17:58 That’s it from day four of the Royal meeting and a good day for sentimentalists.

Two winners for Barry Hills, who has not been in the best of health recently and the first Royal meeting  winner in seven years for Henry Cecil who is battling stomach cancer.

One more day to go and the big question tomorrow, which of the overseas raiders will take the Kings Stand – will it be Hong Kong or South Africa?

17:47 A sad postscript to yesterdays Gold Cup. Veracity, who was pulled up two furlongs from home had to be put down this morning as it emerged his injury was more serious than first envisaged.

Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager said, "Unfortunately he had to be put down this morning as he sustained quite a bad fracture to his cannon bone.

"We were trying to do surgery to save him but he couldn't be saved."

17:46 Today’s killer race (or as Mike Vince just described it - today's lottery) the Buckingham Palace Stakes had 29 going to post over the straight seven furlongs and it was Richard Hoiles who had the short straw today, although to be democratic Simon Holt has the big one tomorrow!!!

The race added to a great day for the Hills family as another Barry Hills runner, Giganticus, this time ridden by son Michael won the race quite easily.

It was another contest where the field split, this time fairly evenly, although once again it was the stands side that saw all the action in the closing stages.

Godolphin sent out the favourite but Mutheeb could only finish fourth.

Al Muheer and Redford separated the winner and favourite.

17:17 Charlie Hills, son and assistant to the victorious trainer, said: "She's so professional. She is a beautiful stamp of a filly and is just getting better and better. She's class.

"She's still relatively inexperienced and that is only her fourth run so, hopefully, she has the right attitude to improve again.

"I doubt very much that my father has ever had a filly as good as her, even after 40 years."

Richard Hills added: "There are only two women in my life, my wife and this filly.

"She's aptly named because in Arabic, Ghanaati means 'My Love' and she's certainly that today.

"I'm very pleased for my father as there was plenty of emotion - she performed beautifully.

"I heard someone say the time was very good - the course record - so that is great, I'm absolutely delighted.

"She's the best filly I've ridden, without a doubt.

"My dad never lets me take the handbrake off her at home, and for a very good reason."

Reggane's trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, said: "She was a little bit outpaced early on, which was down to her inexperience.

"I think we will stick to a mile and the race I like is the Prix Rothschild at Deauville (August 2)."

Gosden was delighted with the performance of Rainbow View, and feels she will have no problem stepping back up in trip.

"I'm thrilled with her run, although I think she found the going a little bit fast," said the trainer.

"She's absolutely flown up the stretch and should get a mile and a quarter - and even a mile and a half with no problem later on.

"Importantly, she's shown that she's trained on and I look forward to taking on those that have beaten her today under different conditions in the autumn."

17:13 This looks like being bookies Friday as another favourite seemingly throws his chances away.

This time it was Dhushan in the 2m Queen’s Vase. Taking a strong hold under Paul Robinson, who seemingly lost the battle to ease the horse, he was in front after a furlong and really expending too much energy. In truth the only real surprise is he actually stayed in front until half a mile from home. Although once headed he dropped through the pack.

Clowance House set off in second, only for his run to fizzle out the same time as the favourites.

With the front runners in reverse this left Mark Johnston’s Holberg in front, possibly sooner than he wanted. However with the advantage of the far rail Joe Fanning kept working and he actually run on pulling away, coming home four lengths in front.

Another running on in the closing stages was Yankee Doodle, admittedly too late to challenge the winner, but running on well nonetheless.      

16:40 News from the stewards room.

16:37 The Wolferton Handicap saw the best backed runner of the day in the shape of Stone Of Scone. Unfortunately nobody bothered to tell the horse as he came home the tailed off last of fifteen.

The Ed Dunlop trained runner was tracking the pace in the early stages but when the pace stepped up he had nothing to offer and Jimmy Fortune gave up the uneven battle.

It was Frankie Dettori who dictated the pace from the front and it looked as though Godolphin were going to have their second winner of the week as he saw off a procession of challengers.

However Ryan Moore on Perfect Stride, who had tracked the leader throughout, also had the perfect pace as he came with a well timed run, wearing down the long time leader and claiming victory by a neck.

Salute Him was another running on in the closing stages and he took third spot.

16:01 It was billed as the battle of the Guineas winners and the mile and a half Coronation Stakes did not disappoint.  

After all the home setbacks this week it was the Newmarket Guineas winner, Ghanaati, who prevailed in a course record time.

Settled in third place throughout Richard Hills, riding for his father Barry, asked for an effort two out she soon passed Elusive Wave and once in front the race was effectively over.

The French raider Reggane wa running on best of the rest but was never a threat and the once promising Rainbow View showed some of her talent when running on to take third.

Not known for showing his emotion winning jockey Richard Hills was clearly delighted.

He said “there are two women I love, my wife and this horse.”   

15:24 Unbelievably it has been seven years since Henry Cecil trained a winner at the Royal meeting – until today.

South Easter, who missed the Derby due to a training setback, was sent off favourite in the King Edward VII Stakes, hoping to gain some compensation.

