And that was Ascot 2011

It was a meeting of two halves - the first half when the track was dry, the second half when it wasn't.

The form book more or less went out the window for the last couple of days but nevertheless some

horses stood out regardless of the conditions and others proved best able to cope.

On Friday we had the unique experience of a father and a son training the first two home in the G1

Coronation Stakes. The winner was the exciting Immortal Verse who came from near last to win in the

last 50m to defeat the Rod Collet trained Nova Hawk to give the French the first two home in the

feature. Barefoot Lady ran third.

Mick Channon has a good record in the Albany and added this year's edition with Samitar who went off

at 16/1. Inetrobil second and Illaunglass third were both at longish prices as the more favoured runners

did not cope too well with the ground.

The King Edward VII was the first of a double on the day to John Gosden and William Buick with

Nathaniel who was very happy in the going and now is favoured to take the St Leger. Fiorente was

second and Alexander Pope third. Glen's Diamond was a big disappointment and obviously needs a

better surface.

The Queen's Vase went to Namibian with Solar Sky separating him from stablemate Eternal Heart who

had been scratched from a race yesterday in favour of this. Regent Street ran fourth.

Yesterday Await the Dawn went off at odds-on in the Hardwicke but proved the real deal finishing 3l

clear of Harris Tweed with a nice run from Drunken Sailor 2 1/2 lengths back in third. The Godolphin

runners were disappointing and seemed not to cope to well with the going.

The Golden Jubilee was the first leg of a double for trainer James Fanshaw when Society Rock, second

in this race last year, improved this time to win from Monsieur Chevalier (we hope you all picked up our

tip for him) and Star Witness, a gallant try with the ground against him which meant he just tied up at

the end.

And Fanshaw's second winner was Deacon Blues in the Wokingham who got the better of a great

tussle with Waffle to win by a short head. They were quite a bit in front of the rest of the pack led by

Pastoral Player with Anne of Kiev fourth.

Fortunately we had built up a head of steam in the first couple of days and were able to keep our heads

above water for the rest of the meeting. Possibly the disappointment of the meeting was the running

of the American horses.