ROYAL ASCOT EYECATCHERS

Like all of the major Festivals,whether NH or Flat,the racing is ultra competitve,the best of the bests pitting themselves against each and due to this,the size of the fields,any draw bias or just plain hard luck you always get the "eyecatchers",the ones who should have been closer with a differing rub of the green.Ive sifted through the meeting again a couple of times and ive got three,ive tried to steer away from the obvious ones like Albasharah for instance and ive got two handicappers and a real prospect for the better two year old fillies contests later on in the year.

SALUTATION ran in the King George V Handicap.Drawn wide in big fields here can be a race ending disadvantage and as with many in his predicament he "lit up" on stalls opening.He couldnt get the remotest spot of cover and he raced with choke full out,fighting his pilot for 10 of the 12 furlongs.Remarkably he got himself into contention approaching the final furlong but he couldnt go through with his effort after discharging far too much energy early on.he finished a repectable sixth.He is on to bear in mind for any decent 10/12f handicap in the future.He runs today at Pontefract.Although hes turned out again very quickly after his Berkshire exertions this doesnt look the greatest contest,he must hold claims.

BERTIWHITTLE ran in the Wokingham.Low looked the place to be in the track wide big field handicaps on the first couple of days but that was turned on its head in this race.High numbers dominated from halfway and this fella,drawn 8,had an impossible task from that point on.He made up a ocean of ground to get into contention on the far side(he was rank last at halfway) and in the end finished third in the race on that side.Get the impression that 7 on this stiff track proves just a shade too much for him,back over a stiff 6 or easy 7 and preferably with a little juice in the ground i think he has a real big pot in him.The Ayr Gold Cup just keeps knawing away in the back of my mind.

JOYEUSE ran the Albany.A beautifully bred filly from a prolific family line,she won on debut despite being as green as grass.She again showed massive inexperience as to what was required in the first half of this contest,getting herself detached and running about like a little child lost,when the penny did drop she stormed home and cut through the field like a hot knife through butter.Kiyoshi had flown by then and whilst im not claiming that she would have beaten the clear cut winner,i do think she would have been a deal closer but for greeness.The big filly races beckon for this top prospect and im half inclined to have a little antepost bet on her for next years 1000 Guineas.