two in every race;

14:20 6f Fillies Novice Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- CLOUDEA  [4th 6/1].
(2) -- GUIPURE  [6th 11/4].

14:55 1m 4f 5yds Novice Stakes (3yo).
(1) -- MONICA SHERIFF  [Non Runner].
(2) -- GRENADIER GUARD  [2nd 7/2].

15:25 1m 2f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- VICTORY CHIME  [3rd 5/1].
(2) -- DEREVO  [WON 11/10 f].

16:00 1m 4f 5yds Fillies Listed Stakes.
(1) -- MAKAWEE  [6th 4/1].
(2) -- AHORSEWITHNONAME  [Non Runner].

16:35 2m 2f 2yds Pontefract Cup Handicap.
(1) -- NORAB  [4th 20/1].

(2) -- CHAMPARISI  [3rd 7/2].

17:05 1m 6yds Fillies Handicap (3yo).
(1) -- BIGHEARTED  [WON 7/4 f].
(2) -- VENUSTA  [3rd 5/2].

17:40 6f Handicap (Div One).

(1) -- CAPTAIN DION  [3rd 6/4 f].

(2) -- THE RIGHT CHOICE  [7th 10/1]. 

18:10 6f Handicap (Div Two).

(1) -- VALLARTA  [5th 16/1].

(2) -- INEXES  [2nd 3/1]. 

Staked -- 16 points.

Returns -- 6.85 points.

Having started the 2019 season afresh, we fell behind in the opening few rounds a disappointing meeting five means we now have a small loss of -6.305 coming into the sixth meeting today. Disappointing just couple of small winners plus non runners meant a lost of -9.15 points today, now we are down -15.455 overall with another meeting coming up next week.

Our next meeting here will be on Monday 1st July so we do hope to see you then.

ROYAL ASCOT 2019. DAY FIVE SATURDAY 22nd JUNE

SATURDAY WEATHER UPDATE -- Mixed weather throughout this period with a minimal risk of rain but will be very cloudy throughout the day and a high of 21C.

GOING -- Good to Soft

DAY FIVE
Welcome to this our final day of this season's Royal Ascot festival meeting.

We go once again for Saturday, been a hectic week, I still remember this as the "family day" known as Ascot Heath meeting where everyone could come along and not have to dress up. That's all long gone now and it's just day five for everyone and features the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes off at 4:20. Let's focus on that and all the big races for Saturday;

2:30 -- CHESHAM STAKES (7f)
A listed race for 2yo and just the seventeen runners take the stage for Saturdays' opener. Aiden O'Brien sends over 4 of the 17 runners for the opener and in LOPE Y FERNANDEZ has the lively favourite nad pick of Ryan Moore, and in the likes of YEAR OF THE TIGER he also has a decent second string too. 

MOHICAN HEIGHTS (D Simcock) and SUN POWER (R Hannon) represent the main home threat, along with my fancy HEAVEN FORFEND from Sir Michael Stoute. Was only runner up in a Newbury maiden event on only start but the master trainer will have plenty to work with and given that they come straight here is a sign for this son of the mighty Frankel.

2:30 Royal Ascot -- Chesham Stakes (7f)
RESULT
1st --   Pinatubo  3/1  (J Doyle)
2nd --  Lope Y Fernandez   5/4 f
3rd --   Highland Chief   14/1

3:05 JERSEY STAKES (7f)
A Group 3 flat race for three-year-old horses run over seven furlongs used to be run on Wednesday but they like to swap things around now and then to keep me on my toes. A field of 18 runners where HAPPY POWER can send us home happy this colt by Dark Angel has been winning on 'Soft' ground so the rain this week will certainly be in his favour. Frankie Dettori has already had winner for Mark Johnston and might be a nice each selection on MARIE'S DIAMOND. 

It is interesting that Frankie is not riding the John Gosden trained ANGEL'S HIDEAWAY while the pick of Aiden O'Brien's three here would probably be SO PERFECT.

3:05 Royal Ascot -- Jersey Stakes (7f)
RESULT
1st --  Space Traveller   25/1  (D Tudhope)
2nd -- Space Blues   5/2 f
3rd --  Angel's Hideaway 14/1

3.40 HARDWICKE STAKES (1m 4f)
This is a Group 2 contest usually farmed by Sir Micheal Stoute and he runs MIRAGE DANCER here but will need to be top class to see off last years Epsom Derby winner MASAR in a very competitive renewal. 

Both DEFOE (R Varian) and SOUTHERN FRANCE (A O'Brien) will have plenty of support but I think we should give LAH TI DAR [Non Runner] that she's a filly with plenty of talent and while Epsom might not have suited here this track should do fine.

