{"id":8665,"date":"2025-06-19T15:13:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T15:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=8665"},"modified":"2025-06-19T15:13:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T15:13:34","slug":"royal-ascot-2025-updates-previews-and-more-on-gold-cup-day-live-royal-ascot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=8665","title":{"rendered":"Royal Ascot 2025: updates, previews and more on Gold Cup day \u2013 live | Royal Ascot"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<br \/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"\/>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">4.20pm Ascot Gold Cup betting<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Trawlerman 9\/4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Candelari 9\/4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Illinois 11\/4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Sweet William 9\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Dubai Future 28\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Coltrane 33\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Wonder Legend 33\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Yashin 66\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Full betting: horse-racing\/royal-ascot\/16:20\/winner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Market Mover: Illinois 6\/4 out to 11\/4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Leonora Smee, a luxury brand strategist and \u201cEvents Global Brand Ambassador\u201d, at Ascot on Gold Cup day.<\/span> Photograph: James Veysey\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a011.04 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>4.20pm GOLD CUP preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Until a couple of weeks ago, this was expected to be the race in which <strong>Kyprios, <\/strong>the winner in 2022 and 2024 and absent due to injury in 2023, would confirm his place among the all-time staying greats with a third Gold Cup success. His sudden retirement leaves a glaring vacancy at the top of the staying division and the most interesting candidate to succeed him as the winner of Royal Ascot\u2019s showpiece event is Francis-Henri Graffard\u2019s gelding <strong>Candelari, <\/strong>in the colours of the late Aga Khan IV, whose father won this race all the way back in 1934 with the excellent <strong>Felicitation. <\/strong>The latest Gold Cup contender in green and red is a four-year-old who did not see a racecourse until making a successful debut on Chantilly\u2019s all-weather track in December 2024, and arrives at Ascot with a four-from-five record that should perhaps be a perfect five. He is an impressive physical specimen who showed a fine turn of foot to win the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The John &amp; Thady Gosden-trained duo, <strong>Trawlerman <\/strong>and <strong>Sweet William, <\/strong>were second and third respectively behind Kyprios last year and have been lightly-campaigned since. Trawlerman returned to action with an impressive win in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, while Sweet William, who went on from Ascot to win the Doncaster Cup in September, was a close third in the Yorkshire Cup last month. The likely favourite, though, is Aidan O\u2019Brien\u2019s <strong>Illinois<\/strong>, who compiled an impressive record in staying events as a three-year-old \u2013 winning the Queen\u2019s Vase at this meeting and then finishing a close second to his stable companion, Jan Brueghel, in the St Leger. The obvious question is whether his stamina will stretch to two-and-a-half miles, as he has yet to race beyond the 15 furlongs of the Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Prix Chaudenay, <\/strong>Longchamp, 5 Oct 25 (Illinois).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/mE9ILMnvTWc?feature=shared<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, <\/strong>Longchamp, 25 May 25, (Candelari).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/WvQB1IQVP0c?feature=shared<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Henry II Stakes, <\/strong>Sandown, 29 May 25 (Trawlerman).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/-Mv0UGkaR-o?feature=shared<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Gold Cup, <\/strong>Ascot, 20 Jun 24 (Trawlerman, Sweet William).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/IIhohnrqE24?si=9MvBvSCsXHUT8-aY<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Yorkshire Cup, <\/strong>York, 16 May 25 (Sweet William)<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/_R7i0of1grg?si=y7kY4k-M8DM1iz1C<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>St Leger, <\/strong>Doncaster, 14 Sep 24 (Illinois)<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/b1zDKckrr1c?si=YWUoAAyeT6BO8j6U<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: CANDELARI<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A horse is cooled down after the King George V Stakes.