18:30 Still a good crowd here having a sing-song around the bandstand. The weather has been lovely and those in the know say this has been the best Ladies Day in a long while.

Sadly the forecast for tomorrow is rain - which is a pity - but who knows the forecasters have got it wrong before!!

From a sunny but windy Royal Ascot - goodnight.

17:41 The final race produced another thrilling finish giving Ryan Moore his first victory of the meeting as Colony ran on from way back in the home straight to win by 1¾ lengths from Savarin who had been to the fore, tracking the leader Drill Sergeant most of the way.

There was a bob finish for third with the running on Moonquake just getting the better of Dream Desert on the nod.  

It was also another nail in the coffin of the layers in what has turned out to be a terrible day for them as Colony was sent off the 11/2 favourite.  

17:10 The Hampton Court Stakes produced another good finish and another bad result for the bookmakers.

Although not sent off the favourite Collection was nonetheless well backed throughout the day.

Under an inspired late Kerrin McEvoy ride the William Haggas trained cold denied the front running Staying On in the final strides.

King of Rome from the all conquering O’Brien / Murtagh came with a very late run to take third place.  

16:40 Bookmakers are already offering 3/1 Yeats winning an unprecedented fourth Gold Cup but part owner John Magnier urges caution saying that no immediate decision will be made as to the horses future.

He said, “He will be eight next year so it would be like a grandad getting married! I don’t know. He was probably more impressive today than he ever was. It will be interesting but it will be a hard call. Rather than decide today we just want to do the right thing.”

Johnny Murtagh was, understandably, full of praise for his ride, “He stays the trip well and has the heart of a lion.”

The trainer Aiden O’Brien was equally ebullient, “It’s unbelievable that he was able to come back and win another one.

“He’s gone very lazy. He’s only doing what he needs to do.”   

16:35 Well as expected the Ribblesdale was a nightmare to call.

The field initially split into three groups then two.

There have been questions about the draw bias and this race did little to settle the argument with the first and second separated by the width of the track forcing the judge to call a photograph.

In the end it was the near side which prevailed as Fifteen Love got the better of Masaalek by half a length – the remaining placed horses were not that far behind with Yaddree taking third and Dubai Dynamo fourth.

If you want any more detail as to what happened in the race I don’t think I am going to be able to help you that much as for most of the race all I could see the pink hat of a woman who seemed incapable of standing still.

16:15 Some news from the Ribblesdale the winner Michita is to have a break with plans to reappear at the Yorkshire Oaks later in the season.

The runner-up Arthur’s Girl is heading for the Park Hill at Doncaster.     

16:10 Richard Hoiles shortly has the most difficult of the week, calling the 28 runner Britannia Stakes – good luck to him and good luck to anybody who has a bet.

15:55 Every now and then you got to a racecourse and have one of those “I was there” moments – today is one such day as Yeats became only the second horse in history to win a third Ascot Gold cup and in doing so continued the domination of this weeks racing by Aiden O’Brien.

Indeed if things carry on as they have then this meeting is henceforth going to be known as O’Brien Ascot.

The early pace was set by Le Miracle, closely attended by the unbeaten French second favourite Coastal Path.  Johnny Murtagh was happy to settle Yeats in fourth, whilst the Godolphin duo Regal Flush and Sagara, along with Allegretto were happy to sit at the back.

The race proper began as they turned for home with the French colt taking up the running with Yeats tracking his every move. It looked as though we were going to be in for an exciting two horse finish but Geordieland, under Shane Kelly wanted to join in the party.

So began a fascinating duel down the home straight with all three in line passing the furlong marker.

First to crack was Coastal Path and briefly it looked as though an upset was going to be on the cards – of course it wasn’t to be as with one last shake of the reigns Yeats ran on to resounding cheers recording an historic five length victory, with Geordieland in second and Coastal Path a further 4½ lengths back in third.

15:20 The big race of the afternoon next and if either Yeats or Coastal Path take the race then we may see bookmakers leaping off the top of the grandstand here at Ascot.

15:10 OK we have only had two races but it is looking to be a good day for punters with the second favourite of the afternoon coming in as Jimmy Fortune produced Michita with a well timed run to take the Ribblesdale stakes.

Returning to our first race the trainer of the runner up Spin Cycle, Bryan Smart was pleased with his charge.

“Almost but not quite. It’s not a bad record – three two-year-old wins and a second here in the last four years.

“He did hit the front at one stage and really proved himself today. He’ll be sticking to five furlongs and go for the Molcomb.”

The third, Prolific, by contrast is to be upped to six furlongs with the July Stakes as a possibility and the Gimcrack being a distinct possibility.

