DIARY – ASCOT – SATURDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2008
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As the mileage on my car was clocking up fast, I
decided to go by train to Ascot today.
I left home just before 09:00 to drive to my local station, where I bumped
into my friend Mark, who was purchasing his train ticket in advance of his
journey to see St Albans City play Bromley.
I caught the 09:18 to St Pancras. Unfortunately there were engineering works
preventing trains from travelling through to Blackfriars today, so I alighted
at St Pancras and took the Victoria Line to Warren Street, where I
transferred onto the Northern Line to Waterloo. I had planned to catch the 10:50 to Reading
but, as I was early, I managed to catch the 10:20 instead. The train journey was a pleasant one – Clapham
Junction, Richmond, over the Thames to Twickenham, Feltham, Staines, crossing the Thames again, under the M25, Egham, Virginia Water, Sunningdale
and Ascot. I was struck by the number
of level crossings on this stretch of the route. Once alighting at Ascot, I took the railway
underpass, along with many other race-goers, and walked up the leafy driveway
to the main road outside the course entrance.
I must have walked fast, as I overtook a number of people. As the road was busy, I used the pedestrian
crossing, and then purchased a ticket at the ticket office (£15 General
Admission) and walked along the road to the main entrance. When inside I purchased a race-card and stood for
a few moments by the paddock amphitheatre to get my bearings. I noticed Shane, the helpful valet from
Stratford, outside what I presumed to be the Weighing Room. I then took a walk through the concourse to
look at the racecourse. I noticed that
it was much colder on the racecourse side of the grandstand, as the wind was
blowing from that direction. I waited at the top of the Parade Ring viewing
steps to see the horses enter the paddock.
I noticed Meally standing near the
amphitheatre bridge to my right but, when it started to spit with rain,
surprisingly she headed for the western exit gate, perhaps to seek temporary
warmth and shelter. There was very little shelter to be had inside the
concourse building, as a cold raw wind was blowing and the automatic doors on
both the course and paddock sides continually opened to admit the punters,
making it as cold on the lowest level inside the building as it was
outside. Choc rode Southern Regent in the first race, a 2
miles 3½ furlong Novices’ Handicap hurdle event, and went off 2nd favourite. He
cantered to the start with Timmy Murphy, who was aboard Benmore
Boy. Unusually, Choc travelled on the
outside of the pack, in around 6th place.
He took closer order at the far turn and moved up into 3rd. However, he’d dropped back into 6th by the
home turn and made a slight error at the 2nd last flight. Choc faded to finish 11th. There were two
horses disputing the lead at the last fence, Alaghiraar
and Busker Royal, but the former made a mistake and weakened into 4th, the
race being won by Busker Royal trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Barry
Geraghty. Nicky trained the 3rd too. Having seen the race finish I crossed the
Grandstand concourse and walked along the back of the building to overlook
the Enclosure where the unplaced horses were unsaddled and was surprised by
how small the area was. Once he’d
unsaddled and spoken to connections, Choc came back through the Parade Ring
tunnel and into the Weighing Room. Choc had no ride in the second race of the day, a
Handicap Steeplechase. It was won by
the Venetia Williams trained 13-year old Bleu Superbe,
and she also trained the second home, Stan. Soon it was time for the third race. The jockeys came into the Parade Ring
unexpectedly early, only to find that many of the owners hadn’t arrived
yet. So we had a small group of
jockeys talking to each other, and looking a little ‘lost’, until their
respective owners appeared. Choc’s mount in this event, a 2 mile (approximately)
Handicap Hurdle Race, was King’s Revenge, who wore blinkers. When the race began, Alsadaa
took up the running and Choc assumed his customary place on the inside rail,
and was in 2nd or 3rd place. Working
Title fell. Sentry Duty won the race, having taken up the running just before
the last flight. Choc, having kept King’s Revenge handy throughout the race,
drove him out towards the line to finish 2nd.
The favourite, Font, made a mistake down the back, flattening a
flight, which put paid to his chances.
