At the end of a day’s racing as packed as this one it’s easy to forget what would have been a highlight of many a day’s sport. You just don’t get Royal Ascot winners winning by about ten lengths – unless they are the greatest of all-time in Frankel. And then this day we have the daughter of that illustrious horse victorious in similarly scintillating style. The two-year-old Bedtime Story won the Chesham Stakes in remarkable fashion and given she’s with Aidan O’Brien you can expect many more successes.

Her winning time was within one-tenths of a second of Haatem, a three-year-old who won the Jersey Stakes later – and that’s amazing for a juvenile.

The winning trainers said afterwards: “We [have] never let Bedtime Story go before. This was the first time she was asked to stretch. Ryan said he couldn’t believe it; he said everyone fell away, he said ‘go on’, and she just took off. He didn’t even give her a slap down the shoulder.

“We thought she was probably a Group One filly, but we hadn’t looked – thinking is one thing and seeing is another, so everyone saw it together today. It was the first time she was ever dropped down, really.”

Asked how she compares to Fairy Godmother, who won so impressively earlier in the week, O’Brien said: “They haven’t ever worked together. We treated her gently. She’s got an unbelievable pedigree, she’s a homebred. She’s very special, isn’t she?

“The lads are great and they never put anyone under pressure, so we didn’t have to look. We felt she had done enough to come here for her second run, and it’s a lovely way to be.

Asked how they will keep Bedtime Story and Fairy Godmother apart, O’Brien said: “There are plenty of races for them all I think. Bedtime Story will be staying at seven furlongs.

“It is unusual on fast ground to do that [win by so far]. She was very impressive when she won first time. We had another filly in it and she got banged off at the rails, and this one won nicely; there were obviously some nice fillies in it. You’ve all seen what I saw today – we won’t be looking again!”

Racing followers cannot wait to see her again. She’s already favourite for next year’s Guineas and given the way she won today as a two-year-old then the Oaks could be within her compass. Can’t wait to find out. That’s it for this year from Royal Ascot. See you next on Arc Day. Enjoy the racing till then!

Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.15pm)

And they’re off … Magellan Strait leads and Fasol is at the back as they begin the race … and this is a long one so go and grab a cup of tea … Run For Oscar, third last year, is now at the back … Dawn Rising is prominent and they have a circuit to go … Maxident has now taken it up as they head for home … Dawn Rising leads as they turn for home … Uxmal breezes past and heads to the post for an easy victory!

Don’t ever remind me

Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.15pm) preview

The longest race in the British Flat racing calendar is the traditional closer for the royal meeting, and its sheer quirkiness has managed to make it a much-loved fixture in the schedule despite some occasional attempts in the past to consign it to history. It also counts towards the jockey and trainer standings, though the winner of both prizes has usually been determined by mid-afternoon. Queenstown, who was expected to start favourite, has been scratched this morning, along with Tashkan, Trueshan, Grand Providence and Ndaawi, leaving a somewhat disappointing field of nine runners. Run For Oscar, third behind Trueshan in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in October, is the likely favourite now, but Joseph O’Brien’s Uxmal is also an interesting contender as the trainer bids to join both his father and younger brother on the week’s roll of honour.

SELECTION: UXMAL

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap (5.05pm)

And they’re off … Approval and Portsmouth are away quickly in the early stages … Whisky Pete is at the back as they head for home … Approval still leads as they turn for home … Hand Of God comes with a withering run to lead and is an impressive winer.

The Fonz explaining how to be cool.

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap (5.05pm) betting

• Hand Of God 11/4

• Approval 6/1

• Old Faithful 7/1

• Portsmouth 17/2

• Palace Green 10/1

• Whiskey Pete 10/1

• Cambridge 12/1

• Grey Cuban 16/1

• Black Run 16/1

• Nerano 18/1

• 28/1 BAR (12 Runners)

• Full betting via Oddschecker

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap (5.05pm) preview

Primo Lara, my initial pick for this, is a notable absentee having been scratched this morning, which leaves the Esher Cup winner, Hand Of God, as a warm favourite at around 7-2. He had only a neck to spare at Sandown but was making his handicap (and seasonal) debut off a mark of 88 and a 3lb rise looks lenient given the improvement that seems likely to be forthcoming here. He is very much the one to beat, but if you are looking for an each-way alternative, the 33-1 about Miletus, the outsider of the field in some books, makes some appeal. He was a winner on heavy ground at Windsor in May and his ability to act on this much faster surface remains to be seen, but the time of that race was commendable in the conditions and the second and third horses home were both winners next time up.

SELECTION: MILETUS (each way)

Wokingham Handicap (5.05pm)

And they’re off … The Bell Conductor leads with a furlong to go … Dark Trooper went for home but Unequal Love takes the lead near the line!