<\/span> Photograph: Toby Melville\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">3.40pm RIBBLESDALE STAKES result: Garden looks rosy<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">1 <strong>Garden Of Eden<\/strong> (R L Moore) 7-1<br \/>2 <strong>Understudy<\/strong> (R Havlin) 40-1<br \/>3 <strong>Catalina Delcarpio<\/strong> (W J Lee) 2-1 Fav<br \/>11 ran<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers cheer on their horse as they watch the racing on the third day of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Kin Cheung\/APShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a010.46 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>3.40pm RIBBLESDALE STAKES <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And they\u2019re off \u2026 with Island Hopping going ten lengths clear \u2026 Catalina Delcarpio travels well \u2026 they turn for home \u2026 Catalina Delcarpio takes the lead but Garden Of Eden has taken it up from her and goes on to win for that man \u2026 Aidan O\u2019Brien!<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a010.44 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>3.40pm RIBBLESDALE STAKES betting<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Catalina Delcarpio 9\/4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Serenity Prayer 7\/2<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Life Is Beautiful 6\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Garden Of Eden 8\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Lady Vivian 12\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Go Go Boots 14\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Caspi Star 16\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Ecstatic 20\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Island Hopping 25\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Understudy 28\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Hollys Grace 40\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Full betting at Oddschecker: horse-racing\/royal-ascot\/15:40\/winner<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Market Movers<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Life Is Beautiful 8\/1 into 6\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Bring on the sun lounger!<\/span> Photograph: Neil Hall\/EPAShare<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Greg Wood, our man at Ascot, says the track officials are now describing the ground as Good to Firm all round. It\u2019s getting hotter and faster out there.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Lady Victoria Hervey pictured on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: John Walton\/PAShare<span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>3.40pm RIBBLESDALE STAKES preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The fancied runners in Ascot\u2019s version of the Oaks tend to fall into one of three categories: fillies that were not quite ready for the Epsom Classic in early June, fillies that ran in Classic trials and came up short, and filles that did go to Epsom and ran down the field. The outsider <strong>Go Go Boots<\/strong> is the only runner in the latter category this year, probably because it is less than two weeks since the Oaks itself, and she was last home in the nine-runner field there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Serenity Prayer, Life Is Beautiful <\/strong>and <strong>Caspi Star <\/strong>all ran in Oaks trials \u2013 the Musidora at York, the Pretty Polly at Newmarket and the Cheshire Oaks respectively \u2013 while Paddy Twomey\u2019s <strong>Catalina Delcarpio <\/strong>is in the \u201cnot quite ready for Epsom\u201d category. She did not race at two, won a maiden by four-and-a-half lengths on her belated racecourse debut in April and then looked to be a very unlucky loser in the Group Three Salsabil Stakes at Navan later in the month. Along with Serenity Prayer, who has also had just two starts, she is the runner with most potential for progress and it would be no great surprise if Twomey, who notched his first Royal Ascot winner with <strong>Carmers<\/strong> in yesterday\u2019s Queen\u2019s Vase, added another just 24 hours later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: CATALINA DELCARPIO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Paul Hollywood (right) at the races on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Matthews\/PAShare<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">King George V Stakes 3.05pm result: Merchant makes it pay<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">1 <strong>Merchant<\/strong> (Tom Marquand) 3-1 Fav<br \/>2 <strong>Serious Contender<\/strong> (R L Moore) 7-1<br \/>3 <strong>Pantile Warrior<\/strong> (R Havlin) 40-1<br \/>4 <strong>Nautical Force<\/strong> (B M Coen) 25-1<br \/>19 ran<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Merchant, ridden by Tom Marquand, on his way to winning the King George V Stakes .<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a010.25 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>King George V Stakes 3.05pm <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And they\u2019re off \u2026 Nautical Force gets out fast and Serious Contender moves up from the outside to join the leaders \u2026 Sing Us A Song is last as they take the turn for home \u2026 into the straight and Ammes has the lead \u2026 Merchant comes late with a big run to get there late on from Serious Contender.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a010.13 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>King George V Stakes 3.05pm betting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Nice spread!