Ascot limit cut
A total of 28 horses were eliminated from the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday following a reduction in the safety limit to 20.
Last year, a field of 29 contested the two-and-a-half-mile handicap that concludes Royal Ascot’s opening day programme.
“The course inspectorate discussed it with the jockeys following last year’s running and for safety reasons the safety factor was cut,” said clerk of the course Chris Stickels.
Among those missing the cut were four Irish-trained horses – Dream Champion, The Nawab, Arc Bleu and Mickmacmagoole – plus German entry Swordsman.
Fancied British runners also denied a run include Paul Webber’s Tribe, Brian Meehan’s Junior and Alambic, trained by Sir Mark Prescott.
The weights are headed on 9st 10lb by Kasthari from James Bethell’s stable while Tom Tate’s Raucous scrapes in at number 20.
