Royal Ascot 2019 results: Frankie Dettori dominates day two as favourites continue to fall short
Follow live updates from the second day of Royal Ascot
Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers
Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Frankie Dettori proved yet again he is the king of Royal Ascot as he ruled the waves with a memorable double - highlighted by a masterful ride on Crystal Ocean to take the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
It was the ebullient Italian's 62nd career winner at the Royal meeting, after he had opened his account for 2019 on Raffle Prize in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Even though he has been one of the most sought-after jockeys in the world for the last 30 years, he revealed he approached trainer Sir Michael Stoute for the ride. Re-live the action below:
Welcome
Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of day two at Royal Ascot.
With just one favourite winning, the first day was a successful one for bookmakers, although you feel that today might be slightly better.
The feature race at Royal Ascot usually takes place at 4:20, but it has been moved forward this year to accommodate a Japanese audience that will be watching to see Deidre run.
The going
Yesterday's going switched from Good to Soft by the final race after a long spell of rain during the middle of the day.
Straight Course: Good to Soft (from Soft at the end of racing on Tuesday)
Round Course: Soft, Good to Soft in places (from Soft at the end of racing on Tuesday)
Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels said at 8.00am today: "We are forecast possible further showers during the day but we were fortunate to miss most of the heavy showers overnight."
Today's races
- 2:30 Queen Mary Stakes
- 3:05 Queen's Vase
- 3:40 Prince of Wales's Stakes
- 4:20 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes
- 5:00 Royal Hunt Cup
- 5:30 Windsor Castle Stakes
Bet on more than just horses
Queen's hat colour tip: GREEN
Racing Post’s royal watchers looking to make it two from two with hat picks, tipping Her Majesty to wear a green number on Day Two of the meeting. The Queen has worn a green hat 9 times in the last 14 years and whilst pink is the statistical choice, she could be saving her brighter colours for the better weather forecast at the end of the week.
Latest hat odds:
- Pink Evens
- Green 3/1
- Yellow 3/1
- Purple 6/1
- Red 8/1
- Orange 10/1
- White 10/1
- Blue 10/1
The folk at the Racing Post are pretty handy with horses too and have named Magical (3:40) as their best selection of the day with Barbados (3:05) their dark horse to watch.
Frankie's ready
Frankie Dettori was without a winner yesterday but has some decent rides on day two.
2:30 Raffle Prize
3:40 Crystal Ocean
4:20 Rawdaa
5:00 New Graduate
5:35 Iffraaz
Anyone else find it funny that jockeys turn up in this kind of dress only to get sprayed by mud and dirt in a few hours time?
32 year wait for a female rider in the winners enclosure could come to an end
A female winner is more likely to win today than any other day, potentially ending a 32-year wiat for a winner at Royal Ascot.
Betting number crunchers at StarSpreads.com say there’s a 40% chance of a female winner today, more than double the odds of any other day.
Female riders Nicola Currie, Hollie Doyle & Hayley Turner have 6 chances today including hotly-fancied Raising Sand in the 5.00.
Nicola Currie: Emten (2:30), Raising Sand (5:00), Paper Star (5:35)
Hollie Doyle: Nate The Great (3:05), Taxiwala (5:35)
Hayley Turner: Applecross (2:30)
Betting guide
After yesterday's shambles for tippsters, today's racing may be one to approach with caution.
The world is watching Deirdre
The feature race has been switched from the traditional 4:20 pm slot to the earlier one to accommodate Japanese viewers, who are represented by long shot Deidre.
Ascot's director of racing and communications Nick Smith said: "We want the race to go off before midnight in Japan, which brings with it a significantly higher audience.
"One of the keys to everything we do is international engagement, so with the blessing of ITV, who agree that raising our global audience and profile is important, we have switched the Prince of Wales's Stakes with the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.
"Had the circumstances needed us to move the Prince of Wales's to race two, we probably wouldn't have done it. Making it race three doesn't really matter, not least as it used to be the traditional position for the feature race."
Murphy: I want to be a role model
Oisin Murphy, who tops the Jockey's Championship, says he wants to be a good role model for the sport after he found to be above the alcohol limit on Sunday, meaning he was suspended for Sailsbury on Monday.
Today he has five runners at Royal Ascot.
2:30: Lambeth Walk
3:05: Dashing Willoughby
4:20 Veracious
5:00 Robin Of Navan
5::35 Illustionist
'Bookmakers were off to a perfect start'
Bookmakers usually duck for cover when Aidan O'Brien wins a race, although there was plenty for them to be happy about yesterday.
Betway's Alan Alger said: "There was sun, rain and a number of ups and downs on the betting front on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
"Bookmakers were off to the perfect start as the first three home in the Queen Anne went under the radar for most punters at double-figure odds.
"Arizona and Blue Point were pretty painful results in the following two races, but, maybe most surprisingly, it was Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien who did us the biggest favour of the day in the feature race. Circus Maximus turning over both Too Darn Hot and Phoenix Of Spain in the St James's Palace was a great result and we're in a good spot heading into day two."
The Royal attendance
Carriage One: Her Majesty The Queen, The Viscount Brookeborough, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall
Carriage Two: Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent, The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Sir Mark Prescott Bt.
Carriage Three: The Lord de Mauley, The Lady de Mauley, The Viscountess Brookeborough, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Richards
Carriage Four: Mr Charles Butter, Mrs Charles Butter, The Hon. Dame Annabel Whitehead, Mr Matt Magee
Ward hopeful of early strike
Wesley Ward on Kimari and Anna's Fast: "It's tough to split them, for sure.
"I think maybe Anna's Fast might have the fitness edge. Kimari was more impressive on her debut (won by 15 lengths), but she was hard ridden, whereas Anna's Fast was an eased-up winner.
"I think both fillies are very talented and if I had to call it I'd probably just go for Anna's Fast on fitness."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies