18:03 Well that’s it from day three and there can only be one highlight can’t there?

The magnificent Yeats winning his fourth Gold Cup and going into folklore in the process – definitely one of those “I was there” moments.

And, believe it or not, we still have two more days to go!!

The crowd today was 68,921 down from 74,228 last year.

Also a postscript from the Hampton Court - Ryan Moore picked up a four day ban for careless riding.

Until tomorrow a very good evening.

17:53 Well the punters may have roared Yeats home but it must have been the bookmakers who were cheering the King George V winner home as the mile and a half contest was won by the 66/1 outsider Cosmic Sun.

Unsurprisingly the Mark Johnston trained Takaatuf set the pace but he was headed by Barwell Bridge, who had been tracking him throughout, as they turned for home.

Takaatuf tried to fight back but in vain, as two out Cosmic Sun, under Paul Hanagan (who must have thought he would miss the festival after being kicked at York on Saturday) came and joined the leader.

Cosmic Sun pulled slowly away from Barwell Bridge, eventually recording a 1¼ length victory.

Chiberta King was running on well in the closing stages and just denied Barwell Bridge the runners-up spot in the very last stride.

Another running on contender was the favourite, Zarinski, a never nearer fourth at the line.

17:23 The result stands in the Hampton Court.

17:21 After the success of Yeats, team O’Brien sent out the hot favourite of the Hampton Court Stakes in the shape of Freemantle, sent off at evens.

It was to be no fairytale double as Freemantle, who took up the running as they turned for home had no extra to offer in the final two furlongs and came home a disappointing fifth.

There were no such stamina doubts about Glass Harmonuim who ran on well from two out, unfortunately veering hard right in the process causing most damage to Cashelgar, who came home second, half a length behind the winner.

16:35 I'm afraid no report on the Britannia Stakes as the post Gold Cup press conference ran on longer than expected.

And the post race comments:-

Aidan O'Brien who is not renowned for showing emotion was almost lost for words, "Unbelievable - that's all I can say.

"I was so sick this morning as I really believed this couldn't happen.

"History is very hard to change, we knew we had a wonderful horse but usually fairytales don't come true.

"You dream and dream and dream, we were in this position and we never would be again - great things can happen.

"It's unbelievable and I want to say a big thanks to everyone involved.

"This is a big credit to everyone involved every day.

"He's an unbelievable horse and we knew there would never be another one of him. I've never felt pressure for any race before."

Johnny Murtagh likened the achievement to boxing,  "Muhammad Ali told everyone he was the greatest and he was, and Yeats has shown everyone today that he is the ultimate heavyweight champion.

"I had no doubts. After Navan I looked at Aidan and he told me 'he'll be grand for Ascot'.

"We kept saying the ground was too soft at Navan but nobody believed us and people tried to pick holes in him.

"He loves fast ground, he loves Royal Ascot and he comes alive here.

"This is one the greatest days of my riding career and the feeling I had coming past the line for the horse alone was incredible.

"I've had a good week but for the horse to win four Ascot Gold Cups is fantastic and the crowd turned out in force to see him.

"It's good for racing, and Yeats is everything that's positive about racing."

16:11 One of the main complaints about flat racing is the stars are not around for long. They race for one season and if successful they are off to stud.

So it is a rarity to have an enduring star and we have one now in Yeats. Already a star having previously won three Ascot Gold Cups, he was lining up for  a place in history to become the only horse to win the marathon contest four times.

The outsider Hindu Kush set the steady pace and Veracity, under Frankie Dettori and Yeats settled behind the leader.

Indeed little happened for most of the contest.

Just before the turn for home Dettori sent Veracity to the front but Johnny Murtagh tracked his every move and as they hit the home straight Yeats hit the front.

To an almighty roar which drowned out any commentary he progressed down the home straight in front … Ryan Moore on Patkai, untried over the distance, was the only competitor who could have spoiled the party and he seemed to be closing approaching the furlong marker.

However Yeats was not going to have his glory taken away and he won pulling away, recording a 3½ length victory for his place in history. Pakai was a good second and runner-up for the past two years, Geordieland, was 15 lengths behind in third.

15:22 Finally some joy for Godolphin, who seem to have hit a flat patch recently, as Flying Cloud under Frankie Dettori takes the mile and a half Ribblesdale Stakes.

Probably the best backed horse in the race he was settled second in the main bunch for most of the contest. The “pace” was set by the headstrong Anice Stellato who set off several lengths in front and the others left them to it in front, until she came back to the field turning for home.

Dettori took up the running two out and looked the winner throughout the closing stages. The only threat seemingly coming from Flame Of Gibraltar, but that challenge was short lived.

Outsider Uvinza who had led the main bunch held on to take third.

It’s Dubai Dolly, who was headstrong in the parade ring was always behind, only beating the exhausted front runner home.

