18:07 Well that’s it from another great days racing here at Ascot.

Vision D’Etat won the big race in good style, despite not having the tongue strap.

We have seen another impressive American winner and, worryingly, trainer Wesley Ward has four more runners at the meeting.

Tomorrow is Ladies Day with all its finery, however all the glamour will pale into insignificance if Yeats goes on to win the Gold Cup for an unprecedented fourth time. If he does it will be one of those occasions where grown men cry – that is for tomorrow though.

18:02 Time to round up the comments from this afternoons racing.

Starting with our feature Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

Winning trainer Eric Libaud said, "Of all the winners I've had, this is the best one.
"I knew it was going to being to be difficult from last place but I could see the horse was going well and Olivier had told me the straight at Ascot is long, so I was quietly confident.

"This is the nicest and best victory I've ever achieved."

Olivier Peslier added, "I was just behind the lead. My horse is not lazy and I just took a bit of time. I needed a chance and he moved out well.

"He's a typical French horse. When you are one or two lengths behind it's not a big problem because he's got a good turn of foot. That was a big help for me."

Sir Michael Stoute was pleased with the runner-up, Tartan Bearer. "He ran well and I'm making no excuses for him.

"I think a better pace would have suited all of them. He's pretty widely entered up but let's wait and see."

Tom Queally, rider of Twice Over, wasn’t so happy, "I was disappointed he didn't win but he ran a hell of a race. He quickened up to win but he maybe just got outstayed."

Wesley Ward, who must be loving his first visit to Ascot, was understandably delighted with winning his second race of the week.

Speaking of Jealous Again he said, "She ran brilliantly. I'm very proud of her, Johnny rode a great race and everything went just like we thought.

"In America we train for speed and the reason I came over here was I thought the others in the race are trained to go on for next year.

"I just thought I'd get a jump on the other trainers over here. Your horses are bred to go longer and ours are bred for speed and it worked out today."

Winning jockey Johnny Velazquez commented, "It was pretty easy. She was getting a bit finicky in the gate and she was getting a bit anxious for the others to come in.

"When the doors opened I yelled at her to make sure she got out.

"It is an easy job for me. The trainer had them ready to come over here.

"I was not surprised for her to do it out here and when she did I was very happy."

17:53 Well Jamie Spencer must be pleased our monarchs no longer have the powers they one had – if they did he could well find himself on the way to the Tower now.

In our finale, the Sandringham Handicap over the straight mile it looked as though we were going to have a Royal winner in the shape of Golden Stream and the crowd were getting ready to raise the roof.

However Spencer on the favourite, Moneycantbuymelove, had other ideas and with a well timed run he left his rivals standing to come home the two length winner.

Plesase Sing and Silver Games filled the minor places.

17:15 Well we are being given an object lesson in sprinting here at Ascot.

Before 5:30 yesterday afternoon the American’s had never won a race at Royal Ascot – now they have won two.

Wesley Ward was the trainer yet again and Johnny Velazquez was again the jockey and this time it was Jealous Again who blazed off in front to take the5f Queen Mary Stakes.

I’m not sure what Lester Piggot, who presented the prizes, thought of it all as the presentation dais was invaded by the American winners. What was clear was how pleased Johnny Valazquez was to receive the price from Lester.

Misheer came home second, for Clive Brittain, but was five lengths behind the winner.

It was a three way go for third with Ceedwell just edging out the favourite, Capercaillie, and Chantilly Crème.

16:42 Well the Royal Hunt Cup almost descended into farce as three runners were withdrawn at the start for being unruly, including the very well backed Roaring Forte. This resulted in a combined 20p in the pound deduction.

As expected the field split, although the majority came towards the stand side. It was the stand side who easily prevailed as well.

Dunn’o set the pace but was swallowed up by running on contenders, the most impressive of them being the favourite Forgotten Voice, produced with a perfectly timed run by the jockey of the day Johnny Murtagh. He eventually came home 2½ lengths clear of his field, no mean feat in such a competitive contest. All his wins have been on the all weather and the question was would he transfer his form across – the answer is a resounding yes.

