Ascot 2014

[matty]

Best meeting of the year for me. Looks like a set of belting races this year in the Group 1s, certainly.

 

Highlights including Treve, Kingsman v Night of Thunder, Toronado v Magician, and Miss France, My Titania, and Lightning Thunder in the Coronation. Plus Estimate, and good line ups in the group 2s. Weather set fair. Grand.

 

All the races are live on Channel 4.

 

So, selections, fancies, etc. Let's have them.

[RP]

Anyone on here planning to go?

[Senrab_nhoj]

Have just realised the biggest downside of my relocating to Wales, am gutted will not be going this year

[RP]

They do let people from Wales in.

 

In the Silver Ring.

[Senrab_nhoj]

I wont be allowed there I have no tattoos

[matty]

Used to go to the first day every year, but they wrecked the Silver Ring, which used to be fun and a good day out.

[RP]

You'd have to audtion - consists of a quick bare knuckle fight in the car park of Bar One at noon. If you can fight, you're in.

 

Used to go to the first day every year, but they wrecked the Silver Ring, which used to be fun and a good day out.

 

 

They certainly have - now you have to pay up for the Grandstand, which is a poor compromise as an enclosure. Expensive, but no facilities to warrant the extra cost.

[Senrab_nhoj]

Am now seriously thinking of going as weather looks like it might stay settled. Assume Paul you'll be hob nobbing

[RP]

I reckon I'll probably be there.

 

I may be able to get hold of a couple of Grandstand tickets at a reasonable price (i.e. face value or a little less), if you're interested? I think they are for Wednesday (which isn't sold out anyway).

[charlie clown]

Have just realised the biggest downside of my relocating to Wales, am gutted will not be going this year

 

I kick myself every time I hear about the racing at Ascot for not being able to go on your stag do there.

[Earl Hafler]

First day looks less star-studded then it has in recent years.

 

Had some of Red Avenger in the Hunt Cup. 40's still available - massive. The favourite Abseil's price is terrible and people will begin looking for alternatives. RA was less than two lengths back at Epsom and was badly hampered. Has good form in big field handicaps and i reckon it'll be 16's or less by Wednesday.

 

Look for NRNB / NRFB offers.

 

This is the race at Epsom

 

http://www.jockeyclub.performgroup.com/streaming/watch/RacingUKFlashVOD/partnerId_3084/videoFileId_14159588/clipId_2400295/index.html

 

40's on Red Avenger or 5-1 on Abseil ?

Edited June 13, 2014 by Earl Hafler

[Senrab_nhoj]

I reckon I'll probably be there.

 

I may be able to get hold of a couple of Grandstand tickets at a reasonable price (i.e. face value or a little less), if you're interested? I think they are for Wednesday (which isn't sold out anyway).

 

Wednesday is probably best day for me so that fits, let me see what I can do re work in the meantime

[RP]

Cool - let me know if you do want them.

 

I think he has put them on one of the touting sites at below face value to try and get some money back, so they might sell in the meantime. But I think Grandstand tickets are fairly easy to come by for any day apart from Thursday anyway.

 

I don't currently have any plans for Wednesday - I plan to go but haven't made any plans yet. So if you want to go and make a bit of an afternoon of it, I may well be up for that!

[Senrab_nhoj]

Will let you know later this afternoon.

[RP]

Nice one.

[matty]

They certainly have - now you have to pay up for the Grandstand, which is a poor compromise as an enclosure. Expensive, but no facilities to warrant the extra cost.

Went in the grandstand one year. Didn't think much of it. Silver Ring used to be great, fairly basic, but they had ale and food, you could get up into the old terracing and see the finish from the top. Now you're two furlongs plus from the winning post and it's a temporary stand with no cover - plus even more appalling people just there to get smashed and be obnoxious mockneys.

 

First day looks less star-studded then it has in recent years.

 

Had some of Red Avenger in the Hunt Cup. 40's still available - massive. The favourite Abseil's price is terrible and people will begin looking for alternatives. RA was less than two lengths back at Epsom and was badly hampered. Has good form in big field handicaps and i reckon it'll be 16's or less by Wednesday.

 

40's on Red Avenger or 5-1 on Abseil ?

I disagree on the first day, although it depends what goes to post. It's high class and competitive, and Kingsman is potentially the best miler (bar Frankel) for a long time. Be fascinating to see if Night of Thunder was a fluke and if War Command can reproduce his Coventry form here.