3:40 Royal Ascot -- Hardwicke Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st --   Defoe 11/4 f   (A Atzeni)
2nd --  Nagano Gold 25/1
3rd --   Mirage Dancer 6/1

4:20 DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES 6f
Today's Group 1 and 18 declared for the sprint, the race worth about £340,000 to the winner eighteen in the line up though although looks a quality field with an international flavour. A field headed by BLUE POINT who if he lines up again will be looking to complete a rare Royal Ascot sprint double having collected the King Stand on Tuesday. 

BOUND FOR NOWHERE represents the USA trainer Wesley Ward, Michael Pitman runs ENZO'S LAD for New Zealand and the French are here with Stephane Wattel running CITY LIGHT while the overseas contingent are completed by Singapour's LIM'S CRUISER for trainer Stephen Gray.

4:20 Royal Ascot -- Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6f)
RESULT
1st --  Blue Point         6/4 f   (James Doyle)
2nd -- Dream Of Dreams 12/1
3rd --  Kachy         33/1

5:00 -- WOKINGHAM STAKES HANDICAP 6f 
It's just not Royal Ascot without a massive field handicap and today we've the Wokingham and 28 runners worth over £100,000 to the winner. With the market about 7/1 the field this will be impossible to predict and the size of the field means plenty of hard luck stories for sure ... good luck if you still in the placepot too. 

HEY JONESY was 5th in last years Commonwealth Cup and has decent form on soft going so at 25/1 will certainly be of interested here. Top weight BACCHUS won this last year and a return to the noise and pomp might give him another chance drawn 21 top weights do fairly well in the top class handicaps, also interesting is WATCHABLE who has won his last two races and in great form.

5:00 Royal Ascot -- Wokingham Stakes (6f)
RESULT
1st --   Cape Byron   7/2 f   (A Atzeni)
2nd --  Tis Marvellous   14/1
3rd --   Danzeno   7/1
4th --   Raucous   50/1

5:35 -- QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES 2m 6f
We conclude with the longest distance race on the Flat calendar, an event that is often targeted by the National Hunt trainers and although we are well represented with the likes of Gordon Elliott (PALLASATOR) and of course Willie Mullins (MAX DYNAMITE) from Ireland in a field of thirteen.

The home challange also has NH trainers involved with Paul Nicholls saddling BLACK CORTON too and Kim Bailey with YOUNEVERCALL.

Personally I will be on PALLASATOR who I also backed to win this last year and he is a beast, very strong, stays and will be hard to pass.

5:35 Royal Ascot -- Queen Alexandra Stakes (2m 6f)
RESULT
1st --   Cleonte   7/2   (S DeSousa)
2nd --  Pallasator   10/1
3rd --   Max Dynamite   10/3 f

That's all for Royal Ascot this year, been difficult as always, but we'll be back next year. For now it's goodbye and a quick return to the normal meetings starting with Pontefract tomorrow and then Kempton Park next Wednesday.

BYE BYE FOLKS, SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.
LUV QUEENIE AND PHIL
I'm 93 you know -- now get off my land !!

ROYAL ASCOT 2019. DAY FOUR FRIDAY 21st JUNE

Friday Weather update -- A better day on Friday generally dry and sunny but not as warm as you would hope for in middle of June temperatures are a high of 19C.

Going -- Good to Soft.

DAY FOUR
Well done to all connected with yesterdays Gold Cup winner STRADAVARIUS, a gutsy display hitting the front in the home straight under Ascot specialist Frankie Dettori and fending off the challenge from Dee Ex Bee to win. Hope you finding a few more winners this week, the weather making the selections more difficult to find than it is to get served at the bars !

The opening race is at 2:30 it's the ALBANY STAKES a race for 2yo fillies and has a field of 26 runners declared for a 6f dash. While he's not had the greatest of Royal meetings so far the American trainer Wesley Ward still has plenty of firepower and runs two here with CHILI PETIN and NAYIBETH which will be worth a look first in the parade and then again in the betting. One for me that I saw last time at Sandown in May was JM JACKSON and Mark Johnston's filly went in the notebook with a good display in the National Stakes will be one for me each way to start us off.

Also keep an eye on Frankie today, he's in tremendous form and on board the filly LAST SURPRISE for Simon Crisford

2:30 Royal Ascot -- Albany Stakes (6f)
RESULT
1st.   Daahyeh   4/1 Fav  (David Egan)
2nd.  Celtic Beauty 25/1
3rd.   Aroha 100/1

The KING EDWARD VII STAKES is next off at 3:05 just the eight declared 3yo's here led by JAPAN for Aiden O'Brien and will be a well supported short price favourite. Personally would like to Lay that one and oppose with the pair of PONDUS and PRIVATE SECRETARY who continues to improve and while this is another step up in class it's worth following for now. 

