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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:49 pm Post subject: Ascot Tuesday Review (contains alcohol)
Ascot Tuesday (apparently the only day in the British calendar with three Group 1s?)
I was convinced it would rain and had gone out and purchased a light fitted jacket on Friday night, but spending the money ensured it ended up being warm and sunny. I actually woke up at 4.20 like a small child on Christmas Day. Before meeting LUFCwaffe at Waterloo, I put on a win L15 featuring Paco Boy, Amour Propre, Mastercraftsman and Canford Cliffs. I also really fancied Alexandros (before he was Pricewised) and Intense Focus e-w.
Note- nail varnish exactly matches dress.
LUFCwaffe and I got the “Ascot Special”, which still stopped at all the annoying tinpot stations on the way. We met Hosed in plenty of time for a scenic wander round the stands; whilst down by the rails the BBC fashion snob James Sherwood walked past and thankfully made no clearly visible signs of disgust at our outfits. We then pooled our resources on a placepot; the hardest leg being the first race and whether or not Gladiatorus should go in. I really didn’t fancy it, and was arguing for Alexandros (stable’s good record in the race and Frankie riding Ascot so well) and said Paco Boy should win if he is at his best. Hosed was keen on Aqlaam but got shouted down. But in the end the two Godolphin nags went in. DOH!
Looking quite respectable at the start of proceedings….
Having been really down on Gladiatorus and his “micky mouse Dubai form” I had a brief panic in case he really was the best horse in the world, and stuck a couple of quid on him on the Tote. I also had a little bit e-w on Dream Eater as he had caught the eye at Sandown earlier this season. Cesare was actually my pick of the paddock, but I just couldn’t fancy an 8 year old coming back from an injury…..
Gladiatorus- best horse in the world MY BIG FAT HAIRY ARSE.
Cesare- looked really well. I remember he was quite eye-catching before this race last year.
Dream Eater- not quite G1 class, but a respectable effort
Paco Boy looking relaxed, knowing a mile is a piece of piss.
So Paco Boy got my acca off to a nice start, but our placepot was totally shagged. Aqlaam getting placed set Hosed off muttering, but that was easily ignored.
I was already on Amour Propre, so a punt on Scenic Blast seemed the only sensible option. Hosed got properly stuck into him too, while LUFCwaffe backed Fleeting Spirit. So we were all happily roaring home the 1-2 in the final stages of the race, but the Aussie bruiser never looked in danger. Great to see a proper champion like that.
The Blast- BEAST.
Amour Propre- wake up you dozy donkey….
Borderlescott looking well up for it
Fleeting Spirit looking demure
I made the lads come down to the paddock to look at the St James Palace runners. Lord Shanakill was my pick on looks, and as I already fancied Intense Focus, it was pointed out that I had to like him too- so I had a few quid e-w. LUFCwaffe explained at great length how Coolmore tactics would ensure the race panned out, which Hosed did not want to hear as he was totally gay for Delegator and his hero Jimmy Fortune. We watched this one down by the rails, and once again all three of us were cheering the front two home. Mastercraftsman kept my acca alive, but Hosed had smashed into Delegator, and as he kept reminding us, it would have been Champagne O’Clock if he’d got up. It had been Pimms O’Clock for some time now so I wasn’t too bothered as the three winners and alcoholic saturation had me floating quite pleasantly. Oh, and Lord Shanakill had run well to get third, so some nice Tote lady poured money into hands after I waved a slip at her and babbled excitedly.
I think I was the only one of us on Canford Cliffs. Split 8s had tipped us No Hubris, and I think Hosed liked Marsh Warbler. Canford Cliffs was the ideal horse to back if you were on your way to being well hammered; distinctive colours, went well clear, won by miles, 4 winners from 4 races, thank you very much.
Things got more blurred from this point. We had some kitty betting money leftover, and did an e-w double on Judgethemoment in the National Hunt With No Jumps Race going onto Little Scotland in the last. If there was a rational debate behind these choices then I can’t remember it. I backed Kayf Aramis to win and Woolfall Treasure e-w, but no luck there. But we were quite excited about our Judge money going onto the next.
I staggered, I mean walked in a graceful, ladylike manner down to the paddock to pick out the winners in the last. I liked Hearts of Fire (a distant 5th in the end I think) and Stand And Fight so stuck the remaining kitty coppers on those e-w. Hosed had been banging on about Little Scotland all day, and LUFCwaffe Itsthursdayalready. I think Star Rover was backed at some point too. But despite having about a third of the field, we had no results at all in this. Cruelly, Little Scotland came 4th, denying us a nice payout on our e-w double. Even crueller was standing next to some amateurs who’d backed the 33-1 winner on the Tote “because of the name”.
LUFCwaffe now reckoned he might have got the placepot through some earlier lines involving Di Stefano online before he left home. On checking that the payout was ~£3.5k, he decided he’d definitely won it and we got started on the champagne…..
Mmmmmm Pimms
Mmmmm Champagne
LUFCwaffe doing his excellent “I’m a bloke in a bird’s hat” routine. Last year I got a pic of him with two stolen hats on, and he said he was going for three this year, but didn’t manage it. Poor effort.
I’m the tallest….
No, I’m the tallest now (trust me, this was pant-wettingly hilarious at the time)
“dancing” to Aha
And Grease Megamix I think. Oh dear.
I don’t even know what this pose was supposed to be about.
More hat-related hilarity.
The pub by the station stopped serving at 10, so we had to head into Clapham Junction to find a late bar.
LUFCwaffe later discovered that he didn’t win the placepot, but no harm done, eh. _________________ Known as the catch of the camp.
haha disgraceful behaviour, it's not the Cup Final you know.
Only joking, looks like you had a blast.
Amour Propre is a funny looking horse for a sprinter isn't he, completely different shape to the rest of the field. Will be interesting to see what he can do next year when he has grown a bit.
I thought Feeling Spirit looked magnificent. Great paddock pics again Tags. _________________ Is ready to hibernate
Did you realise you were on the BBC, the intro to the races showed you walking and looking up at the stands, this was on the Wednesday racing highlights. I thought I had seen that face before!
David, yes me and my mum saw that- took me completely by surprise as I don't recall seeing any cameraman nearby during the day. 2 seconds of fame!
I remembered something this morning- it was announced that Gladiatorus had been given permission to lead the parade (out of racecard order). I know stroppy horses sometimes go down early and fillies in mixed races go last, but don't remember one asking to go first before, and do hope it wasn't an ego thing for connections. I reckon it was a subconscious factor in my late decision to back the donkey, so Sheikh Mo owes me some money..... _________________ Known as the catch of the camp.
Loved the write up as usual Tags. Nice to see you headed back to my old stomping ground for a late drink. _________________ If at first you dont succeed..then skydiving isnt for you
Excellent, Tags! It cheered me up no end after I had got back from Ffos Las, which probably only compared for the amount of alcohol drunk - but not by me because of driving; write-up later, but I can't compete with that!!
(It was absolutely FREEZING at FL - they have made the course on the site of a disused open cast anthracite mine, but have forgotten to plant any windbreaks....it defines the word bleak, at the moment.....)
I'm glad to see the forum's view about not getting pished and falling over at the races has been carried forward with such aplomb by 3 leading members.... _________________ Geordie_R
"A should of known there mum was buying banana's"
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and great write up as always 