Saturday was King George day, and Ascot's card either side of the big race gave us plenty to chew over. This is our review, race by race, with the horses we are taking out of the day, the ones we would forgive, and where a bit of track bias may have flattered or cost a filly or two.
1:10 Ascot: Never Enough makes all, but Izuba is the one to take out
The Crocker Bulteel Maiden, a 6f Class 2 for two-year-olds who had not run more than once, went to Never Enough (Ed Walker, William Buick) at 11/8. With the benefit of a run under his belt he jumped smartly, was allowed to bowl along in front, and made all in good style. A thoroughly professional performance from a colt who knew his job.
The horse to take out of the race, though, is the runner-up. Izuba (Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy) was having her very first start, and she was desperately unlucky. Just as Buick asked Never Enough to go and win his race, Izuba got caught in traffic at the worst possible moment, briefly stuck behind the weakening Silent Sadhu, and it cost her a huge chunk of both momentum and position. By the time she was extricated the winner had flown, and from there it was a lovely hands-and-heels ride from Oisin Murphy, who simply nudged her out and let her run on into second. She was closing all the way to the line.
If these two met again next week we would be firmly in the Izuba camp. That was a huge run on debut, and with a cleaner passage and the experience of a first start behind her, she looks well worth following. She goes straight into our tracker.