Update winners Magical Lagoon & Kyprios

Aidan O'Brien won the Ascot Gold Cup for an eighth time with Kyprios edging out last year's Epsom Derby and St Leger runner-up Mojo Star with three times winner Stradivarius back in third. Ryan Moore excelled on the four year old overcoming a steady early gallop and proving strong in the finish. A Listed and Group 3 winner earlier in the season, the Galileo colt was stepping up markedly in trip but comes from a tremendous family being related to Group 1 winners Free Eagle and Search For A Son and Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight. Given the fact it was only his seventh career start, he should have plenty more to offer and it will be a surprise if he isn't back in twelve months time. 

The runner-up ran a cracker on his first start for 256 days and looks a genuine Cup horse for the remainder of the season. For the second year in succession, things didn't go to plan for Frankie Dettori aboard Stradivarius who was competing in the week's showpiece for a fifth consecutive season. The triple winner was locked up on the rail for the majority of the contest until his rider elected to switch him to the outside. Staying on at the death, he was denied by a length and a quarter. One can't help thinking with a clear run, the eight year old would have gone even closer and possibly emulated four times winner Yeats.

Magical Lagoon (advised @ 4/1) and Kyprios (13/8) were another couple of winners for the Royal Ascot Update but it still proved a frustrating afternoon. Deauville Legend (advised @ 14/1) was denied by a head in the King George V Handicap Stakes behind Secret State. Daniel Muscutt was forced to pull his mount off the rail before starting his challenge, while William Buick enjoyed a much smoother passage along the rail. That proved the difference with James Ferguson's colt staying on strongly but finding the winning post coming too soon. I was very disappointed with the performance of Newfoundland who could only finish ninth. Ryan Moore never looked comfortable and his mount failed to quicken on the fast ground.

The performance of Star of Orion in the Buckingham Palace Stakes which rounded off the card on Thursday was also exasperating. Ralph Beckett's gelding was slowly away but got himself back into contention by halfway. Travelling strongly, Rob Hornby's mount was checked a couple of times and it was game over. He never got a chance of show what he is capable of. The seven furlongs event was won by Inver Park who has been a tremendous buy for George Boughey. Purchased for £35,000 in December, the former Micky Quinn trained gelding joined his current yard rated 78. Beaten a couple of times at Windsor and Beverley during the spring, the son of Pivotal has won three times since and formed an excellent alliance with Ben Curtis (2 from 2).