Ascot Gold Cup Day

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action coming from Chelmsford City, Ripon and Lingfield while there is a jumps card from Ffos Las.  The main event of course is day three of the Royal Ascot meeting and David has a runner in the big one itself.  Griraz (picture above) looks to face a near impossible task in the Ascot Gold Cup at 4.20pm - three times a Listed winner, he goes nicely at home and will be ridden by Donnacha O'Brien.  I am sure he will be winning in his turn, although it may not be today - his owner likes a crack at these big races, so why not?

Brook was pulled up in the 3m2f handicap chase at Uttoxeter yesterday afternoon.  He was still travelling okay two out and I think that this trip may just have found him out.  I am sure David will find another race that he can win, possibly over a shorter trip?

What an incredible performance from two year old filly Lady Aurelia at Royal Ascot yesterday.  The American runner broke the track record under Frankie Dettori as she sprinted seven lengths clear of the field - and don't forget that this was on soft ground!  She posted a time almost two and a half seconds faster than the Kings Stand Sprint winner (the Group One on the first day) and she was only carrying 4lbs less than the four year old Profitable.  It was a quite extraordinary performance and one of quality seldom seen before.  Frankie went on to complete a double aboard Persuasive, although he didn't have to do too much persuading aboard Lady Aurelia!

Everybody wants to be on Order Of St George in the Gold Cup today - that is supposed to be the other O'Brien hotpot of the week.  Mind you, he is only even money and is yet to prove he will stay the trip, although he certainly shapes as though it will not be a problem.

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I would think there will be more people watching the television at 2pm than at any other time this year as England take on Wales in the European Cup.  I think if we can keep Bale quiet we should win...the only problem is that our defense is not very good.  Surely England have to win this one and I will be having a little wager on the Three Lions at 4/7.  Yes, I am quite possibly deranged!

Talk about leaving it late...host nation France beat Albania 2-0 last night, although both of their goals came in the 90th minute.  West Ham, or should I say Payet scored one of the goals!  France will have to play better than this if they hope to win the tournament - I wonder how many teams there are in Albania?  It is not a place I have ever been on my holidays.

New Aston Villa owner Tony Xia has set a ten year target for the side to win the Champions League.  First of all the manager has to get them back into the top flight - he is talking about spending £30 million on new players.  It sounds like a lot of money, but £30 million doesn't go very far in football any more.

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