<\/span> Photograph: Kevin Coombs\/ReutersShare<span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>3.05pm KING GEORGE V STAKES HANDICAP preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">If you are looking for a Group-class horse in a handicap at the Royal meeting, this 12-furlong contest for three-year-olds is often a good place to start. Hukum, the winner of two Group Ones later in his career including the King George VI &amp; Queen Elizabeth Stakes at this track in 2023, won off what was, in hindsight, a somewhat lenient opening mark of 90 back in 2020, while the King &amp; Queen\u2019s Desert Hero, successful two years ago, took a Group Three next time up and then ran third in the St Leger. And reaching a lot further back in time, I will remain baffled until my final day by the failure of Pilsudski, whose six subsequent Group One wins included the Breeders\u2019 Cup Turf, Japan Cup, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, to trouble the judge when I backed him at 10-1 off a mark of just 82 back in 1995.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Anyway, back to today\u2019s renewal and I\u2019m struggling to see past Ralph Beckett\u2019s <strong>Sing Us A Song, <\/strong>who is top-rated by Timeform, posted the best recent timefigure of any of today\u2019s runners too and, as a son of Camelot, looks sure to be suited by the step up to a mile-and-a-half. He has quite a wide draw in 17 but James Doyle will be alive to the dangers and has been in excellent form already this week. His main dangers according to the betting are William Haggas\u2019s <strong>Merchant, <\/strong>who improved to win a competitive race at York\u2019s Dante meeting in May, and Aidan O\u2019Brien\u2019s <strong>Serious Contender, <\/strong>drawn one from the outside in stall 21. He ran out a cosy winner of a 10-furlong handicap at Leopardstown in March but may not have as much scope for improvement at 12 furlongs as some of his rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: SING US A SONG<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Charles Darwin, ridden by Ryan Moore, on his way to winning the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: John Walton\/PAShare<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Norfolk Stakes 2.30pm result: Charles the first!<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">1 <strong>Charles Darwin<\/strong> (R L Moore) 8-13 Fav<br \/>2 <strong>Wise Approach<\/strong> (W Buick) 10-1<br \/>3 <strong>Sandal\u2019s Song<\/strong> (James McDonald) 9-1<br \/>15 ran<br \/>Non Runner: 12<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A racegoer using a fan on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Matthews\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.37 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Norfolk Stakes 2.30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And they\u2019re off \u2026 this will be fast and furious over the minimum distance of five furlongs \u2026 Charles Darwin was quickly out of the stalls and will bid to lead all the way \u2026 he\u2019s under pressure and looks in trouble but fights back and now kicks clear for a smooth enough win. Aidan O\u2019Brien supplies another classy two-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.35 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Heat latest \u2026 The Racing Post are reporting that \u2018Despite the amber heat warning in place, there are \u201cno plans at the moment to make any changes to enforcement of the dress code based on the current temperatures and forecast.\u201d\u2019 Will Aitkenhead, head of corporate and industry affairs at Ascot, has updated them on the advice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The Post point out that when the dress code was relaxed in 2022, the temperatures reached 32C. The Met Office is currently predicting temperatures to hit 31C at Ascot today and tomorrow, and 32C on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A racegoer using a fan and umbrella to keep cool on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Matthews\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.29 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>2.30pm NORFOLK STAKES preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Aidan O\u2019Brien\u2019s <strong>Charles Darwin <\/strong>is the sure-fire favourite here and arrives with two wide-margin wins, at Navan and then Naas, to his name. He is top of the <em>Timeform <\/em>ratings, posted a top-notch timefigure last time and the only real question mark against his chance is that \u2013 and it might just be a quirk of the stats &#8211; O\u2019Brien\u2019s record in this race is distinctly ropey by his exalted standards. He has saddled just two subsequent Norfolk winners since the outstanding <strong>Johannesburg<\/strong> went in back in 2001, and a slew of beaten favourites includes <strong>Whistlejacket<\/strong> (10-11) last year, <strong>The Great War <\/strong>(5-6) in 2014 and <strong>Coach House<\/strong> (9-4) a year earlier. Backers who wade in at around 4-5 will probably have a slightly anxious eye on Karl Burke\u2019s <strong>Naval Light, <\/strong>beaten one-and-a-half lengths on debut in the same race at Beverley that Burke used to prime <strong>Shareholder, <\/strong>last year\u2019s Norfolk winner, ahead of Ascot. The winner there, however, was Old Is Gold, who did not do a huge amount for the form when finishing eighth as the 7-2 favourite in the final race here yesterday. French-trained challenger <strong>Afjan <\/strong>overcame a tricky passage to win on debut at Chantilly at the start of the month, showing a fair turn of foot in the process, while American trainer George