The part-owner of Im Too Generous has defended Nathan Moscrop after the jockey was banned for 10 daysA dramatic novice chase at Perth on Tuesday left jockey Nathan Moscrop with a winner and a 10-day riding ban. The stewards decided that he had failed to pull up his mount Im Too Generous – the only one of six starters still standing – when the gelding apparently went lame after jumping the final fence.Moscrop made all the running on the 9-2 chance and was in a clear lead after three opponents failed to jump the fourth-last fence. Court Dreaming, who was in a distant second place, unseated his jockey at the next while the only other runner was pulled up. Im...
Wichita, narrowly denied in the 2,000 Guineas, can gain compensation in the big race on the final day of Royal AscotWichita (3.00) was denied victory in the 2,000 Guineas by mere inches. The Irish colt can gain compensation in the St James’s Palace Stakes, the big race on the final day of Royal Ascot.Arizona had seemed to be Aidan O’Brien’s main contender but the market spoke in favour of Wichita and we saw why on the track. Pinatubo hit a flat spot at a crucial stage and may be better for the run but Wichita looks one to stick with and it would be a surprise if the form were reversed. Palace Pier has to be respected, as an unbeaten...
Buckingham Palace Handicap will return for first time since 2014 and eight races are scheduled for final SaturdayThe stands will be empty but, in terms of the action on the track, this year’s Royal Ascot will be bigger than ever, six races having been added to a heavily revised running order for the event, due to begin on 16 June. Racing insiders praised the changes, designed to give chances to as many horses and therefore owners as possible, and to fit in with the unusual timing of this year’s Classic races. Related: Talking Horses: Wesley Ward to send horses but not people to Royal Ascot F*** Me! If this doesn’t get you excited then nothing will. https://t.co/nebGpFw8SuRoyal Ascot really does...
Ascot has switched races on Champions Day to its jumps track but the supreme Flat jockey may come out on topWhen the Queen’s procession made its way down Ascot’s straight mile during the Royal meeting in June, the hurdles course on the inside of the main Flat track was a brown, parched desert. Four months later, the same strip of turf will ride to the rescue on Saturday, in an unexpected but vital role as the stage for Britain’s most valuable day at the races.There is nearly £4.5m on offer in the six races here on Champions Day, the only British card all year which has two contests with seven-figure prize funds. Had it not been for the fallback of...
The hurdles track is only a standby for Saturday but it routinely offers better racing ground in October than the Flat circuit“Hurdles track” is a description you won’t hear very much in the build-up to Champions Day, but Ascot’s hurdles track is indeed the strip of ground most likely to be used for the round-course races on Saturday, including the £1m Champion Stakes itself. The official description is “inner Flat course”, though the course has never yet been used for Flat racing.That seems long odds-on to change on Saturday, because the round course Ascot uses for Flat racing is waterlogged in places and there is plenty more rain in the offing. One forecast predicts 20mm today alone. Meanwhile, the “inner...