The third day is over and it’s hats off again to Frankie Dettori. “He is what this place needs,” said Tony McCoy of the jockey who won his sixth Gold Cup day today, just three weeks after the Derby when everyone at the track, and I mean everyone, was talking about an imminent retirement announcement. And McCoy is right. Even when Yeats was winning a remarkable fourth Gold Cup in a row back in 2009 the Royal Ascot crowd, often more interested in what the person next to them is wearing than which horse has just won, was fairly nonplussed. But Frankie is different: he brings any race crowd alive and even the normally reserved Royal Ascot racegoers.
Join us again tomorrow when Aidan O’Brien (who had two winners today) has a couple of fascinating speedsters in the opening race and the Commonwealth Cup, the most successful new race on the Royal Ascot programme of modern times, will be the big betting heat. Hope you backed Chris Cook’s Gold Cup tip Stradivarius and look forward to you joining us back here tomorrow.
Updated
King George V Stakes Handicap (5.30) result
1 Baghdad (Andrea Atzeni) 9-1
2 Corgi (Jim Crowley) 12-1
3 First Eleven (L Dettori) 6-1
4 Cross Counter (W Buick) 8-1
Updated
Hope Her Majesty backed Corgi each-way, rather than on nose. #RoyalAscot
— Andy Stephens (@StevoGG) June 21, 2018
King George V Stakes Handicap (5.35)
And they’re off ... Elegiac leads from Communique ... First Eleven is fifth for Frankie Dettori ... Billy Ray is towards the back with the well-backed Downdraft ... Baileys Excelerate joins Communique at the front ... Communique goes for home ... Baghdad and Corgi fight it out and Baghdad holds on ... Trainer Mark Johnston had six runners in the race and has won with Baghdad in a close finish.
Updated
King George V Stakes Handicap (5.35) betting
- 11-2 Communique
- 15-2 Downdraft
- 8-1 First eleven
- 9-1 Cross Counter
- 12-1 Baghdad
- 14-1 Corgi
- Full betting here
King George V Stakes Handicap (5.35) preview
A quick look at the mile and a half layout at Ascot would suggest those drawn near the inside rail would have an advantage in big-field handicaps. But results point the other way and no winner of this race has emerged from a single-figure stall since 2010. So the well-bred Dubhe is probably not badly drawn in 19 and he makes a lot of appeal, coming off an impressive handicap win at Sandown that showed he has improved for time and distance.
Britannia Stakes (5.00) result
1 Ostilio (S De Sousa) 10-1
2 Curiosity (James McDonald) 14-1
3 Magnificent (S M Levey) 33-1
Updated
Britannia Stakes (5.00)
And they’re off ... Curiosity and Bond Street are prominent ... Three runners are on their own on the far side and they include Simpson ... Ostilio clear on the near side ... Ostilio still leads and they won’t get to him though Curiosity is closest ... That is the first Royal Ascot winner for trainer Simon Crisford, ex of Godolphin fame.
Updated
Frankie Dettori, who has just ridden his 60th Royal Ascot winner, is on record as saying he will retire from race-riding at 50 in three years’ time. Now he’s threatening to carry on until he’s 60. If only he could. He’s undoubtedly the biggest asset racing has and has had for a number of years.
STRADIVARIUS wins the Ascot Gold Cup and that's 60 #RoyalAscot winners for @FrankieDettori! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Y2CUKY9VYO
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) June 21, 2018
Britannia Stakes (5.00) betting
- 15-2 Crack On Crack On
- 15-2 George Of Hearts
- 12-1 Corrosive
- 12-1 First Contact
- 14-1 Curiosity
- 14-1 Il Primo Sole
- 14-1 Ostillo
- 14-1 Sam Gold
- 16-1 Bond Street
- 16-1 Completion
- Full betting here
Britannia Stakes (5.00) preview
It can’t have been easy for Frankie Dettori to choose between the two Gosden runners here and he may have jumped the wrong way, as Stylehunter won with authority at Lingfield last time. The progressive colt looks handily treated for this handicap debut.