Weaver\u2019s <strong>Sandal\u2019s Song <\/strong>adds a further international angle. Weaver saddled Crimson Advocate, a Group Two winner here yesterday, to win the Queen Mary Stakes in 2023 before her switch to the John &amp; Thady Gosden stable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: CHARLES DARWIN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Crowds have been on the up this week at Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a010.32 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Norfolk Stakes 2.30pm betting<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Charles Darwin 4\/6<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Afjan 8\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Sandals Slong 10\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Wise Approach 10\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">First Legion 12\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Naval Light 14\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Comical Point 18\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Hey Tru Blue 33\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Clear Force 33\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">66\/1 BAR &#8211; 14 Runners<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Full betting at Oddschecker: \/horse-racing\/royal-ascot\/14:30\/winner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Market Movers:<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Sandals Song 16\/1 into 10\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Wise Approach 18\/1 into 10\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers need fans at Royal Ascot today!<\/span> Photograph: Toby Melville\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.20 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Meanwhile, the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, whose party are leading in the polls right now, has arrived at Royal Ascot.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Reform UK leader Nigel Farage attending day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: James Manning\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Lots of concern about the heat given it\u2019s only going to get hotter, likely ending up over 30 degrees on Saturday and onr of the Ascot vets, Dr Sally Taylor, spoke to ITV Racing about the measures the track are taking to help horses cope with the conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Hoofnote: there has been no decision taken about whether the track will help humans and ease the dress code in the Royal Enclosure! An Ascot spokesman told the Telegraph that extra gazebos and parasols had been erected around the grounds to help provide extra shade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\u201cAs of 5.30pm [on Wednesday], there had been 121 heat-related calls to the medical centre from a total number of around 200 in an overall crowd of 41,571,\u201d a spokesman added. \u201cThat overall number is less calls than yesterday. One person has been taken to hospital due to heat-related illness. We have once again been providing free water at hydration stations across all enclosures and free bottled water is being handed out on exit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#8220;The welfare of the horses is so important&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Horses are monitored by vets at all stages of their journey across the racecourse&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Dr Sally Taylor speaks on the welfare of horses at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RoyalAscot?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RoyalAscot<\/a> in this heat \ud83c\udf24\ufe0f <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1nU16Paaiu\">pic.twitter.com\/1nU16Paaiu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ITV Racing (@itvracing) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/itvracing\/status\/1935680541602255357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 19, 2025<\/a>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.15 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>6.10pm BUCKINGHAM PALACE STAKES HANDICAP preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>English Oak, <\/strong>last year\u2019s winner of this race, is back for another crack and will be a popular pick to add another win to James Doyle\u2019s tally, The parallels with 12 months ago do not stop there as he has once again drawn in a high stall (27 this year, after 26 in 2024) and has tumbled in the weights after three lacklustre runs this year, from 108 down to 100, just 1lb higher than his mark of 99 last time around. My Cloud, who beat him by six lengths at Newbury last time out, was a ready winner of yesterday\u2019s Royal Hunt Cup, so English Oak\u2019s form is probably better than it looks, but rivals including <strong>Never So Brave <\/strong>and <strong>Gleneagle Bay <\/strong>also arrive with strong claims on their recent form. Gleaneagle Bay was touched off by a nose and a short-head after racing away from the first two home in the Victoria Cup over this course and distance in May, loves fast ground and should give football agent Kia Joorabchian\u2019s Amo Racing operation a big run after a big-money transfer to the purple silks last week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION<\/strong>: <strong>GLENEAGLE BAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A