Sentry Duty was another winner for Nicky Henderson, this time ridden
by Andrew Tinkler. I crossed the Grandstand
concourse to watch Choc return to the Winners’ Enclosure. It was then time for the big race of the day, a
3-mile Handicap Steeplechase. Choc had
no ride in this race. Robert Cooper
from At The Races interviewed the trainer of Roll Along, Carl Llewellyn,
prior to the race and he seemed very hopeful of a big run. The start of the race was to our left. On The Other Hand, owned by J P McManus
fell at the 2nd, then Fier Normand ridden by Richard
McGrath, and also owned by JP, fell a few fences later. On the following circuit the horses had to
bypass the fence where Richard fell as, although he was on his feet, he was
being attended by the medics. Roll
Along and Airforce One were disputing the lead as
they approached the last, but the latter pecked on landing handing the
advantage to Roll Along, who went on the win for Carl. Another winner for Barry Geraghty, whose saddle appeared to have slipped back a
little. Carl was fully justified in
being bullish about his chances pre-race.
I watched the prize giving, with Barry coming out of the Weighing Room
to accept a memento too. Choc’s
ride in the 5th race was Norman the Great.
The odd-on favourite, Mad Max, was withdrawn shortly before it was due
in the Parade Ring. Evidently it had hit its head and drawn blood whilst
being saddled in the box, so was unable to run. A setback for Nicky Henderson
and Barry Geraghty, and also for punters as it
meant a deduction of 50p in the pound on every winning bet made prior to the
withdrawal. The race started off at dawdling pace. Choc took up his position on the inside in
around 3rd place, with Indian Blood and Timmy Murphy taking them along. At the end of the first straight Choc had
eased back into 5th or 6th place. He
then took closer order between the 3rd and 2nd last, but Leo’s Lucky Star was
just cruising beside him and went on to win the race easily. Norman the Great was overtaken for 2nd but
was driven out to regain that position on the line from Wizard of Odds. Again I watched as Choc unsaddled in
the Enclosure. The rain was by now very heavy, and I noticed that many of the
owners were using the winner’s podium in the Parade Ring as shelter. It was at this point that I become a
chicken and didn’t venture outside for the 6th race as I was too cold and
Choc wasn’t riding in the race. I
stayed inside the concourse, noticing that Nick Skelton and his son Dan
Skelton (Assistant Trainer to Paul Nicholls) were chatting just across the
way whilst watching the race on the TV. It was also at this time that AP
McCoy came down the escalator from one of the upper levels and through the
concourse, stopping for a quick word with Nick and Dan. Nick’s other son,
Harry, was riding in the last race. The 6th race was won by Psychomodo,
ridden by Wilson Renwick, and trained by Brendan Powell. Despite the horse jumping out to the left
over his fences he won the race well. It was then time for the 7th and final race of
the day, a National Hunt flat race over 2 miles (approximately). I noticed
that Choc was using his tiny ‘Choc 1’ saddle for this race. His mount, Swansbrook, was held up towards the rear, then ridden and
made headway from 3 furlongs out, staying on in the final furlong to finish
3rd. Alan had two entries in this race, the other being Shabenito,
ridden by Gerard Tumulty. During the day I saw Clare Balding (dressed in a
purple coat), Rishi Persad,
Richard Dunwoody and Robert Cooper in the Parade Ring carrying out their
duties for the BBC and At The Races respectively. I stayed to watch Choc return to the Winners’
Enclosure and disappear inside the Weighing Room. I was not staying to watch the firework
display planned for after the races – even as a child I have never really
enjoyed firework displays, as it seems such a waste of money. It was still
raining heavily as I left the racecourse to walk back to the station. As
usual I overtook many people who weren’t walking as quickly as me. When I got
there, the platform was almost empty – I must have just missed a train, so I
sat down on an empty seat to wait. The next train to Waterloo was scheduled
to arrive at 16:37 – a wait of almost 30 minutes. The covered area of the
platform was crowded by the time the train arrived. I ventured up the platform towards the front of
the train to get on, so that I’d not have to walk so far once it arrived at
Waterloo. Despite many passengers
getting on the train at Ascot, there were seats for everyone. I must have been feeling pretty tired as I
almost nodded off to sleep on a couple of occasions. Once I’d arrived at Waterloo I took the Northern
Line to Warren Street, then the Victoria Line to St Pancras
International. Unfortunately, despite
walking briskly to the Bedford bound platform, I just missed a train and had
to wait 30 minutes for the next departure.
When I arrived at my local station I picked up my car from my work car
park and drove home, arriving at around 19:05, just in time to see the end of
Strictly Come Dancing. 3 hours travelling time – I could have driven it
in around an hour! |