3:05 Royal Ascot -- King Edward VII Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st.   Japan 6/4 Fav (R L Moore)
2nd.  Bangkok    10/1
3rd.   Eagles By Day    25/1

EQTIDAAR WINNING 2018 COMMONWEALTH CUP

A relatively new race at 3:40 is the COMMONWEALTH CUP a GROUP 1 race run over 6f for 3yo's.

Only nine runners take their chance headed by Advertise and maybe they are all running scared of TEN SOVEREIGNS last years's Middle Park winner and fifth in the 2000 Guineas is the best form here but hasn't had a lot of racing. 

If you want to take a punt on a big price each way shot then FOREVER IN DREAMS has come a long way for a day out and at 25/1+ with at least eight running for three places that would be considered.

3:40 Royal Ascot -- Commonwealth Cup (6f)
RESULT
1st.   Advertise   8/1  (L Dettori)
2nd.  Forever in Dreams   20/1
3rd.   Hello Youmzain   6/1

At 4:20 it's another fillies event and this time it's around the mile track for 3yo's, THE CORONATION STAKES. Dual 1000 Guineas winner  HERMOSA will surely be hard to beat to secure another G1 here but has some interesting competition including CASTLE LADY the French Filly represents the Godolphin team and is unbeaten including G1 level. 

While TWIST N SHAKE represents the Gosden / Dettori team and 20/1 looks generous if the front pair take each other on it might set it up for something else to break through.

4:20 Royal Ascot -- Coronation Stakes (1m)
RESULT
1st  --   Watch Me   20/1   (P C Boudot)
2nd  --  Hermosa Evens F
3rd  --   Jubiloso   9/2

Penultimate race on Friday is the 1m SANDRINGHAM STAKES a fillies handicap for three year old's the race is due off at 5:00 and has attracted a field of 28 today. Headed by MAGNETIC CHARM for William Haggas who trains this for Her Majesty The Queen and winner of a listed race at York last time. Given the wide open nature and massive field I would rather play at the bigger end of the market and have selected both NO WAY JOSE and AIM POWER at 33/1 again the field. Both have excellent experienced jockeys and while they will have to demonstrate that they can see the mile out that is reflected in the price and it's worth the risk.

5.00 Royal Ascot -- Sandringham Stakes (1m)
RESULT
1st  --   Thanks Be   33/1 (Hayley Turner)
2nd  --  Magnetic Charm   7/1
3rd  --   Hotsy Totsy   7/1
4th --    Coral Beach   10/1

Our finale for Friday off at 5:35 is the DUKE OF EDINBURGH stakes over 1m 4f a race that has attracted 19 runners topped by BYRON FLYER the 8yo was still winning last year and is not a forlorn hope at all. Irish raider JOHNNY DRAMA gets in at the foot of the weights for trainer Ger Lyons and this runs in the colours of King Power Racing could be very interesting. 

Another 8yo is SEA THE LION and this one hasn't had that much racing during that time also successful three times last year so might still have something in the tank.

5.35 Royal Ascot -- Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st  --  Baghdad   7/2   (R L Moore)
2nd  --  Ben Vrackie 7/1
3rd  --  Fujaira Prince   4/1
4th  --  Corgi   7/1

And that's all for Friday, last day tomorrow, hopefully you are doing as well as we are this week despite the lack of sunshine and train strikes plus headaches. 

ROYAL ASCOT 2019. DAY THREE THURSDAY 20th JUNE

Thursday Weather update -- There was a slim chance of showers today and any early rain in the south should soon clear on Thursday then along with Friday, dry with sunny spells. High of 18C so although dry not as warm as you would have liked for Ladies Day. 

DAY THREE 
Going -- Good to Soft
Gold Cup day, also known as LADIES DAY - 'but hang on' I hear you shout - every day is Ladies Day here are Royal Ascot, you just can't move for the amount of dresses and hats on show, even the 'Essex Girls' have made a big effort and the fake tan is giving off a nice orange glow in the Queen Anne enclosure and betting ring. 

Before we reach the big race today we've a few other decent events to take in, racing will start at 2:30 with the NORFOLK STAKES over 5f for 2yos. 

A nice field of 15 runners declared, this won't be easy to determine, since every horse bar two has at least won a race so far. The American challenge has come up a little short so far this year, maybe the rain softened ground not to their usual liking, although Wesley Ward won this last year and MAVEN [Non Runner] should be given a look over in the parade ring and betting market. 

The Jamie Osborne trained filly EMTEN won her maiden at Windsor with a good turn of foot, and while a 50/1 shot here I'm onside each way and hopeful. [5th 80/1 and ran a cracker so keep an eye on this one]

2:30 Royal Ascot -- Norfolk Stakes (5f)
RESULT
1st.   A'ali  5/1   (L Dettori)
2nd.  Ventura Rebel  16/1
3rd.  Dubai Station  14/1

At 3:05 we have the HAMPTON COURT STAKES and it's a Group 3 for 3yos over 1m 2f. Nice of them to return to the original name this season.