Updated
Frankie Dettori comes back to a great reception and it’s clear what this victory means to trainer John Gosden, his first in the Gold Cup. Gosden was in no doubt about how important his jockey is to the team. When the trainer was asked just now about the (false) rumours that swirled around on Derby day that Dettori would be retiring, he said: “That was one of those nasty fake news things! I said to Frankie ‘They’re normally true about you’ ... but no, he’s enjoying his racing.”
Updated
Gold Cup (4.20) result
1 Stradivarius (L Dettori) 7-4 Jt Fav
2 Vazirabad (C Soumillon) 9-2
3 Torcedor (C O’Donoghue) 14-1
Updated
Gold Cup (4.20)
And they’re off ... Mount Moriah just leads from Torcedor with Order Of St George and Stradivarius in third and fourth ... Mount Moriah has a two-length lead but there’s an awful long way to go ... Sheikhzayedroad is in fifth ... Desert Skyline is in midfield ... Ten or 12 lengths cover the nine-strong field at halfway ... Not much change in the order ... Order of St George goes well in third ... Sheikhzayedroad now in fourth ... Heading towards the home turn Order Of St George is under pressure ... Torcedor takes the lead ... Torcedor has a lead but Stradivarius and Vazirabad challenge ... Stradivarius goes to the lead close home in a thrilling finish to the Gold Cup. Frankie Dettori is having a marvellous week, Cracksman his only disappointment. That is the jockey’s sixth win in the race!
Updated
The Gold Cup is still one of the biggest punting races of the year. It was the seventh most popular Flat race in respect of betting volumes last year and it should rank high again this year despite not having as strong a build-up as previous years when Yeats was reigning supreme and the glory days of the 1970s and 80s when genuine high-class horses ran in the race.
Thursday traditionally attracts twice as many bets as taken during Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Alexander Kostin of Bonuscodebets.co.uk, who said: “Order Of St George’s 2016 victory was the biggest turnover Gold Cup day to date, but also marked the most costly one for bookmakers. His presence today coupled with the World Cup betting frenzy is set to lift Gold Cup betting to a record.”
Interestingly, the Commonwealth Cup, which was only introduced in 2015, was the 10th most popular betting heat in 2017. That race has to be one of the most successful innovations in the Flat racing scene of recent years.
Gold Cup betting
- 2-1 Order Of St George
- 2-1 Stradivarius
- 6-1 Vazirabad
- 12-1 Desert Skyline
- 20-1 Torcedor
- 33-1 Sheikhzayedroad
- 40-1 Max Dynamite
- 66-1 Mount Moriah
- 125-1 Scotland
- Full betting here
Gold Cup (4.20) preview
The John Gosden / Frankie Dettori express, which was chugging along very nicely on Tuesday, went slithering off the rails and down a mountainside yesterday. But the Newmarket duo have an excellent chance to get back on track with Stradivarius in this race, highlight of Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot. This flashy chestnut, a winner in this week last year when the ground was similarly quick, started his season on a very encouraging note when scotting clear in the Yorkshire Cup. A strong finisher over two miles in August, he has a fine chance of seeing out this extra half-mile. Order Of St George remains a classy opponent but both he and Vazirabad would probably prefer some give in the ground. One of the outsiders might be able to nick a place here, perhaps even Scotland, who has form on fast ground.
Updated
Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40)
And they’re off ... Magic Wand is kicked on into the lead by her jockey ... Highgarden is on her outside ... who goes into the lead under Frankie Dettori ... Lady Of Shalott is at the back ... Athena travels strongly ... Sun Maiden asked to improve ... Magic Wand back in the lead and getting away ... it’s Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien again. No winners on the first day is a distant memory for the pair now.
