We are standing firm – no mention of that word at Ascot this week, please!

June 21

It’s Midsummer’s Day, and the sun is shining gloriously at Ascot. That might please the 60,000 crowd who are expected to attend on Day Two, but Alan would not complain if the rain returned this afternoon and gave the Royal Heath a thorough watering.

Obviously, Alan has a vested interest, with Trueshan being at his best when he can get his toe in, and, while the official going report for the round course today is ‘good, good to soft in places’, we are forecast a dry, warm day, which is disappointing after the 10mm earlier in the week had us so hopeful.

However, Alan has always stressed that Trueshan does not necessarily need a mudbath.  Our stable-star is fine on good ground, but even better on good to soft, but Alan has always insisted that he would not risk him if the word ‘firm’ creeps into Geoff Stickels description. However, Trueshan has been declared, and, doubtless, Alan will leave a final decision until as late as possible.

HMS President just missed out in the ballot for the Copper Horse Handicap on the opening day, but he has been declared for the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap on Friday.

Alan said:”We have won this race before for the Henry Ponsonby syndicate with Scarlet Dragon (2020), and HMS President has been working very well. He won well at Newmarket and I can’t complain with a 3lb rise up the ladder.”