Huzzah ran to his best to take the runners up spot, putting behind him a disappointing run at Newbury last time out.     

Mia’s Boy ran on well late, as expected, and had no problems in running, taking third spot.

Nanton overcame a tricky draw to take fourth.

16:12 Next up is the race where commentator Richard Hoiles really earns his money – the now 28 runner Royal Hunt Cup over the straight mile.

16:09 Well it was the American’s and Australian’s yesterday, today it is the French taking our top prizes.

This time it was this afternoon’s feature race the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and it was taken by Vision D’Etat, winner of last years French Derby and fifth in the Arc.

Backers of the winner had extra cause to celebrate as the horses price drifted after it was announced the horse would not be wearing its usual tongue strap because connections had failed to declare it.

Tazeez set the pace in the ten furlong contest, tracked by Twice Over and Virtual, then the favourite Tartan Bearer. The two French raiders, typically, were settled towards the rear.

In the final quarter mile the whole complexion of the race changed as Twice Over was taken to the
front by Tom Queally.

However  the lead was short lived as he was swallowed up Vision D’Etat, Tartan Bearer and Never On Sunday – all three running on strongest of all.     

The winner has been cut from 14/1 to 10/1 for this year's Arc.
  

15:26 A change of tactics saw Spacious take the Windsor Forest over the straight mile.

Johnny Murtagh adopted front running tactics on the James Fanshaw trained filly and they played off, despite a strong challenge from Heaven Sent.

Indeed Ryan Moore actually managed to get Heaven Sent’s head in front inside the final furlong and a dour battle ensued between the two Cheveley Park fillies.

Spacious won that battle coming home a length clear.

Third placed Eva’s Request was three lengths further back in third.

Lush Lashes was very disappointing failing to respond to pressure two out.

French raider Proviso was very disappointing and, in truth, she lost the race in the parade ring
getting very worked up.

Winning jockey Johnny Murtagh said Spacious did not handle the track last time out at Epsom.

14:54 Well a first in our opener as Tadhg O’Shea rides his first ever winner in the seven furlong Jersey Stakes.

O’Shea produces Barry Hills supposed second string, Ouqba, to head the long time leader Deposer in the dying strides.

The first string, and favourite, Infiraad was settled in third or fourth place by the trainers son Richard, however when the pace picked up he was unable to respond and was swamped by the late finishers.

There was a good battle for third place with just a glimmer of hope for Godolphin as Ashram just took third spot from Gallagher.   

Loch Linnhe was with the pace until fading in the closing stages.

Winning jockey Tadgh O’Shea said, “this is a day I will always remember.

“He was very lazy half way and I was worried, but he ran on.”

14:21 After much debate the consensus is The Queen is wearing Deep Pink today.

14:15 Some significant news from the Prince Of Wales’s. Vision D’Etat, who normally runs with a tongue strap in France will not be wearing a tongue strap today as connections failed to declare it in advance.

13:33 Looking forward to Friday the clash of the Guineas winners goes ahead with Ghanaati, Elusive Wave and Again all standing their ground in the Coronation Cup.

13:22 Latest Paddy Power betting on the top jockey.

13:10 One cannot help feeling sorry for some of the ladies here today – they must have spent a fortune on their hats but some of the larger ones do not stand a hope in this wind.   

13:02 Some more on the cross wind.

In the straight the runners are fully exposed to the wind until the 2f marker, where it drops slightly.

About 1½ furlongs from home they get hit by a blast as there is a gap in the stands.

12:36 Some betting news from Paddy Power.

Lush Lashes is drifting slightly in the 3:05 13/8 from 6/4.

In the 3:45 Tartan Bearer 7/4 from 2/1 and Never On Sunday 7/2 from 4/1 have attracted some support.

12:30 The wind is really picking up now and I am sure it is going to dry out the more exposed parts of the track.

11:21 Watching Ascot TV I notice Rupert Bell is sporting an interesting line of stitches above his right eye. The “official” line is he tripped and fell over in a supermarket.