The race itself was run at a fair pace, mainly thanks to Debussy who took a very strong hold up front.

Tracked by Hail Caesar, Native Ruler and South Easter the field were well strung out by half way.

Half a mile from home Debussy had been joined in front by Hail Caesar and several were running on behind including Father Time (who briefly led two out), Your Old Pal, Black Bear Island and Cecil’s Native Ruler was still thereabouts.

Approaching a furlong out Native Ruler hit the front and it was race over, Your Old Pal led the chasing posse, with Black Bear Island plugging on one paced in third.

14:48 Well could it be we have finally sussed out these Americans – another challenger comes and gets defeated.

The betting had this as a two runner contest with Aidan O’Brien’s Lillie Langtry the 11/8 favourite and the American raider, Aegean, 11/4 with 12/1 bar.

As expected Aegean charged off in front but as happened yesterday by half way the challenge had petered out.

There was an incident half way which resulted in Richard Hughes being unseated from Kurtanella, the stewards are taking a look at that one.

Once the American challenge finished Lillie Langtry ran on and looked like the winner. However Richard Hills on Ed Dunlop’s Habaayib had other ideas and the filly responded to his urgings, running past the favourite to win by 1¼ lengths.  

14:14 Let's get the important issue out of the way - she is wearing lilac.

Also anotherr non-runner Citizenship is out of the 4:55

13:40 Some Friday sights from around the course.

13:37 The wind is picking up again - this time it is head on down the straight.

12:05 Have just been outside - being stuck in a bunker with no windows you miss out on the "real" world - and it is still lovely and sunny.

10:47 Some more betting news.

An outsider being backed in the opener is Eternal Instinct 66/1 from 100/1.

In the 3:05 Aqwaal has attracted limited support, 13/2 in from 15/2.

Later on two more outsiders being nibbled at are Clowance House in the 4:55 (16 from 20) and Swift Gift in the finale, 11’s from 14’s.

10:30 On the betting front there has been early support for the Pricewise selection Stone Of Scone in the 4:20, generally 4's from 11/2.

10:26 Good morning from Ascot for day four of the Royal meeting.

The weather looks as though it is going to be brighter than yesterday.

We currently have just the one non-runner - as in the morning papers.

07:40 After another dry night the course has been watered with 4mm, the going remains Good to Firm.

Our selections for this afternoon asre as follows:-

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
12 Kingdom Of Fife (poor blood - SC Thu 09:25)

4:55
2 Citizenship (Temperature - SC 12:04)

Results

2:30 Albany Stakes 6f

1st 14 Habaayib 16/1
2nd 19 Lillie Langtry 11/8 fav
3rd 6 Cnachamaidee 12/1
22 Ran
Distances 1 1/4 & 2 1/2
Fav second
Tote
Win £25.10
Places £5.00 £1.30 £3.70
Exacta £68.90
CSF £68.90
Tricast £311.93
Time 1' 15.63"

3:05 King Edward VII Stakes 1m 4f

1st 5 Father Time 9/1
2nd 12 Your Old Pal 12/1
3rd 1 Black Bear Island 9/2
12 Ran
Distances 4 & neck
Fav 11 South Easter 7/2 (6th)
Tote
Win £12.30
Places £3.60 £5.40 £1.40
Exacta £169.30
CSF £126.80
Tricast £648.89
Time

3:45 Coronation Stakes 1m

1st 5 Ghanaati 2/1 fav
2nd 10 Reggane 9/1
3rd 9 Rainbow View 13/2
10 Ran
Distances 2 & 2 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.30
Places £1.40 £2.30 £2.60
Exacta £26.50
CSF £21.46
Tricast £101.71
Time 1' 38.32"

4:20 Wolferton Rated Stakes 1m 2f

1st 3 Perfect Stride 8/1
2nd 10 Moonquake 11/2
3rd 13 Salute Him 10/1
15 Ran Nr 12
Distances neck & half
Fav 15 Stone Of Scone 7/2 (last)
Tote
Win £9.70
Places £2.90 £2.30 £3.60
Exacta £60.60
CSF £52.23
Tricast £463.46
Time 2' 03.24"

4:55 Queen's Vase 2m

1st 7 Holberg 7/1
2nd 15 Yankee Doodle 11/2
3rd 1 Mastery 7/1
14 Ran Nr 2
Distances 4 & 3/4
Fav 4 Dhushan 4/1 (12th)
Tote
Win £9.90
Places £3.00 £2.20 £2.00
Exacta £60.10
CSF £41.58
Tricast £283.18
Time 3' 24.13"

5:30 Buckingham Palace Stakes (H/C) 7f

1st 16 Giganticus 12/1
2nd 8 Al Muheer 33/1
3rd 3 Redford 12/1
4th 2 Mutheeb 13/2 fav
32 Ran
Distances 1 3/4 & 3/4
Fav fourth
Tote
Win £
Places £ £ £ £
Exacta £
CSF £389.63
Tricast £4,903.07
Time