Result:
1 Magic Wand (R L Moore) 10-3
2 Wild Illusion (W Buick) 9-4 Fav
3 Sun Maiden (James Doyle) 3-1
Updated
Remiss of me not to record that Ryan Moore was riding his 50th winner at Royal Ascot on Hunting Horn. Great British Racing didn’t forget:
That's 50 #RoyalAscot winners for Ryan Moore as HUNTING HORN lands the Hampton Court Stakes! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/200TZB5kMK
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) June 21, 2018
What to wear at Royal Ascot, and make sure it's socks
What to wear to Ascot is a conundrum few of us will ever have to face. Which you might be thankful for, not least because the rules are an ever-changing beast. In 1971 the Duke of Norfolk made it clear that hotpants on women would not be permitted (even though the board said they would be acceptable as part of an “ensemble”), last year the headline news was that jumpsuits would be allowed for the first time – the Countess of Wessex became the first royal to embrace the new rule, this year opting for an Emilia Wickstead baby blue one for day two.
Elsewhere the Ascot board tightened its dress code with Bardot-style necklines not permitted. Neither are bare midriffs a la Aaliyah – it’s not clear whether they ever were – despite being in fashion this season.
Finally the mankle, which only entered the dictionary in 2011, but which has has already fallen foul of the board – male guests are this year compelled to wear socks. This at least is in line with high-fashion trends – might we suggest a pair of knee-high stripy socks a la the models at London fashion week men’s Charles Jeffrey Loverboy show earlier this month.
Updated
Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40) betting
- 100-30 Magic Wand
- 100-30 Sun Maiden
- 7-2 Wild Illusion
- 9-1 Perfect Clarity
- 14-1 Athena
- 28-1 Dancing Brave Bear
- 28-1 Highgarden
- 33-1 Sarrocchi
- 50-1 Lady Of Shalott
- 50-1 Sizzling
- Full betting here
Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40) preview
Having finished runner-up behind a good winner in the Oaks, Wild Illusion is the obvious one here, though the ground here will be very different to the soft going that prevailed that day. One could fret about whether Magic Wand might reverse that form with her in the circumstances. But perhaps Magic Wand’s stablemate Athena has an even better chance, having belatedly blossomed when tried on a sound surface in her two most recent starts. It was only a Fairyhouse maiden that she took last time but her second place to Sea Of Class in May puts her right in the argument and she is going the right way.
Hampton Court Stakes (3.05) result
1 Hunting Horn (R L Moore) 5-1
2 Crossed Baton (R Havlin) 16-1
3 Zaaki (P J Dobbs) 14-1
Updated
Ryan Moore will be slightly more reticent, to say the least, than Joel Rosario ... in fact as usual he almost kills the post-race interview with Rishi Persad on ITV stone dead. You don’t get ebullience from Moore:
Watching the Ryan Moore interview on RUK and the wife walks in, 'who's that, he looks a bit miserable'.
— David Johnson (@davidjohnsonTF) June 21, 2018
Hampton Court Stakes (3.05)
And they’re off ... Hunting Horn is quickly away ... but Nordic Lights takes the early lead after the runners sort themselves out ... Crossed Baton is prominent ... and challenges on the home turn ... Hunting Horn now goes on ... and kicks clear for a very easy victory. Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien record their second victory of the week. Moore must now be favourite to be top jockey of the week.
Updated
Oh, and Joel Rosario, the rider of the winner in the opener, took a leaf out of Frankie Dettori’s book on return to the winner’s enclosure and performed a flying dismount. Needs more practice I reckon:
Updated
As mentioned, hats of all shapes and sizes are on display as Royal Ascot welcomes racegoers for Ladies’ Day, when milliners go all out to show off their creative skills. Here’s the Guardian Ladies’ Day gallery ...