14:45 We have just had the first of our star prize presenters with Cilla Black, dressed in an elegant green number,  presenting the prizes for the first.

14:35 Well a good sprint to start Gold Cup day which saw an impressive all the way win for South Central under Robert Winston, but he had to hold off a late challenge from the fast finishing Spin Cycle under Ted Durcan.

There was an equally tight fight for the places with Prolific just heading Flashmans Papers who was bidding to win for the second time at the meeting.

Amongst the others the most disappointing was Baycat who was clearly outclassed in this step up in grade.

13:45 Just 15 minutes before the Royal procession. It is getting busy outside now the crowd are happy and, on the whole, elegant.

Some of us are even looking forward to the racing.

13:30 Coral are reporting heavy support for Collection in the Hampton Court Stakes at 4:55. They have cut the price from 10/1 to 5/1.

Yeats is the runner the bookies fear most. Attempting to win his third Gold Cup the Ballydoyle inmate is as low as 6/5 in places and some layers are suggesting it may go off at evens.

Other backed horses are Fishermans Papers 8/1 from 14’s in the first.

In the second there is some support for Arthur’s Girl.

Several are being backed in the Britannia at 4:20, including Commander Cave, Hurricane Hymnbook, Perks, Rattan and Throne of Power. There has also been some strong support for two of the outsiders Love Galore and Siberian Tiger.

Others being backed in the Hampton Court are Alfathaa and Kensington Oval.

Whilst in the last Colony is attracting some support.

12:15 A significant non-runner in the Ribblesdale where Dar Re Mi does not go on account of the going.

12:10 An exciting afternoons racing is in prospect, especially in the feature Gold Cup, where Yeats is attempting to become only the second horse to complete the Gold Cup hat trick.

The crowds are now starting to arrive and there are some interesting sights and, sadly, sights is appropriate in some caese.

Another non-runner in the first, Moss Likely.

11:05 Good morning from Royal Ascot where it is Ladies Day and a crowd of 70,000 is expected.

We already have quite a few non-runners, a large number on account of the going, details are on the right.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

2:30
4 Finjaan (sore shins)
7 Mullionmileanhour (sore shins)
14 Waffle (poor blood)
15 Moss Likely (not eaten up)

3:05
4 Dar Re Mi (going)

3:45
1 Baddam (stiff)

4:20
2 Cobo Bay (going)
4 Huzzah (going)
26 Endless Luck (lame)
31 Navajo Joe (lame)
32 Wasan (going)

4:55
6 Fanjura (poor blood)

5:30
7 Allied Powers (going)
11 Tighnabruaich (going)
15 Manyriverstocross (going)

Results

2:30 Norfolk Stakes

1st 11 South Central 11/4 fav
2nd 12 Spin Cycle 7/1
3rd 8 Prolific 6/1
11 Run NR's 4 , 7 , 14 & 15
Distances head & 1L
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £1.50 £2.30 £2.00
Exacta £22.80

3:05 Ribblesdale Stakes

1st 9 Michita 100/30 fav
2nd 1 Arthur's Girl 7/1
3rd 5 Hobby 11/1
9 Run NR 4
Distances 3 1/2 L & 2 1/2 L
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £1.40 £2.90 £3.60
Exacta £18.10

3:45 GOLD CUP

1st 7 Yeats 11/8 fav
2nd 4 Geordieland 15/2
3rd 8 Coastal Path 2/1
10 Run NR 1
Distances 5L & 4 1/2 L
Tote
Win £3.60
Place £1.30 £1.30 £1.70
Exacta £10.80

4:20 Britannia Stakes

1st 16 Fifteen Love 28/1
2nd 12 Masaalek 20/1
3rd 10 Yaddree 12/1
4th 18 Dubai Dynamo 33/1
28 Run NR's 2 , 4 , 26 , 31 & 32
Distances 1/2 L 1 1/2 L
Tote
Win £40.80
Place £8.50 £7.20 £4.70 £8.70
Exacta £1098.00

4:55 Hampton Court Stakes

1st 4 Collection 13/2
2nd 14 Staying On 9/1
3rd 10 King Of Rome 8/1
15 Run NR 6
Distances 1 1/2 L & 1/2 L
Tote
Win £9.40
Place £3.00 £3.70 £2.80
Exacta £98.30

5:30 King George V Stakes

1st 13 Colony 11/2 fav
2nd 1 Savarain 16/1
3rd 9 Moonquake 12/1
4th 19 Dream Desert 9/1
16 Run NR's 7 , 11 & 15
Distances 1 3/4 L & 3/4 L
Tote
Win £4.70
Place £1.80 £4.90 £3.10 £3.00
Exacta £127.80