 

I'm never tempted to have a bet in the Hunt Cup at all. Big handicaps hold no appeal for me. 5-1 Abseil is very short though.

[RP]

Went in the grandstand one year. Didn't think much of it. Silver Ring used to be great, fairly basic, but they had ale and food, you could get up into the old terracing and see the finish from the top. Now you're two furlongs plus from the winning post and it's a temporary stand with no cover - plus even more appalling people just there to get smashed and be obnoxious mockneys.

 

 

That is a fair summary.

 

I wouldn't even go in the Silver Ring any more if it was free. If I wanted to just watch a couple of races and have a pint, I'd much rather go on the Heath in the middle of the course. It is the original 'cheap and cheerful' but you can get a bet on, you can get a beer and you have a view of the track with the Grandstand as the backdrop.

 

Used to always go in the Grandstand and it was fine - until one year someone gave me two Enclosure badges at the last minute. I'd always said I didn't want the hassle of going in there but it was much better - no queues, everything clean. When they rebuilt the Grandstand, they f***ed it all up for a year or two but it's all good again now. It was a pain initially getting nominated but now the forms just come through each year and you fill out what days you want. And the cost this year is £100 vs £75 in the Grandstand - it's way better value. 5-day badge is £370, which is £74 a day. Nothing in it in terms of price.

[Earl Hafler]

Went in the grandstand one year. Didn't think much of it. Silver Ring used to be great, fairly basic, but they had ale and food, you could get up into the old terracing and see the finish from the top. Now you're two furlongs plus from the winning post and it's a temporary stand with no cover - plus even more appalling people just there to get smashed and be obnoxious mockneys.

 

 

I disagree on the first day, although it depends what goes to post. It's high class and competitive, and Kingsman is potentially the best miler (bar Frankel) for a long time. Be fascinating to see if Night of Thunder was a fluke and if War Command can reproduce his Coventry form here.

 

I'm never tempted to have a bet in the Hunt Cup at all. Big handicaps hold no appeal for me. 5-1 Abseil is very short though.

 

Well it's fairly competitive but not as high class as recent years.

 

Kingman / Night Of Thunder - NOT now has his third jockey in as many races. Ryan Moore went too late at Newbury, Fallon did what he does best and had the horse ready to go from further out. Hughes doesn't ride like that and Kingman might get a march on him. It will be a forecast race for me. War Command's Coventry was atrocious. 2nd to 9th have all failed to win a race since.

 

I like the Hunt Cup My link. Had other winners in it, too.

[Hightown Phil]

First day looks less star-studded then it has in recent years.

 

Had some of Red Avenger in the Hunt Cup. 40's still available - massive. The favourite Abseil's price is terrible and people will begin looking for alternatives. RA was less than two lengths back at Epsom and was badly hampered. Has good form in big field handicaps and i reckon it'll be 16's or less by Wednesday.

 

Look for NRNB / NRFB offers.

 

This is the race at Epsom

 

http://www.jockeyclub.performgroup.com/streaming/watch/RacingUKFlashVOD/partnerId_3084/videoFileId_14159588/clipId_2400295/index.html

 

40's on Red Avenger or 5-1 on Abseil ?

 

I'll pick 25/1 Abseil myself.

 

It's working upside a horse rated 117 at home.

[Earl Hafler]

I'll pick 25/1 Abseil myself.

 

It's working upside a horse rated 117 at home.

 

So was Bankable ( Cumani's hotpot ) a few years ago and that tanked at 13-8.

Stoute's are always hyped up.

 

Dunlop's form is the main concern for Red Avenger.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Earl Hafler

[Senrab_nhoj]

Nice one.

 

Right have a pass for the day..

 

.. you have to get me on the 20:00 train or earlier :)/>

 

Let me know if the ticket is still available or if I need to get one independently

Edited June 13, 2014 by Senrab_nhoj

[RP]

The 20:00 train from where? From Ascot? And to where?

 

 

I'll check in on the tickets with the guy now.

[Senrab_nhoj]

From Ascot back to Reading so I can catch last train to Wales

[RP]

From Ascot back to Reading so I can catch last train to Wales

 

 

That sounds like a challenge.

 

I'm sure we'll be fine.

 

When I say "we" ...

[RP]

All sorted with tickets - I've dropped you a mail.