Aidan O’Brien as expected was crowned Royal Ascot champion trainer.

Wokingham Handicap (5.05pm) betting

• Dark Trooper 9/2

• Albasheer 7/1

• Rumstar 9/1

• Harry Three 10/1

• Ferrous 14/1

• Unequal Love 14/1

• Torivega 16/1

• Mums Tipple 16/1

• Cover Up 16/1

• Fivethousandtoone 18/1

• 20/1 BAR (25 Starters)

• Full betting via Oddschecker

Happy Days! The Fonz gets ready to present the prize for the Jersey Stakes.

Wathnan Racing, funded by the Emir of Qatar, have now had four winners this week after Haatem’s success.

Wokingham Handicap (5.05pm) preview

The last of the week’s big handicaps, and while there are a handful of non-runners – Apollo One being the most notable absentee – it’s still a fearsome challenge for the punters. Something of a gamble is developing on Dark Trooper, a course-and-distance winner off 97 in a handicap last September, who has been racing in Doha and France since a big-money sale to the up-and-coming Wathnan Racing operation. Harry Three, who had been off the track for 21 months before running fourth in a Listed race at Salisbury last month, is also popular with the punters, perhaps because Clive Cox has booked Ryan Moore to ride, while Sheila Lavery’s Torivega, a close third in a valuable race at the Curragh last month, is another interesting runner to consider. My pick, for what that’s worth, is Archie Watson’s Albasheer, who ran in a Group Two at Chantilly last time out and was a convincing winner from a mark of 105 at Newcastle in March. He returns to handicapping on turf on what is potentially a very workable mark of 100 and while he is a closer who will need a little luck, it is a run-style that is well-suited to this stiff six furlongs and Hollie Doyle is an expert when it comes to picking a path through the gaps at the business end of the race.

SELECTION: ALBASHEER

Jersey Stakes (4.25pm)

And they’re off … Native American and Never So Brave lead them along as they approach the closing stages … Haatem and Kikkuli go past together … that is a Photo Finish! Sky Sports Racing are calling it for Haatem. And he wins the races.

Eddie (son of Charlie) Hills, who trained winner of the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee II Stakes … a trainer in the making!

The Fonz meets Queen Camilla

Jersey Stakes (4.25pm) betting

• River Tiber 13/8

• Haatem 9/2

• Task Force 9/1

• Never So Brave 10/1

• Eben Shaddad 12/1

• Boiling Point 18/1

• Native American 22/1

• Kikkuli 25/1

• Pearls And Rubies 33/1

• Night Raider 33/1

• 50/1 BAR 50/1 (19 Starters)

• Full betting via Oddschecker

Jersey Stakes (4.25pm) preview

A returning winner from last year heads the market here, as River Tiber was a convincing winner of the Coventry Stakes 12 months ago, so much so in fact that he was the clear 8-1 favourite for this year’s 2,000 Guineas in the immediate aftermath. Things have not gone entirely to plan for River Tiber since, with no wins from just three outings, though all three were in Group One contests and he was third home in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal debut last time out. The drop in grade and trip here will be in his favour and he is one of the shorter-priced favourites of the week at around 6-4. He is not the only runner dropping back to this seven-furlong Group Three after running in a Guineas, though, as Task Force was a decent seventh behind Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last time, while Haatem, the Craven Stakes winner in April, was third in the Newmarket Classic and then second, behind his stable-companion Rosallion, the big-race winner here on Tuesday, in Ireland. The drop in trip is the big question mark over Richard Hannon’s colt, though, as he looked more ready for a step up than a step back last time. There has also been quite a gamble on O’Brien’s apparent second-string, Pearls And Rubies, this morning, and the filly is now around 16-1 having been as big as 50-1 overnight. She was much too free when last of 13 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but rounded off her juvenile campaign as the runner-up behind Porta Fortuna – yesterday’s Coronation Stakes winner – in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

SELECTION: TASK FORCE

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.45pm)

And they’re off … Art Power is out fast …. Swingalong and Quinault are up there as they move to the closing stages … the veteran Khaadem comes fast and late to catch Swingalong and win for the second year running!

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.45pm) betting

• Believing 10/3

• Mill Stream 9/2

• Shartash 13/2

• Mitbaahy 9/1

• Washington Heights 12/1

• The Wizard Of Eye 12/1

• Khaadem 12/1

• Art Power 12/1

• Shouldvebeenaring 14/1

• 16/1 BAR (13 Starters)

• Full betting via Oddschecker

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.45pm) preview

The last of the eight Group One races this week, with Khaadem returning to the scene of his last-gasp victory at 80-1 last year, but with a new jockey aboard in Oisin Murphy, as Jamie Spencer has switched to Khaadem’s stable companion, Mitbaahy. He had both Art Power and Shouldvebeenaring behind him when successful in the Greenlands Stakes in Ireland in May. Another key form line is likely to be the Duke Of York Stakes at York last month, when Mill Stream edged out Shoulvebeenaring with Washington Heights and Swingalong unplaced, while Shartash has been snapped up by the Wathnan Racing operation since winning the Listed Spring Trophy at Haydock in early May.