racegoer on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: David Davies\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.53 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>5.35pm HAMPTON COURT STAKES HANDICAP preview <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Several of these runners arrive direct from a Classic \u2013 <strong>Detain <\/strong>and <strong>Trinity College <\/strong>were third and fourth respectively in the French Derby while <strong>Tornado Alert <\/strong>and <strong>Sea Scout <\/strong>were sixth and 11th in the Derby at Epsom the following weekend \u2013 and <strong>Detain\u2019s <\/strong>proximity to the winner<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">at Chantilly puts him top of the pile on <em>Timeform <\/em>ratings. There was just a head between Detain and Trinity College though and the market is struggling to separate them at around 7-2, while the progressive <strong>High Stock, <\/strong>who did not see a racecourse until his win in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket\u2019s Craven meeting, has obvious claims too on his second in the Dee Stakes at Chester. Another lightly-raced contender, Roger Varian\u2019s <strong>Jackknife, <\/strong>is also coming in for plenty of support this morning and his performance will be an interesting test of the form of this year\u2019s Heron Stakes at Sandown, won by <strong>Opera Ballo. Reyenzi,<\/strong> first past the post in the Gallinule Stakes but subsequently demoted to third, is also an interesting runner for Johnny Murtagh, in the Aga Khan colours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION:<\/strong> <strong>HIGH STOCK<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers near the Parade Ring at Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Kin Cheung\/APShare<span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>5pm BRITANNIA STAKES HANDICAP preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The usual huge field for the Britannia and obvious potential for a big-priced winner (although it has to be said that in recent years, there have been plenty in the 8-1 to 16-1 range just behind the market leader). That reflects a steady improvement in quality \u2013 today\u2019s bottom-weight runs off 90 whereas 77 was enough to get a run back at the turn of the century \u2013 and there is a white-hot favourite today in William Haggas\u2019s <strong>Raafedd <\/strong>who is making his handicap debut off 92. Other runners with the right profile include <strong>Teroomm <\/strong>and <strong>Parole D\u2019Oro, <\/strong>first and second in a novice at Thirsk in April, although the former has had a handicap start since, winning a decent contest at Haydock off 90.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Fearnot <\/strong>and <strong>Brave Mission <\/strong>run for Clive Cox and Ralph Beckett respectively, who are both former winners of this with similar types, but I\u2019m going to take a long-odds punt on <strong>The Lost King, <\/strong>who ran an eye-catching race behind another of today\u2019s runners, <strong>Fifth Column, <\/strong>at Sandown in April. He took a while to settle but was still bang there going into the final furlong before fading late into third. A few of Andrew Balding\u2019s string have run similar races first time up this year \u2013See The Fire, third home in yesterday\u2019s Prince Of Wales\u2019s Stakes, is one that springs to mind \u2013 and he runs off the same mark today.<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: THE LOST KING<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A woman keeps cool with a fan on a train at Waterloo Station.<\/span> Photograph: Kevin Coombs\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.48 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Queen\u2019s Hat Stakes, 2pm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">After two days of green, here\u2019s William Hill\u2019s book on the colour of the Queen\u2019s titfer:<\/p>\n<p>Blue <strong>9\/4<br \/><\/strong>White <strong>5\/2<br \/><\/strong>Pink <strong>3\/1<br \/><\/strong>Yellow <strong>4\/1<br \/><\/strong>Green <strong>7\/1<br \/><\/strong>Purple <strong>12\/1<br \/><\/strong>Orange <strong>16\/1<br \/><\/strong>Grey <strong>16\/1<br \/><\/strong>Red <strong>25\/1<br \/><\/strong>Brown <strong>25\/1<br \/><\/strong>Black <strong>50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.<\/span> Photograph: Victoria Jones\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.38 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>4.20pm GOLD CUP preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Until a couple of weeks ago, this was expected to be the race in which <strong>Kyprios, <\/strong>the winner in 2022 and 2024 and absent due to injury in 2023, would confirm his place among the all-time staying greats with a third Gold Cup success. His sudden retirement leaves a glaring vacancy at the top of the staying division and the most interesting candidate to succeed him as the winner of Royal Ascot\u2019s showpiece event is Francis-Henri Graffard\u2019s gelding <strong>Candelari, <\/strong>in the colours of the late Aga Khan IV, whose father won this race all the way back in 1934 with the excellent <strong>Felicitation. <\/strong>The latest Gold Cup contender in green and red is a four-year-old who did not see a racecourse until making a successful debut on Chantilly\u2019s all-weather track in December 2024, and arrives at Ascot with a