WHILE the focus of attention was fixed on the effect overnight rain might have on the ground at Royal Ascot on Thursday evening into Friday morning, two significant gambles were in motion for Down Royal’s Friday jumps card.

The Emmet Mullins-trained pair Shake Him Up and Blackstair Rocco were both significant shorteners with bookmakers, especially the former, who was available to back at 100/1 on Thursday evening before going odds-on at one stage and eventually returned at 9/4.