SELECTION: MITBAAHY

Callum Shepherd, who won the Harwicke Stakes with Isle Of Jura, was of course the jockey who lost the ride on Derby runner-up Ambiente Frendly. The victory will feel very sweet.

Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm)

And they’re off … Elegant Man takes the lead with Continous in midfield and running a bit keen in the early stages … Candleford is in second as they head for home … they turn for home with Elegant Man still in the lead … Isle Of Jura took it up halfway down the home straight and kicks clear for a smooth success.

And here’s trainer Aidan O’Brien on his new star filly Bedtime Story … she will be out next in a fillies’ race in Ireland with a view to running in the Moyglare Stakes.

Bedtime Story “reached 40 miles per hour in the sixth furlong” … Ruby Walsh takes us through an imperious performance.

Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm) betting

• Continuous 2/1

• Middle Earth 12/5

• Desert Hero 9/1

• Missed The Cut 12/1

• Candleford 12/1

• Isle Of Jura 18/1

• Elegant Man 20/1

• Goliath 20/1

• Crypto Force 66/1

• Full betting via Oddschecker

Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm) preview

Sound the royal runner klaxon. Desert Hero, who came with a late rattle to win the King George V Handicap here last year, is back, and this time he’s taking aim at Group Two company, over the same mile-and-a-half trip. William Haggas’s four-year-old was an 18-1 outsider 12 months ago but is priced up at around 8-1 today, which is probably a fair reflection of his chance in a strong renewal of this Group Two contest. There is a Classic winner in the field – Continuous, who took the St Leger last September – and Aidan O’Brien’s colt is the likely favourite, despite the fact that he has not seen a track since running a very creditable fifth behind Ace Impact in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Among the runners with form this season, the biggest threat appears to be Middle Earth, the winner of the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury, though he was a long way behind Continuous in the Leger, while the course-specialist Continuous – another runner from the Haggas stable – will definitely interest any each-way punters who feel the favourite may need the race.

SELECTION: CONTINUOUS

That first winner (nine and a half lengths was the winning margin) looked very good indeed and is 3-1 favourite for the 1,000 Guineas with Betfair for next spring at Newmarket. Ryan Moore was also impressed.

Chesham Stakes (2.30pm)

And they’re off … Moon Sniper away well and Motawahj very keen as they approach the final half of the race … Bedtime Story has kicked clear and won as easy as any at Royal Ascot in modern history! Wow – that was a brilliant performance.

Full list of non-runners

2.30
3 Chilly Breeze (lame)
6 Harvey (not eaten up)
12 Seaplane (abnormal scope)

3.45
4 Kinross (going)

4.25
16 Take Me To Church (pricked foot)

5.05
8 Apollo One (travel)
13 Wodao (not sound)
23 Aleezdancer (going)
25 Gorak (not eaten up)

5.40
3 Arabic Legend (going)
5 Balmacara (going)
7 Primo Lara (cast in box)
11 Dambuster (going)

6.15
1 Trueshan (going)
7 Tashkhan (going)
12 Ndaawi (going)
13 Queenstown (withdrawn)
14 Grand Providence (going)

Queen’s Hat (2pm)

1 White/cream 8-1

Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) betting

• Bedtime Story 6/4

• Age Of Gold 9/2

• Pentle Bay 11/2

• Motawahjj 14/1

• Expensive Rose 16/1

• Brian 25/1

• Lazy Griff 33/1

• Miss El Fundi 33/1

• Defence Missile 33/1

• Hot Like Me 40/1

• 40/1 BAR (15 Runners)

• Full betting via Oddschecker

Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) preview

Charlie Appleby’s search for a Royal Ascot winner continues after Mountain Breeze, his only runner on Friday’s card, could finish only fourth in the opener yesterday, and if Age Of Gold – his sole runner on the card, and only his sixth of the entire meeting - cannot get him off the mark for the week here, it will mean a second blank at the meeting in as many seasons for the champion on the Flat in 2021 and 2022. Three in 10 of his runners this year have been winners, which The really odd thing – and it was the same last year – is that Appleby’s overall strike rate – 30pc in 2024 so far - is still the best in the business among the top yards, and only 1pc behind his strike rate in 2022, when he finished the season on top of the pile. He is an exceptionally good trainer, and places his horses brilliantly. But in what is always going to be a numbers game, he just can’t seem to find a core squad of Group One calibre to compete at the biggest meetings. A win for Age Of Gold – in a race that Appleby won with the subsequent juvenile champion colt, Pinatubo, a few years ago – would definitely steady the nerves, and this will possibly be something of a match with Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story, the winner of his only start so far.