four-from-five record that should perhaps be a perfect five. He is an impressive physical specimen who showed a fine turn of foot to win the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The John &amp; Thady Gosden-trained duo, <strong>Trawlerman <\/strong>and <strong>Sweet William, <\/strong>were second and third respectively behind Kyprios last year and have been lightly-campaigned since. Trawlerman returned to action with an impressive win in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, while Sweet William, who went on from Ascot to win the Doncaster Cup in September, was a close third in the Yorkshire Cup last month. The likely favourite, though, is Aidan O\u2019Brien\u2019s <strong>Illinois<\/strong>, who compiled an impressive record in staying events as a three-year-old \u2013 winning the Queen\u2019s Vase at this meeting and then finishing a close second to his stable companion, Jan Brueghel, in the St Leger. The obvious question is whether his stamina will stretch to two-and-a-half miles, as he has yet to race beyond the 15 furlongs of the Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Prix Chaudenay, <\/strong>Longchamp, 5 Oct 25 (Illinois).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/mE9ILMnvTWc?feature=shared<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, <\/strong>Longchamp, 25 May 25, (Candelari).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/WvQB1IQVP0c?feature=shared<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Henry II Stakes, <\/strong>Sandown, 29 May 25 (Trawlerman).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/-Mv0UGkaR-o?feature=shared<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Gold Cup, <\/strong>Ascot, 20 Jun 24 (Trawlerman, Sweet William).<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/IIhohnrqE24?si=9MvBvSCsXHUT8-aY<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Yorkshire Cup, <\/strong>York, 16 May 25 (Sweet William)<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/_R7i0of1grg?si=y7kY4k-M8DM1iz1C<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>St Leger, <\/strong>Doncaster, 14 Sep 24 (Illinois)<br \/>https:\/\/youtu.be\/b1zDKckrr1c?si=YWUoAAyeT6BO8j6U<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: CANDELARI<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: James Manning\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.27 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>3.40pm RIBBLESDALE STAKES preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The fancied runners in Ascot\u2019s version of the Oaks tend to fall into one of three categories: fillies that were not quite ready for the Epsom Classic in early June, fillies that ran in Classic trials and came up short, and filles that did go to Epsom and ran down the field. The outsider <strong>Go Go Boots<\/strong> is the only runner in the latter category this year, probably because it is less than two weeks since the Oaks itself, and she was last home in the nine-runner field there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>Serenity Prayer, Life Is Beautiful <\/strong>and <strong>Caspi Star <\/strong>all ran in Oaks trials \u2013 the Musidora at York, the Pretty Polly at Newmarket and the Cheshire Oaks respectively \u2013 while Paddy Twomey\u2019s <strong>Catalina Delcarpio <\/strong>is in the \u201cnot quite ready for Epsom\u201d category. She did not race at two, won a maiden by four-and-a-half lengths on her belated racecourse debut in April and then looked to be a very unlucky loser in the Group Three Salsabil Stakes at Navan later in the month. Along with Serenity Prayer, who has also had just two starts, she is the runner with most potential for progress and it would be no great surprise if Twomey, who notched his first Royal Ascot winner with <strong>Carmers<\/strong> in yesterday\u2019s Queen\u2019s Vase, added another just 24 hours later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: CATALINA DELCARPIO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers stand with their 1965 Ford Mustang on day three of Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: James Manning\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.23 EDT<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>3.05pm KING GEORGE V STAKES HANDICAP preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">If you are looking for a Group-class horse in a handicap at the Royal meeting, this 12-furlong contest for three-year-olds is often a good place to start. Hukum, the winner of two Group Ones later in his career including the King George VI &amp; Queen Elizabeth Stakes at this track in 2023, won off what was, in hindsight, a somewhat lenient opening mark of 90 back in 2020, while the King &amp; Queen\u2019s Desert Hero, successful two years ago, took a Group Three next time up and then ran third in the St Leger. And reaching a lot further back in time, I will remain baffled until my final day by the failure of Pilsudski, whose six subsequent Group One wins included the Breeders\u2019 Cup Turf, Japan Cup, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, to trouble the judge when I backed him at 10-1 off a mark of just 82 back in 1995.