Ascot round course heavy in places after unexpected showers

The going at Ascot has been changed to soft, heavy in places on the run down the hill to Swinley Bottom after the course was hit by unexpected showers on Saturday morning.

The going on the straight course remains soft.

Speaking at 11am, shortly before walking the course for a second time and making the change to the going, clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "We have had a couple of heavy showers earlier which were not forecast.

"It was soft when I walked the course before and it is probably borderline now whether I add heavy on the round course."

Low numbers could be favoured on the straight course as Stickels added: "I think the best ground will be up the centre to far side."

The action on the straight course is likely to unfold up the centre to far side, away from the stands' rail, as Ascot has divided the straight course from the mile start to the three-furlong marker. There is a cutaway at the three-furlong pole.

Market movers

The softening ground has led to a number of market moves, with Lord Glitters one of the standout movers in the Balmoral Handicap (4.30). Lord Glitters is as short as 11-4 in places having been 9-2 this morning. In the same race there has also been money for outsiders Linguistic (16-1 from 25-1) and Greenside (20-1 from 33-1).

Order Of St George remains strong at 4-5 in the Long Distance Cup but, perhaps surprisingly, there has also been money for Stradivarius despite connections registering concerns over the ground. He is a 7-1 chance having been 9-1 in places.

Champions Sprint favourite Harry Angel has eased to 6-4 from 11-10 while Librisa Breeze, who like last Saturday's well-backed Cesarewitch winner Withhold is owned by Tony Bloom, is 12-1 from 16-1.

Here Comes When, who sluiced through the Goodwood mud to win the Sussex Stakes, has been popular and is 16-1 from 25-1 to win the QEII Stakes.

The Champions Stakes market has been rather static, but French challenger Brametot is proving solid at 5-1, and is as short as 4-1 in places.

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