07:51 It has been a dry night and the going remains Good, going stick readings to follow.

There are currently four non-runners, details on the right.

Racing gets under way at 13:30 and if you are thinking of coming to Ascot there are a few tickets remaining in the Grandstand enclosure, the Premier enclosure is sold out.

Highlight of the afternoon is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 16:25, which sees Epsom Derby winner Workforce taking on his elders fore the first time as well as the Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco.

09:10 Right, we  have the going stick reading, it is:-

Straight course: Standside 8.1, Centre 8.8, Farside 8.3

Round course: 8.5

12:45 Finally a belated good afternoon from Ascot.

We have six weeks school holidays in this country and it seems most of the country are setting off today, the majority on the M25.

A big crowd is expected this afternoon as we look forward to an interesting King George.

Still just the four non-runners.

13:24 Our opening contest is the traditional opener to the day the Longines Handicap, a seven furlong contest for lady riders.

We have a late withdrawal with Vhujon being taken out due to there being no suitable jockey available.

A big negative in the parade ring is Methaaly, very much on his toes and getting very warm.

14:20 Despite this being a two year old contest it was run in a faster time than the opener, illustrating the class of the race.

Sonoran Sands blew the start being tardy out of the stalls, no such problems for Premier Clarets, Drawing Board or Planet Waves, all of whom were quickly away.

The last two named setting the pace once settled into race rhythm. Deep South joined Premier Clarets to take second rank.

Auld Burns, none too happy in the stalls, had to be restrained early on, whilst the remainder, including the favourite Toolain, were happy to allow the others a lead.

There was little change in the order until they approached the furlong pole with Galtymore Lad and Toolain both coming with challenges.

It was Toolain who hit the front inside the final half furlong but Galtymore Lad was not going to go down without a fight, although it has to be said Toolain always looked to have the measure of his rival, eventually coming home three parts of a length clear.

14:32 The races continue to get better as we now have a Group 3 contest, the Princess Margaret Abu Dhabi Stakes, a fillies contest over six furlongs, in which 11 go to post.

A couple of them, Al Madina and Serena’s Pride were getting a little warm in the parade ring, the latter also slightly on her toes.

14:55 Margot Did was, arguably, an unlucky second here at the Royal meeting and was sent off favourite to make amends here this afternoon.

It was another race when the field decided to spilt, this time centre / stands side, although this time they did all end up stands side by the end.   

Catfish and Serena’s Pride were the hares in the contest, which was run at a very decent pace.

As the two groups converged Margot Did, who had been held up by Hayley Turner looked to be in danger of being squeezed out of things but Turner managed to make it through the gap before it closed, hitting the front two out, possibly sooner than she would have liked.

Behind, the field were fairly level and it was Soraaya who emerged as the challenger battling with Margot Did in the final half furlong and just easing ahead in the final 50 yards to record a half-length victory.

Not for the first time this afternoon the front two cam home two lengths clear of their rivals, who were headed by Perfect Tribute, who made good late progress.

Imperialistic Diva, who had been with the pace throughout came home fourth, with Sweet Cecily fifth.

14:58 Going change - now Good, Good to Firm in Places

15:12 Race four is The Dubai Duty Free Handicap Stakes with eleven tackling the straight mile contest.

Side Glance is swishing his tail in the parade ring, both Zakiy and Mass Rally have two handlers but are perfectly well behaved.

Musaafer was very slightly on his toes.

15:32 A cracking finish to the Dubai Duty Free, in which there was no disagreement as to where to go as all the jockeys elected to come stands side.

Kalypso King was the very early leader but dropped out very quickly and dropped out as if something was amiss. He then drifted across to the stands rail  and finished alone, behind the remainder of the field, Richard Hughes having trouble pulling him up.

Highland Knight, Ginger Jack and Haatheq were all prominent but it was Mass Rally who was the first to go for home, being launched with a challenge by Ryan Moore approaching two out.

Both Side Glance and King Of Windsor looked to challenge but Moore looked to have done enough as he looked or a quick-fire double in an attempt to close the gap on title rival Paul Hanagan.

However the final challenge came from Don’t Call Me, who Richard Mullen had held up before asking for an effort. He showed a good turn of foot and with a perfectly executed challenge hit the front in the final yards to record a ¾ length victory.     

King Of Windsor was also running on well in the closing stage to take second spot, with Side Glance back in third.

15:47 Next up one of those races where our commentator Richard Hoiles earns his money as 21 line up for the seven furlong Victoria Racing Club International Stakes.

As would be expected with a field of seasoned handicappers they are generally well behaved in the parade ring.

Advanced was pulling slightly and Imperial Guest and Mac’s Power were swishing their tails.

16:06 An interesting race tactically as 17 runners initially decided to come stands side with just four opting for the centre / far side option.

Advanced lived up to his name by being in the van, along with Al Farahidi and Yaa Wayl.

However by two out everything had changed as the field were spread right across, almost running in unison, which must have had the handicapper purring with delight – assuming handicappers do purr.

It was impossible to call the winner a furlong out and full credit to Richard Hoiles in the commentary box for making sense of what was happening.

In the end the action came towards the stands side as after his nightmare in the last Richard Hughes edged Castles In The Air into the lead to record a half length victory.

Noble Citizen took second spot a head in front of joint favourite Himalya.

16:24 Our big race next, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by Betfair).