Hampton Court Stakes (3.05) betting
- 4-1 Key Victory
- 7-1 Hunting Horn
- 7-1 Wadilsafa
- 8-1 Nordic Lights
- 9-1 National Army
- Full betting here
Hampton Court Stakes (3.05) preview
In an open race, Silver Quartz might be able to outrun big odds. Seventh place from nine runners on his most recent outing at Sandown does not inspire, on the face of it, but he was going on at the finish after a bit of trouble in running and ended up a mere four lengths behind Without Parole, a Group One winner here on Tuesday. The extra distance on a faster surface will be a big help and he comes from the Hugo Palmer yard that is going well just now.
These American riders and trainers are different class when it comes to the media. They feel free to talk unreservedly and don’t suffer the stifling culture all too evident in the sport on these shores.
Shang Shang Shang got Wesley Ward's #RoyalAscot up and running.
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 21, 2018
Jockey Joel Rosario chatted with @RishiPersad1 after his win.
Watch LIVE on @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/nEnuB0KTdP
Norfolk Stakes (2.30) result
1 Shang Shang Shang (Joel Rosario) 5-1
2 Pocket Dynamo (M Barzalona) 20-1
3 Land Force (R L Moore) 7-1
Updated
Norfolk Stakes (2.30)
And they’re off ... Land Force was quickly away but Shang Shang Shang leads ... Rumble Inthejungle is challenging ... Shang Shang Shang and Pocket Dynamo go past together ... photo finish! photo finish! ... The winner is Shang Shang Shang for American trainer Wesley Ward. The interviews will be a treat. These US racing professionals are great talkers. That was an exciting five-furlong sprint, the well-backed American raider just holding on, much to the delight of the crowd.
Updated
Norfolk Stakes (2.30) betting
- 5-1 Vintage Brut
- 11-2 Konchek
- 11-2 Shang Shang Shang
- 8-1 Charming Kid
- 8-1 land Force
- 11-1 Glory Fighter
- 12-1 Kinks
- 12-1 Rumble Inthejungle
- 33-1 The Paddocks
- 40-1 Pocket Dynamo
- Full betting here
Norfolk Stakes (2.30) preview
Wesley Ward having had a couple of reverses this week, his Shang Shang Shang might be weak in the market and, as a filly, she’d be an unusual winner of this race. Vintage Brut will attract interest, having been sold for £280,000 since winning a good race at Sandown but he might have been a lucky winner, as Konchek had a luckless run in third and might only have needed two more strides to hit the front. Clive Cox’s youngster is the one to be with.
Queen's Hat (2.00) result
1st Pink evens fav
Updated
Just before the Queen arrives in her hat, our fashion expert provides a guide to the best, the wort and the wackiest ... Ascot is synonymous with big – and let’s face it, daft – hats. In previous years there have been hats made from peperami or crafted to look like roulette wheels. This year has not disappointed. For fans of lateral dressing there was a hat with a horse on it, there were Lilliput hats so large the wearer looks like they shipped in from travels with Gulliver, and one that resembled a rainbow jellyfish. It’s tempting to read the abundance of flower crowns as the long arm of Frida Kahlo, who has been co-opted by fashion this season more than most, her artefacts and clothes currently on display just down the M4.
Royal Procession Stakes (2.00)
1st Carriage
THE QUEEN
The Duke of York
Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Sir Nicholas Bacon
2nd Carriage
The Princess Royal
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Eugenie of York
3rd Carriage
The Duke of Gloucester
The Duchess of Gloucester
The Earl of Snowdon
The Countess of Snowdon
4th Carriage
Mr. Peter Troughton
Mrs. Peter Troughton
Sir Marcus O’Lone
Lady O’Lone
Updated
Royal Ascot: the fashion trends
You don’t look to Ascot for cutting edge fashion. It’s about fascinators not Fendi bucket hats. That said this year has seen some trends from the catwalk cross over. For one, ice-cream hues, popular from Victoria Beckham to Chanel for spring/summer 2018, have looked to crop up at the track too. The Queen on day two went for a soft pastel blue.