15 runners line up for this renewal, some fine looking animals here and Her Majesty has EIGHTSOME REEL in the line up and wouldn't it be great to cheer home a Royal winner on Ladies Day. The all powerful Coolmore operation run CAPE OF GOOD HOPE who won at Epsom (beating Cap Francis who re-opposes again here) and then was 4th in the French Derby.  

3:05 Royal Ascot -- Hampton Court Stakes (1m 2f)
RESULT
1st.   Sangarius    13/2  (L Dettori)
2nd.  Fox Chairman (IRE)   7/2 f
3rd.   King Ottokar (FR)  5/1

3:40 is the RIBBLESDALE STAKES a Group 2 event for 3yo Fillies (well it IS ladies day). 

Of the eleven declared there are a few that come into this with interesting form this term, FLEETING was disappointing in the 1000 Guineas and was much more herself when 3rd in the Oaks at Epsom a repeat of that should go very close here today. QUEEN POWER would surely be better on Good/Firm ground and therefore we look at the John Gosden trained STAR CATCHER who has winning form on Good to Soft and 10/1 looks a good win/place option today.

3:40 Royal Ascot -- Ribblesdale Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st.   Star Catcher  4/1  (L Dettori)
2nd.  Fleeting 7/4 f
3rd.   Sparkle Roll  11/1

Three from Three for Dettori and he's on the favourite in the next so can he go through the card again? 

4:20 Royal Ascot -- THE ASCOT GOLD CUP 2m 4f
The Gold Cup is the feature race of the whole week as far as I am concerned, despite all the other Group 1 races I think the mix of Ladies Day and the stayers makes this the day to attend and this year ought to be another cracker. 

A field of eleven are declared and includes last years champion stayer STRADIVARIUS who should be a short price to complete a Gold Cup double and could have most to fear from last years Derby runner up DEE EX BEE who seems to have improved the further the trip. Of course this is another step forwards but the percentage call is to load up on Stradivarius in doubles and trebles. 

The Irish challenge begins with the 2017 St Leger winner CAPRI but hasn't looked the same animal since that win so it's MAGIC CIRCLE that is the big interest having won the Chester Cup and went over to run in the Melbourne Cup down under but clearly a good stayer should be there at the end. 

4:20 Royal Ascot -- THE ASCOT GOLD CUP (2m 4f)
RESULT
1st -- Stradivarius  EvensF   (L Dettori)
2nd -- Dee Ex Bee   7/2
3rd -- Master Of Reality   66/1

And it's Frankie again that's four from four and the bookies running scared again could he do all six?

5:00 is the BRITANNIA STAKES over the straight mile. Only 30 runners and 9/1 the field so nice and easy as you can tell. 

Top weights seem to go well in these big handicaps here so worth a good look at DARK VISION who's forecast 25/1 and drawn in stall 1 too the Mark Johnston inmate well worth an each way interest. 

The colours carried by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha the late owner of Leicester City FC and run in the name of King Power Racing are represented here by HERO HERO who is drawn on the high side of the track and would be a popular and emotional winner.

So we'll also look for one down the middle for balance and that would have to be DAVYDENKO (drawn 15) may only have won a couple of smaller races for Sir Michael Stoute but with the master trainer any amount of improvement is possible.

5.00 Royal Ascot -- Britannia Stakes (1m)
RESULT
1st --   Biometric   28/1  (H Bentley)
2nd --  Turgenev   7/2 f
3rd --   Fanaar   50/1
4th --   Awe   14/1

5:35 -- KING GEORGE V STAKES over 1m 4f for 3yos and only the 19 runners for this one (2 reserves declared too). Plenty of big named trainers here and should be a good pace up front which could set it up for one of QUESTIONARE (John Gosden) and SIR RON PRIESTLEY (Mark Johnston).

IF he can get into the final line up then the Frankel colt GANTIER might belie his 33/1 price tag as he's not been out of the first three since his debut run at Newmarket last year.

5.35 Royal Ascot -- King George V Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st --   South Pacific   22/1  (J A Heffernan)
2nd --  Constantinople   11/2
3rd --   Eminence   25/1
4th --   Persian Moon   33/1

It was still Frankie Dettori's day although just the four winners in the end, even so a great day here and a marvellous Gold Cup victory for Stradivarius.

Results from today have been updated during the early evening, and we've still got Friday and Saturday to enjoy and if this wasn't enough there's another meeting from Pontefract to savour on Sunday afternoon too.