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Anyway, back to today\u2019s renewal and I\u2019m struggling to see past Ralph Beckett\u2019s <strong>Sing Us A Song, <\/strong>who is top-rated by Timeform, posted the best recent timefigure of any of today\u2019s runners too and, as a son of Camelot, looks sure to be suited by the step up to a mile-and-a-half. He has quite a wide draw in 17 but James Doyle will be alive to the dangers and has been in excellent form already this week. His main dangers according to the betting are William Haggas\u2019s <strong>Merchant, <\/strong>who improved to win a competitive race at York\u2019s Dante meeting in May, and Aidan O\u2019Brien\u2019s <strong>Serious Contender, <\/strong>drawn one from the outside in stall 21. He ran out a cosy winner of a 10-furlong handicap at Leopardstown in March but may not have as much scope for improvement at 12 furlongs as some of his rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: SING US A SONG<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">That stray umbrella is leaving Berkshire.<\/span> Photograph: James Manning\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.09 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">After yesterday with a golfer (Justin Rose) and a novelist (Robert Harris) in the royal procession as well as the drama of Ascot sending out the \u201cwrong list\u201d in error and sending royal correspondents into a tizz 20 minutes later when revealing the Princess of Wales was a \u201cnon-runner\u201d today\u2019s guests are fairly dull. Racing is represented by William Haggas and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.<\/p>\n<p>Share<span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>2.30pm NORFOLK STAKES preview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Aidan O\u2019Brien\u2019s <strong>Charles Darwin <\/strong>is the sure-fire favourite here and arrives with two wide-margin wins, at Navan and then Naas, to his name. He is top of the <em>Timeform <\/em>ratings, posted a top-notch timefigure last time and the only real question mark against his chance is that \u2013 and it might just be a quirk of the stats &#8211; O\u2019Brien\u2019s record in this race is distinctly ropey by his exalted standards. He has saddled just two subsequent Norfolk winners since the outstanding <strong>Johannesburg<\/strong> went in back in 2001, and a slew of beaten favourites includes <strong>Whistlejacket<\/strong> (10-11) last year, <strong>The Great War <\/strong>(5-6) in 2014 and <strong>Coach House<\/strong> (9-4) a year earlier. Backers who wade in at around 4-5 will probably have a slightly anxious eye on Karl Burke\u2019s <strong>Naval Light, <\/strong>beaten one-and-a-half lengths on debut in the same race at Beverley that Burke used to prime <strong>Shareholder, <\/strong>last year\u2019s Norfolk winner, ahead of Ascot. The winner there, however, was Old Is Gold, who did not do a huge amount for the form when finishing eighth as the 7-2 favourite in the final race here yesterday. French-trained challenger <strong>Afjan <\/strong>overcame a tricky passage to win on debut at Chantilly at the start of the month, showing a fair turn of foot in the process, while American trainer George Weaver\u2019s <strong>Sandal\u2019s Song <\/strong>adds a further international angle. Weaver saddled Crimson Advocate, a Group Two winner here yesterday, to win the Queen Mary Stakes in 2023 before her switch to the John &amp; Thady Gosden stable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>SELECTION: CHARLES DARWIN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Beware flying umbrellas!<\/span> Photograph: James Manning\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Here\u2019s a guide to today\u2019s action and Greg Wood\u2019s invaluable guides will follow shortly \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">2.30pm &#8211;<strong> Norfolk Stakes (5f)<br \/><\/strong>3.05pm &#8211;<strong> King George V Stakes (Handicap) (1m 4f)<br \/><\/strong>3.40pm <strong>&#8211; Ribblesdale Stakes (1m 4f)<br \/><\/strong>4.20pm<strong> &#8211; Gold Cup (2m 4f)<br \/><\/strong>5.00pm<strong> &#8211; Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (1m)<br \/><\/strong>5.35pm <strong>&#8211; Hampton Court Stakes (1m 2f)<br \/><\/strong>6.10pm <strong>&#8211; Buckingham Palace Stakes (7f)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers making their way to Royal Ascot.<\/span> Photograph: Toby Melville\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Don\u2019t look at these horses later in the day if you\u2019re having a wager at the end of the card as there are the latest non-runners (along with their sick notes!)<\/p>\n<p><strong>5.00pm Britannia Stakes<br \/><\/strong>19 Linwood (lame)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>5.35pm Hampton Court Stakes <br \/><\/strong>1 Al Shababi (not eaten up)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Queuing to get in at Royal Ascot, where the gates have just opened.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Matthews\/PAShare<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Clerk of the course Chris Stickels has had little to do this week other than put 5mm of water on overnight. It\u2019s a case of going \u2026 going \u2026 gone the same again virtually today, as we warned at the beginning of the week. It\u2019s baking and will be through to the end of the meeting on Saturday so there\u2019s little change with the stands\u2019 side a little bit faster and the high numbers may be favoured in the 5pm today.<\/p>\n<p>So it\u2019s <strong>Good to Firm<\/strong> on the straight course and <strong>Good to Firm, good in places<\/strong> on the round course.