Royal Ascot on TV

ROYAL Ascot 2023 could hardly have presented racing any better even if a 33/1 winner of the opening Group 1 set the scene for this Royal Meeting.

On the main channel, ITV, aided by some great winning stories, gave a flavour that should have ‘non worshippers’ and casual viewers feeling that might not be such a bad sport.

Francesa Cumani and Adele Mulrennan share the parade ring on ITV, Adele is a more natural presenter in the pre-parade ring, we are told Chaldean has “muscles that Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud of.” Later on we are told the foal inside Ahoreswithnoname should be “the size of a football or a basketball”. Is she carrying two or 3lb extra weight?

It doesn’t stop her winning for a delighted Nicky Henderson, among the first day’s winners with Willie Mullins. Has Cheltenham fever reached Ascot?

“I’m here in the social stable where there is a real buzz,” announced Oli Bell. There didn’t look to be any buzz at that time but it was useful on Wednesday in giving a flavour of who engages, with the public sending in images of where they were watching the Royal Ascot coverage – from Australia to Florida, Normandy, Majorca and Zurich.

Matt Chapman is on the winner’s enclosure mic on Tuesday and forced a bemused Aidan O’Brien to say he likes marmalade before Paddington runs in the St James’s Palace. Photographers are not so enamoured by his approaches after the race. “They are screaming expletives at me for getting in the way,” he cried.

In his interview after Paddington won, Aidan pays respects to families who lost loved ones in the Hunter Valley crash in Australia, Muldoon and Scott families.

Chapman nabs Rich Ricci for an interview before the finale, comparing footwear. Betting on Rich’s Ascot outfit might have been more interesting than on the King’s, odds-on he might wear his own colours but it’s a tasteful pale pink waistcoat and green tie ensemble. Maybe he’ll make that King’s carriage like his trainer!

Rich revealed: “Willie told me at the end of the jumps season he was thinking big with Vauban.” So that was another GSI from the maestro? The new King added Willie Mullins to his carriage arrival lists, did he share it with the King?

Am I the only one who would dare Chapman to sneak up behind and give Rich a little short back and sides? Never mind Aidan and the marmalade.

Parachute

Wednesday began on ITV with Ed Chamberlin and Jason Weaver jumping from a plane and parachute landing at 125 miles per hour. American filly Crimson Advocate didn’t quite reach those speeds but a look at the extensive time analysis on the ATR site revealed she had the fastest furlong of the meeting so far, 10.81 secs in winning the Queen Mary.

The coverage also began with a spicy debate between Johnny Murtagh and Jason Weaver, with excellent side-on photos, on the nine-day ban Dettori got on Tuesday in the Wolferton Stakes. McDonald was entitled to go up the inner, “that’s what they do in Australia,” went Murtagh. “He was drawn outside Dettori, he had no business going there when he could not get through… this is not Australia,” countered Weaver.

It seemed Weaver had the winning punch before Ruby Walsh swung in from his all-seeing booth and the overhead angle showed there was room on the inner and Frankie had closed the door.

“Shifting his mount right-handed when insufficiently clear” was the stewards’ opinion. “Improper riding” stated Walsh, “he knew what he was doing.”

All the scene-setting pieces might not please purist racing punters but they do give a great sense of occasion on fine, sunny, colourful days such as these and you can see how the meeting is a showcase for attracting ‘outsiders’.

For all the negative comments RacingTV usually get in covering Irish meetings and split screens, so many ad breaks are an irritant on Sky Racing. “Stay with us,” “Back soon”, though Blake, Lynch and Tylicki are always on top of their game in analysis, the three, standing head-on, side by side in top hats look a bit Dickensian.

There is a welcome first winner for Colin Keane and the Harringtons when Villanova Queen swoops in the fillies’ handicap. We had an office debate on whether Ahorsewithnoname was one of the worst named animals but Yerwanthere can’t be much better and the correct pronunciation of Wednesday’s runner defeats Mark Johnson in commentary.

Mostahdaf then defeats all the big guns in the featured Prince of Wales’s Stakes, and how! Equinox, are you the real deal?

Quote of the week

Richard Hoiles is at the mic for the Hunt Cup and has the quote of the week. “Jimi Hendrix beats Sonny Liston, I never thought I’d be saying that.”

There is a welcome relief and jubilation when Frankie finally gets a winner. A new voice joins the welcoming committee…”It’s about time, and I’m happy because last year I bought his sister at the December sales!.” Don’t invite Willie Carson to do the eulogy at your funeral!

After some punter comfort comes in Gregory joining Vauban as even-money late in the day saviours, Mick Appleby comes along after his 20/1 Windsor Castle winner Big Evs to say he had thought the horse was an “absolute machine.” Shall we yearn for those small field, odds-on Cheltenhams?