To slightly paraphrase Miranda Priestly, florals for Ascot? Groundbreaking. Polka dots on the other hand are, according to Jess Cartner-Morley, “both reassuringly classic and thrillingly of the moment”, having featured on the catwalks of Balenciaga and Armani. And, as seen on the Instagram feeds of every self-respecting influencer this season and in the collections of Gucci, Prada and Mark Cross, wicker bags are everywhere – Made in Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo was spotted wearing one to day two of the races.
Fashion guide
When I first started watching Royal Ascot as a teenager who wanted to know who I should back in the Royal Hunt Cup at a big price, I was frustrated that half the BBC’s coverage consisted of people talking about what other people were wearing, usually in an obsequious and fawning manner. My first visit to the meeting in 1987, at which I saw the only female rider (Gay Kelleway) to have ridden a winner at Royal Ascot so far, confirmed that the majority of the people there were pretty uninterested in what was happening on the track.
Fashion is integral to Royal Ascot and throughout the afternoon on Ladies’ Day our fashion correspondent Ellie Violet Bramley will be our guide to the sights in the grandstands and on the lawns. Our racing experts will keep you in touch with events on the turf. Meanwhile, a glimpse back to when Joan Collins caused quite a stir when interviewed by the late Julian Wilson on the BBC in 1988:
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Queen's Hat Stakes (2.00)
On Ladies’ Day, the highlight of the week in the fashion stakes at Royal Ascot, there will be even more focus than normal on what the Queen is wearing and, of course, the colour of her titfer. It has paid to follow the money this week and yesterday blue was all the rage before Her Majesty turned up wearing precisely the shade predicted.
Today the colour of choice is a clear and hot favourite. The Queen wore pink on Ladies’ Day last year and my analysis at Bonuscodebets.co.uk suggests that colour is going to go off at very short odds for a repeat showing this afternoon. The betting today is: Evens Pink, 4-1 Green, 7-1 Blue, 10-1 Yellow, 14-1 Orange, 16-1 Purple, 16-1 Red, 20-1 White, 33-1 Brown/Beige.
Updated
My regular reader will know one of the themes has been the dreadful travel by train for racegoers this week. Our own racing correspondent has suggested it might be a good idea for South Western trains to ink in the dates for next year’s Royal Ascot now.
Hello @SW_Help Since you're blaming Ascot for the dangerous overcrowding today, would it help if I tweeted you to remind you, say, 9 months in advance what the dates are next year? Then it might not come as quite such a surprise.
— Greg Wood (@Greg_Wood_) June 21, 2018
Updated
Those of you who take an interest in trainer form will surely be having a close look at Sir Michael Stoute’s runners for the rest of the week. Having won with all three of his runners yesterday, including two here at Ascot, the Newmarket knight is on a 24% strike-rate for June after pottering through the previous two months on 14%. He runs Zaaki (3.05), Sun Maiden (3.40) and Moqarrar (5.00) at Ascot today. Other trainers who would like to be in similar form are Charlie Hills (1/39 in the past fortnight), Clive Cox (3/42) and Ralph Beckett (2/31).
Trainers' leaderboard
John Gosden 3 wins
Sir Michael Stoute 2
Aidan O’Brien 1
Charlie Appleby 1
Willie Mullins 1
Marco Botti 1
Eve Johnson Houghton 1
David Marnane 1
John Quinn 1
Which makes it an excellent Ascot for Newmarket, the town having so far produced more than half of the winners here. Gosden is 4-5 to hold on as the week’s top trainer for only the second time in his career. O’Brien, the top trainer for the last three years, is 7-4 to extend his run.
