Live Royal Ascot blog
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Next up, Neil from KK. He writes: "No waffle this morning as it did me no good yesterday. Gale Force Ten, Dank, Maxios, Field of Dream (managed to get on at 33/1 on Tuesday), Reroute and Annecdote. Best of luck to all and of course to you in your search for lager under a £1 a sip although you may have to leave the racecourse to do so." You're right, of course, Neil. It's either that or drink it in much smaller sips.
10:15 -
Ascot is a marathon and not a sprint, JP. It is a gruelling week and you need to try to keep your wits about you. The angle of backing British-trained horses at inflated odds on the PMU pools is an interesting one for those lucky enough to have access to them - although I thought French punters now bet directly into the British pools?
10:05 -
First on parade today is JP from Paris who writes: "Don't you love cards with 30 runner races or multiple Group performers...taxing on the brain or what is left of it and it is only day 2...fancies of the day to try and escape with a net profit...Brothers War in the first to make it three for War Front...I may take on Sarkiyla who is very short here on the French PMU but reviewing candidates...at the trip and with the aim of ending with a bit of money I am siding with St Baudolino in the POW...cheeky One Chance in the Queen Mary and Bracing Breeze in the lucky last...the Hunt cup will be left for after lunch...best of luck to all."
10:00 -
I didn't get time to enjoy breakfast at the Premier Inn (other medium-priced hotels are available) so I'm weighing up my options already this morning. I did see a stall selling cheese on toast for six quid near the bandstand, which appeals. In terms of value, it's still a little bit ahead of the 330l bottles of 'craft-brewed' lager on sale for a fiver. At a pound a sip, it was pretty hard to enjoy.
09:45 -
Moonstone Magic is the only non-runner in so far today, taken out of the Duke of Cambridge Stakes early yesterday after a bad scope.
09:40 -
The rail positions remain unchanged today so we can compare race times on a like-for-like basis, but the going remains good after a dry night and there is no rain forecast until after racing today. That's when the thundery showers are due. That will be fun.
09:30 -
What are your fancies today? Let me know at will.hayler@gmail.com - Burke's Rock is the bet for me in the Hunt Cup. She will surely love the end-to-end gallop having struggled to utilise her turn of foot in races run at a slower pace.
09:20 -
Good morning from Ascot. The sun is outish. The sky is blueish. The forecast is good and the racing is better. We're set fair for the second day of Royal Ascot.
09:15