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\"><strong>GoingStick (basically the higher the number the faster the surface) at 8am:<br \/><\/strong>Stands\u2019 side: 8.9<br \/>Centre: 8.5<br \/>Far side: 8.7<br \/>Round: 7.1<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Good morning. Before we get to the action on the track all the talk yesterday in the real world outside the \u201cAscot bubble\u201d was about the fact that the Princess of Wales became a non-runner \u201cat the last minute\u201d after she was announced as part of the royal procession at 12 noon as is traditional by Ascot, only for the track to hastily send out a revised list of who was going to be in the royal carriages with Catherine not among those involved about 20 minutes later. It appears human error was the likely cause of the confusion, not a last-minute decision as it appeared to be at lunchtime yesterday with the two lists being sent out so close to each other.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The Telegraph\u2019s royal watcher Hannah Furness states this morning that \u201cin the hours ahead of the procession Kensington Palace confirmed that the Princess would be unable to attend\u201d and a clue as to why that was correct was contained in the Daily Mail this morning with Royal Editor Hannah English stating \u201cit was a case of crossed wires\u201d. \u201cIt is understood an \u2018inaccurate version of the list\u2019 was \u2018issued in error\u2019\u201d, she added.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The Prince and Princess of Wales during the royal procession at Royal Ascot in 2023.<\/span> Photograph: John Sibley\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.18 EDT<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Preamble<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-sa35sa\">Greg Wood<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Welcome to Ascot on what the track itself likes to call the third day of the Royal meeting, and everyone else knows and loves as <strong>Ladies\u2019 Day,<\/strong> with the <strong>Gold Cup<\/strong> as the centrepiece of the action at 4.20pm (all times BST).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">I must confess that I\u2019d been racing at the Royal meeting for nigh on 40 years without realising that while courses the length and breadth of Britain have jumped on the bandwagon and branded one day each summer as their \u201cLadies\u2019 Day\u201d, Ascot has never had an official one and probably never will.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\u201cWe don\u2019t have a Ladies\u2019 Day, believe it or not, and we never have,\u201d Nick Smith, the track\u2019s director of racing and public affairs, told me last week. \u201cIt\u2019s not in any marketing, it\u2019s not promoted as Ladies\u2019 Day, it\u2019s the public that have called it Ladies\u2019 Day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">\u201cThere\u2019s never been a \u201cbest-dressed\u201d competition, it\u2019s more of an organic fashion show because that\u2019s what the best milliners and couture houses in the world want it to be. We have a \u2018Look Book\u2019, but that\u2019s very much to showcase modern styles which are within the dress code.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Racegoers arrive on the third morning of the Royal meeting.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Matthews\/PA<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">From my perspective at least, the Look Book would have been more use than the form book in terms of finding winners over the first two days of the meeting, but I remain unbowed with more than half of the Royal meeting still in front of us and I\u2019m very keen on the chance of up-and-coming French stayer <strong>Candelari <\/strong>in the Gold Cup itself. Illinois, another four-year-old, is likely to set off as favourite, while the veteran Trawlerman is also prominent in the betting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">Elsewhere on the card, one of the big Aidan O\u2019Brien bankers of the week, <strong>Charles Darwin, <\/strong>is currently a shade of odds-on for the opening Norfolk Stakes at 2.30pm, <strong>Catalina Delcarpio <\/strong>and <strong>Serenity Prayer <\/strong>are vying for favouritism in the Ribblesdale Stakes at 3.40pm and a daunting field of 29 runners will thunder down the straight course in the Britannia Handicap at 5pm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-16w5gq9\">The official going at Ascot remains as it was yesterday evening, ie good-to-firm on the straight course and good-to-firm, good in places on the round and the live blog, as ever, will be your guide through all the action from first to last.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.20 EDT<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 4.20pm Ascot Gold Cup betting Trawlerman 9\/4 Candelari 9\/4 Illinois 11\/4 Sweet William 9\/1 Dubai Future 28\/1 Coltrane 33\/1 Wonder Legend 33\/1 Yashin 66\/1 Full betting: horse-racing\/royal-ascot\/16:20\/winner Market Mover: Illinois 6\/4 out to 11\/4 Leonora Smee, a luxury brand strategist and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[126,130,131,129,132,128,125,127],"class_list":{"0":"post-8665","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-ascot","9":"tag-cup","10":"tag-day","11":"tag-gold","12":"tag-live","13":"tag-previews","14":"tag-royal","15":"tag-updates"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8665\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}