15:10 First of all a rethink on the opener. Having watched the replay of the incident several times and from all different angles I have now come to the conclusion Monsieur Chevalier just was not good enough.

14:47 Well a really controversial star to this afternoons racing.

After the American success so far this week all eyes were on Yogaroo in the opening 5f Norfolk Stakes.

Not only were eyes on him during the race, he was the talk of the course afterwards, for all the wrong reasons.

As expected Yogaroo set off in front, although he did not have it all is own way as Start Rover stuck with him.

Indeed there was to be no American fairytale as Yogaroo was coming back to his field two out.

Then the fun started as the favourite Monsieur Chevalier was beginning his run, Yogaree hung to his left, badly interfering with Monsieur Chevalier, who then cannoned into Radiohead.

The interference let Reighier and Tawaabb to fight it out for the lead.

Richard Hughes was unable to get the favourite to recover, but Jamie Spencer somehow managed to get Radiohead going again and with a fantastic late run he grabbed a well deserved, in the circumstances, victory.

No doubt yesterdays hero Johnny Velazquez will be having a chat with the Stewards and will be given a holiday.

I will let you know what happens.

I have a feeling Mr Velazques will not be on Richard Hannon’s Christmas card list and connections of Monsieur Chevalier have every right to feel aggreived.

14:15 The answer to the second biggest question of the day - The Queen is in blue.

13:37 But let's see some more elegant sights.

13:32 Here is a view of life in the "bunker" underneath the grandstand here at Ascot.

11:40 It is interesting to see the bookmakers are really running scared of the American challengers now.

11:22 Well the sun did not stay out for long and it is now overcast and a little bit chilly – however it is not stopping the ladies showing their finery.

10:48 Good morning from Ladies Day at Ascot, the sun is currently out and it does not seem to be as windy as yesterday.

The forecasters say it may cloud over later but hopefully it will stay dry.

We have another non-runner, bringing us up to two.

08:06 It is ladies day today and also it could be an historic day as Yeats attempts to win the Gold Cup for an unprecedented fourth time.

07:53 After another dry night the going remains Good to Firm.

Just the one non-runners so far.

Todays selections are:-

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

2:30
5 Moran Gra (sore shins - SC 08:26 Wed)

4:55
10 Ra Junior (lame - VC 09:04)

Results

2:30 Norfolk Stakes 5f

1st 7 Radiohead 10/1
2nd 8 Reignier 50/1
3rd 11 Tawaabb 7/1
11 Ran Nr 5
Distances 2 & 1/2
Fav 4 Monsieur Chevalier 6/4 (5th)
Tote
Win £10.00
Places £2.30 £9.10 £2.30
Exacta £299.00
CSF £430.31
Tricast £3,714.71
Time 1' 02.07"

3:05 Ribblesdale Stakes 1m 4f

1st 3 Flying Cloud 5/1
2nd 2 Flame Of Gibraltar 12/1
3rd 10 Uvinza 28/1
10 Ran
Distances 4 & 1 1/4
Fav 16 Leocorno 15/8 (4th)
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.40 £3.50 £8.30
Exacta £49.90
CSF £59.69
Tricast £1,500.94
Time 2' 30.67"

3:45 Gold Cup 2m 4f

1st 5 Yeats 6/4 fav
2nd 8 Patkai 9/2
3rd 2 Geordieland 11/4
9 Ran
Distances 3 1/2 & 15
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.40
Places £1.30 £1.80 £1.20
Exacta £9.10
CSF £7.78
Tricast £15.49
Time 4' 20.73"

4:20 Britannia Stakes (H/C) 1m

1st 10 Fareer 20/1
2nd 14 Secret Society 22/1
3rd 25 Mirrored 16/1
4th 13 Espiritu 20/1
32 Ran
Distances head & short head
Fav 16 Brief Encounter 6/1 (upl)
Tote
Win £37.10
Places £7.50 £4.30 £3.70 £7.10
Exacta £
CSF £400.36
Tricast £7,107.06
Time 1' 40.31"

4:55 Hampton Court Stakes 1m 2f

1st 6 Glass Harmonium 8/1
2nd 2 Cashelgar 20/1
3rd 9 Monitor Closely 15/2
12 Ran Nr 10
Distances 1/2 & 4 1/2
Fav 6 Freemantle Evens (5th)
Tote
Win £10.30
Places £2.80 £3.90 £2.60
Exacta £156.30
CSF £161.73
Tricast £1,256.08
Time 2' 04.52"
Result Stands

5:30 King George V Stakes (H/C) 1m 4f

1st 19 Cosmic Sun 66/1
2nd 17 Chiberta King 8/1
3rd 8 Barwell Bridge 12/1
4th 12 Zarinski 9/2 fav
19 Ran
Distances 1 1/4 & nose
Fav fourth
Tote
Win £81.90
Places £13.30 £2.70 £3.70 £2.00
Exacta £730.70
CSF £544.78
Tricast £6,732.43
Time 2' 31.29"