11:18 Lord Oaksey has just strolled into the media centre, admittedly beginning to look his age.

However it is unusual, nowadays, to see someone greeted with so much genuine affection – even from cynical old hacks.

10:46 Good morning from Ascot where it is a bit sunny but with more cloud and a lot cooler than yesterday. There is also a brisk breeze, left to right as they come down the straight. However once in line with the stand the wind is much lighter as the stand is an effective shield.

We now have five non-runners, details on the right.

08:18 A dry night overnight and they have watered, putting 2mm on the course.

The going remains Good to Firm

We will begin by clearing up some housekeeping from yesterday.

Johnny Murtagh managed to pick up bans totalling seven days. He picked up a one day ban for excessive use of the whip on Mastercraftsman in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

However as suggested in the post race report he attracted the wrath of the stewards for his ride on Kayf Aramis in the Ascot Stakes. So much so he was given a six day ban for careless riding.

Also I forget to mention that Strike The Tiger was the first ever win by an American trained horse at Royal Ascot.

Today's selections:

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

4:20
1 Smokey Oakey (Going - Tue 08:33)
6 Bushman (going - Tue 12:46)
15 Military Power (Lame - VC 08:16)

5:30
2 Baileys Cacao (colic - SC Tue 11:10)
8 Lassarina (going 09:33)

Results

2:30 Jersey Stakes 7f

1st 13 Ouqba 12/1
2nd 4 Deposer 16/1
3rd 1 Ashram 8/1
16 Ran
Distances 1/2 & 3 1/4
Fav 7 Infiraad 5/1 (upl)
Tote
Win £15.70
Places £5.20 £7.00 £2.10
Exacta £253.80
CSF £169.58
Tricast £1,635.70
Time 1' 27.65"

3:05 Windsor Forest Stakes 1m

1st 9 Spacious 10/1
2nd 4 Heaven Sent 5/2
3rd 3 Eva's Request 8/1
9 Ran
Distances 1 & 3
Fav 1 Lush Lashes 6/4 (6th)
Tote
Win £10.60
Places £2.60 £1.80 £2.00
Exacta £40.30
CSF £33.15
Tricast £209.03
Time 1' 41.07"

3:45 Prince Of Wales's Stakes 1m 2f

1st 8 Vision D'Etat 4/1
2nd 3 Tartan Bearer 6/4 fav
3rd 2 Never On Sunday 7/2
8 Ran
Distances 1/2 & head
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.30
Places £1.10 £1.40 £1.50
Exacta £9.40
CSF £9.96
Tricast £21.49
Time 2' 06.90"

4:20 Royal Hunt Cup (H/C) 1m

1st 8 Forgotten Voice 4/1 fav
2nd 16 Huzzah 25/1
3rd 5 Mia's Boy 9/1
4th 22 Nanton 16/1
25 Ran Nr's 1 , 6 & 15 w/d 10, 11 & 30
Distances 2 1.4 & 3/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.90
Places £1.60 £6.20 £1.90 £4.40
Exacta £160.50
CSF £71.36
Tricast £71.36
Time 1' 40.41"
Rule 4 20p in £


4:55 Queen Mary Stakes 5f

1st 9 Jealous Again 13/2
2nd 12 Misheer 9/1
3rd 2 Ceedwell 12/1
13 Ran
Distances 5 & 2
Fav 1 Capercaillie 4/1 (4th)
Tote
Win £7.60
Places £2.00 £3.40 £4.30
Exacta £70.50
CSF £60.82
Tricast £504.30
Time 1' 00.53"

5:30 Sandringham Stakes (H/C) 1m

1st 9 Moneycantbuymelove 9/2 F
2nd 12 Golden Stream 8/1
3rd 6 Please Sing 14/1
4th 19 Silver Games 25/1
19 Ran Nr's 2 & 8
Distances 2 & 3
Fav winner
Tote
Win £5.90
Places £1.50 £2.90 £4.10 £6.70
Exacta £50.50
CSF £36.51
Tricast £489.78
Time 1' 41.81"