Jockeys' leaderboard
Frankie Dettori 3 wins
William Buick 2
Oisin Murphy 1
Ryan Moore 1
Andrea Atzeni 1
Charles Bishop 1
James Doyle 1
Billy Lee 1
James McDonald 1
Dettori was a 1-5 shot to end the week as top jockey after his 3/3 effort on day one but 3/9 is rather less impressive and of course Cracksman failed to add to his score, unexpectedly. Ryan Moore is now a top price of 6-4, having got on the scoreboard yesterday and with the Gold Cup favourite to come today.
Updated
Gold Cup day tips
2.30 Norfolk Stakes Konchek 4-1
3.05 Hampton Court Stakes Silver Quartz (nb) 22-1
3.40 Ribblesdale Stakes Athena (nap) 11-1
4.20 Gold Cup Stradivarius 2-1
5.00 Britannia Handicap Stylehunter 20-1
5.35 King George V Handicap Dubhe 12-1
Hmmm, only two tips at single-figure odds, I wonder if that’s wise. It’s interesting to see Konchek, beaten last time, being such a warm order for the Norfolk and he looks like taking over as favourite as I type. Shang Shang Shang is on the drift, punters having apparently decided this is not going to be Wesley Ward’s week. My tips depend on a revival for John Gosden after a disappointing Wednesday, as he trains Stradivarius and Stylehunter. It would be no great surprise if Aidan O’Brien were to win a Ribblesdale with his seeming second-string, Athena. There’s some money about for Silver Quartz and perhaps 22-1 will have gone by the time you read this.
Race-by-race previews
2.30 Norfolk Stakes Wesley Ward having had a couple of reverses this week, his Shang Shang Shang might be weak in the market and, as a filly, she’d be an unusual winner of this race. Vintage Brut will attract interest, having been sold for £280,000 since winning a good race at Sandown but he might have been a lucky winner, as Konchek had a luckless run in third and might only have needed two more strides to hit the front. Clive Cox’s youngster is the one to be with.
3.05 Hampton Court Stakes In an open race, Silver Quartz might be able to outrun big odds. Seventh place from nine runners on his most recent outing at Sandown does not inspire, on the face of it, but he was going on at the finish after a bit of trouble in running and ended up a mere four lengths behind Without Parole, a Group One winner here on Tuesday. The extra distance on a faster surface will be a big help and he comes from the Hugo Palmer yard that is going well just now.
3.40 Ribblesdale Stakes Having finished runner-up behind a good winner in the Oaks, Wild Illusion is the obvious one here, though the ground here will be very different to the soft going that prevailed that day. One could fret about whether Magic Wand might reverse that form with her in the circumstances. But perhaps Magic Wand’s stablemate Athena has an even better chance, having belatedly blossomed when tried on a sound surface in her two most recent starts. It was only a Fairyhouse maiden that she took last time but her second place to Sea Of Class in May puts her right in the argument and she is going the right way.
A couple arrive on Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images
4.20 Gold Cup The John Gosden / Frankie Dettori express, which was chugging along very nicely on Tuesday, went slithering off the rails and down a mountainside yesterday. But the Newmarket duo have an excellent chance to get back on track with Stradivarius in this race, highlight of Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot. This flashy chestnut, a winner in this week last year when the ground was similarly quick, started his season on a very encouraging note when scotting clear in the Yorkshire Cup. A strong finisher over two miles in August, he has a fine chance of seeing out this extra half-mile. Order Of St George remains a classy opponent but both he and Vazirabad would probably prefer some give in the ground. One of the outsiders might be able to nick a place here, perhaps even Scotland, who has form on fast ground.
5.00 Britannia Handicap It can’t have been easy for Frankie Dettori to choose between the two Gosden runners here and he may have jumped the wrong way, as Stylehunter won with authority at Lingfield last time. The progressive colt looks handily treated for this handicap debut.
5.35 King George V Handicap A quick look at the mile and a half layout at Ascot would suggest those drawn near the inside rail would have an advantage in big-field handicaps. But results point the other way and no winner of this race has emerged from a single-figure stall since 2010. So the well-bred Dubhe is probably not badly drawn in 19 and he makes a lot of appeal, coming off an impressive handicap win at Sandown that showed he has improved for time and distance.