SELECTION: AGE OF GOLD

The Fonz is at Royal Ascot on Saturday … he will be presenting the winning connections of the Jersey Stakes with their trophy.

There has been a lot of talk about how uncompetitive Cheltenham has become and Timeform’s David Johnson has been dowing some research on how the major jumps festival compares with the premier Flat one at Royal Ascot:

Royal Procession (2pm)

The runners are in for the first event, the one that the bulk of the crowd are perhaps more captivated by than the actual races. The all-conquering Irish trainer Willie Mullins is in the carriages on Saturday as is the man behind Qatar Racing, Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani.

Queen’s Hat Stakes (2pm) preview

There was always a lively betting market on the colour of the monarch’s hat when Queen Elizabeth II was attending the meeting and Ladbrokes are betting on what colour headwear Camilla will be sporting today. Our form guide is the team at BestofBets.com who always keep a close eye on this novelty market and they state: “Away from the betting ring, bookmakers are continuing the tradition of betting on the colour of the Queen’s hat. Having worn three different shades of blue this week, punters are convinced that Queen Camilla will be dressed in pink for the final day of the royal meeting.”

Queen’s hat - Ladbrokes betting Day 5

• Pink/Peach 4/1

• Green 4/1

• Yellow 5/1

• Orange 6/1

• Red 6/1

• White/Cream 8/1

• Blue 8/1

• Purple 8/1

• Gold 12/1

• Silver 20/1

• Brown 20/1

• Black 25/1

Non-runners update

There’s an important non-runner in the final race as the strongly fancied Queenstown will not be running.

4.25
16 Take Me To Church (pricked foot)
5.05
8 Apollo One (travel)
5.40
3 Arabic Legend (going)
6.15
13 Queenstown (vets advice)

It’s almost that time again ... the royal procession will make its way down the track as ever at about 2pm and we can expect the details of who will be in the carriages at 12 noon. After they’ve been entertained at lunch by Prince Andrew (yes you read that right, Prince Andrew) at Windsor Castle they will set off for the racecourse in the carriages, the incumbents of which are never revealed each day at Royal Ascot until 12 noon.

ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin is thinking along the same lines as me and has written in his Daily Mail column today: “I’ll never forget having the opportunity, as part of our filming, to take a carriage ride from Windsor Castle, down the Long Walk to arrive at Ascot’s Golden Gates, though we didn’t go through them as the Royal Family do. During our journey, I began thinking about the Royal procession. It’s all part of the tradition of this meeting, the event that makes Ascot so symbolic, but I couldn’t help feeling it needs a modern tweak.

“When the carriages have arrived in front of the stands this week, there has been a smattering of applause. It’s different if the Princess of Wales is involved, as her presence usually leads to an excited crackle, but I’d love to see different guests invited. What an amazing thing it would be for Sir Alan Bates, who exposed the scandal in the Post Office, to be in a carriage or some of the NHS heroes who have been there for us through one of the most challenging times of our lives.”

I seriously think this will be the sort of thing that will happen once the Prince of Wales is on the throne but would be fascinating if Charles makes the move first.

Here’s your line-up for today’s sport, courtesy of a classy Ascot tweet, er X, oh you know what I mean:

Market movers

We have the last of our regular daily market movers bulletin in courtesy of the folks at Oddschecker. These are the horses supported overnight:

4.25pm – Pearls And Rubies 50/1 -> 11/1
5.40pm – Whiskey Pete 25/1 -> 9/1
6.15pm- Run For Oscar 11/2 -> 11/4

Here are the horses you can cross off your racecards today as they won’t be turning up

2.30pm Chesham Stakes
3 Chilly Breeze (self cert – lame)
6 Harvey (self cert – not eaten up)
12 Seaplane (vet’s cert – abnormal scope)

3.45pm Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
4 Kinross (self cert – going)

5.05pm Wokingham Stakes
23 Aleezdancer (going)
25 Gorak (self cert – not eaten up)

5.40pm Golden Gates Handicap
3 Arabic Legend ((going)
5 Balmacara (self cert – going)
7 Primo Lara (self cert – cast in box)

6.15pm Queen Alexandra Stakes
1 Trueshan (self cert – going)
12 Ndaawi (self cert – going)
14 Grand Providence (self cert – going)

The going for the final day, as outlined in Greg’s preamble, is, wait for it again, … still Good to Firm. Which is good as punters have not been bamboozled by swift changes of racing surface. As has been all week there still doesn’t seem to be any great advantage on either side of the straight track.

GoingStick readings at 8am:
Stands’ side: 8.6
Centre: 8.8
Far side: 8.5