We have two Derby winners Workforce and Cape Blanco taking on their elders for the first time.

Throw in Harbinger, Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana and the perennial Youmzain and we have a tasty race in prospect.

16:26 One minor gripe, there was a massive crowd around the parade ring to see the runners in the big race, yet they came in so late they barely completed two circuits before heading to the start. Not very good.

16:48 When Workforce won the Derby 49 days ago the superlatives flowed as he won by a convincing seven lengths in a record time.

Today he was taking on his elders for the first time and was sent off the odds-on favourite to enhance the reputation of this years classic generation.

Sir Michael Stoute had half the runners in this contest, along with Workforce he had progressive four-year-old Harbinger and the pacemaker Confront.

Stable jockey Ryan Moore, by all accounts, had no problems deciding to ride workforce this afternoon.

The race set off very much as planned.

Confront did his job as pacemaker setting a very decent pace.

The two three-year-olds ran virtually stride for stride behind the pacemaker, with Harbinger in fourth, and Youmzain and Daryakana settled in rear.

There was very little change in the order until they turned for home when the three-year-olds were both asked for efforts.

It was the Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco who responded best of all but Harbinger, under Olivier Peslier was looking very calm and poised.

Peslier switched the turbo-charger on and Harbinger swept to the front and the race was over approaching a furlong out. It may be a metaphor but the further they went the further Harbinger pulled clear.

Cape Blanco tried in vain but was unable to respond but he led the main group home but only came home eleven lengths behind Harbinger.

Youmzain came with his usual late rattle but had to settle for third.

Daryakana came home fourth and Workforce a very disappointing fifth, beating only the pacesetter home.

16:55 You will not find race seven in your papers as it is an Arab race at 17:00.

16:57 BBC Radio Five Live are giving this afternoon's meeting the full works, which is good to see. Elenor Oldroyd is presenting Sport On Five direct from the course.

17:14 Well  Olivier Peslier picks up a unique double, following up his King George win with victory in this top Arab contest.

Burning Fancy and Sabbat Al Khaldiah set the pace in the 1m 2f contest and led unti two out when the complexion of the race changed completely.

Aziz hit the front with Danish raider SR Dorwan looking to be the challenger but Peslier was waiting patiently on Raqiyah and it was approaching the furlong marker that be bought his mount to the front with Aziz determined to fight, however Raqiyah came home ¾ length clear.

SR Dorwan held on for third spot 1¾ lengths behind.     

17:27 Our final contest on this marathon eight race card is The Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap Stakes, another 1½ mile contest with ten competing for the shade over £5,000 first prize.

A few of them getting warm in the parade ring, Valid Reason, Valliant Knight, Beat Route and Blitzed most notably.  

17:30 Some comments on the big race, from the winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute himself.

First of all about the winner, "Olivier was just cantering, he travelled so well and he was looking good from a long way out.

"He was a decent three-year-old and was impressive in winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

" Then he had a blip in the Voltigeur, but he bounced back well in the John Porter this season and has gone on from there.

Talking of future plans, the trainer said, "We will consider the Arc."

Then turning to the disappointing favourite Stoute commented, "Ryan said he just didn't switch off like he normally does and the ground was quick enough, it's pretty fast out there."

17:50 Another cracking finish to the final race as Philip Robinson comes from almost last on Yashrid to win by a length.  

Missionaire and Blitzed set the early pace which was generous but not too fast, although Blitzed soon dropped to second rank as Countess Comet came to join the leader. Beat Route, owned by the race sponsors kepr Blitzed company in second rank.

These four were to the fore until three out at which point Heart Of Hearts and the favourite Valiant Knight made it a group of six up front.

As often happens here the race proper developed two out with Valiant Knight the first to make progress,

Approaching one out Missionaire still had a narrow advantage but both Heart Of hearts and Valiant Knight were snapping at his heels.

Meanwhile Robinson had woken up Yashrid and the top weight was coming with a good run down the centre of the course, hitting the front inside the final half furlong to record a one length victory.

Valiant Knight ran on to come home second with Heart Of Hearts a further half length back in third.

Long time leader Missionaire came home fourth.

17:56 That’s it from a great, marathon, afternoon’s racing here at Ascot.

We have seen some good racing but it is Harbingers decimation of a small but high class field which will stick in the memory for a long time.

Let’s put this in some sort of context – Workforce won the Derby by seven lengths in a record time, so is no donkey.

Cape Blanco won the Irish Derby.

Youmzain is a three time runner-up in the Arc.

Harbinger let all of them in a different parish this afternoon in an awesome performance.

We still have one day to go and today’s main course certainly did not disappoint … join us tomorrow for desert.

 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

Non-runners

13:30
11 Vhujon (withdrawn, no suitable jockey)

14:40
4 Hooray (bad scope - VC 11:50 Fri)

15:15
12 Marosh (not eaten up - SC 07:49)

15:50
21 Aldermoor (bad scope - SC 13:03 Fri)

16:25
4 Dar Re Mi (bruised foot - SC 10:18)

Results

13:30 Handicap 7f

14:05 Listed Stakes 7f

14:40 Fillies' Stakes 6f

15:15 Handicap 1m (Straight)

15:50 Handicap 7f

16:25 King George VI Stakes 1m 4f

17:00 Arab Race 1m 2f

17:35 Handicap 1m 4f