Updated
We’ve had a fast surface for the first two days of Royal Ascot and I expect the ground will, if anything, be slightly faster today. We haven’t had a drop of rain all week and the clerk of the course put a restrained 3mm down after racing on Wednesday. It is sunny and warm and set to remain so.
GoingStick readings for the straight course are much as they have been for the first two days. The round course readings keep going up, suggesting the ground is drying there. Having been 7.0 on Sunday morning, it has edged up and up to 8.0 now.
Classy horses with the ability to quicken should thrive on this surface. Trouble in running will be even more expensive than usual. It will be hard to make up a lot of ground from the back unless the early pace has been far too fast.
Updated
Ladbrokes Royal Ascot tipping competition
You could win a £50 bet from Ladbrokes by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of the day’s races at Ascot. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price. Non-runners count as losers.
Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 2.30pm BST. There are six races at Ascot today and you must post a single selection for each race.
Our usual terms and conditions, which you can read here will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Royal meeting, up to Friday. And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
Congratulations to BearRides, who won Wednesday’s competition on a final score of +25.50, thanks to Signora Cabello (25-1) and Aljazzi (9-2). Bocuma_TJ (+20) and orso (+20) chased him home. Mr Rides, we shall be in touch by email at the weekend to arrange your prize.
Updated
Good morning
The anticipated duel between Lady Aurelia and Battaash on day one failed to materialise, and the hottest favourite at Royal Ascot since 2012 let the punters down on Wednesday. Pre-meeting assumptions, in other words, have proved to be somewhat misplaced thus far, but there is every reason to hope that the head-to-head between Order Of St George and Stradivarius in today’s Gold Cup at 4.20pm BST will live up to its billing.
It is a duel with all manner of angles to it: Ryan Moore versus Frankie Dettori, veteran versus up-and-comer, Aidan O’Brien versus John Gosden, a proven stayer and a rival stepping into the unknown. But it is a race with depth too, as Vazirabad, from France, arrives somewhat belatedly to attempt to add a Gold Cup to his outstanding record – 15 wins from 22 starts – at home and in Dubai.
Desert Skyline, an excellent second behind Stradivarius last time, is also in the field attempting to give his trainer, David Elsworth, an Ascot Gold Cup winner to go with the Cheltenham Gold Cup he won with Desert Orchid back in 1989. Elsworth strolled over to John Gosden, the trainer of Stradivarius, after the Yorkshire Cup last month and congratulated him on the win before adding that he would get his revenge at Ascot. At around 12-1, it is far from impossible that he will and what a story that would be.
The bookmakers are struggling to separate Order Of St George and Stradivarius this morning, and several have the two horses as joint-favourites at 15-8, while Vazirabad is top-priced at 11-2 to give Christophe Soumillon only his third Royal Ascot winner, and his second at the actual track as his debut success came when the meeting switched to York in 2005.
Soumillon’s overall record at this meeting is fairly wretched given the considerable success he has enjoyed elsewhere and the overall quality of the horses he has ridden here. He defers no rider when it comes to self-confidence, however, and it will be fascinating to watch the jockeys on all four of the principal contenders go about their business this afternoon, as Silvestre de Sousa, on Desert Skyline, gets far fewer opportunities at this level than his talent deserves.
Elsewhere on the card, Wild Illusion, the runner-up in the Oaks, will attempt to improve the lacklustre record of fillies placed in the Classic who then go on to contest the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes. And keep an eye out too for Josephine Gordon, who has two rides on the card as as she attempts to become only the second female jockey to ride a Royal Ascot winner (Gay Kelleway, 31 years ago, was the first). Fajjaj, in the Hampton Court Stakes at 3.05, has an outside chance, but Corrosive, the third-favourite for the Britannia Handicap at 5.00, is a live contender.
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