It's called the longest day for a reason

The 21st June is officially the longest day of the year and it certainly felt like it for Royal Ascot Update subscribers following another blank day for the selections on Friday. Deakin and Ethical Diamond travelled well into the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes and looked set to play leading roles passing the two furlongs marker. However, the pair weakened in the closing stages finishing seventh and fourth respectively. It is possible that they sat too close to the early pace - the race was ultimately dominated by the hold up horses - although I am beginning to have doubts about Deakin's resolution. Joseph O'Brien's four year old has twice travelled strongly this season but not found as much as expected off the bridle. Perhaps he needs slower ground.

Indelible ran well in fourth in the Sandringham Handicap winning her group on the far side but no match for the first three home who were drawn 18, 33 and 28. Ralph Beckett's filly was making her handicap debut off a mark of 91 and remains a promising three year old. Entered in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next month, that seems unlikely but the Shamardal filly has Pattern race potential. 

There were some top-class performances earlier in the day, including by Fairy Godmother in the Group 3 Albany Stakes. A 425,000gns purchase, the Night of Thunder filly led close home in Group 3 company at Naas last time and produced an even better effort here. Ryan Moore's filly was drawn low and had plenty to do approaching the final quarter of a mile. Pulled to the near side, the Ballydoyle runner showed a blistering turn of foot to lead close home by three parts of a length. She looks a top-class juvenile who will take some stopping in races such as the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and Fillies' Mile at HQ in the Autumn.

Kevin Ryan has enjoyed an excellent week with two winners, including Inisherin's victory in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. The son of Shamardal is out of a Group 1 winner over ten furlongs but has found his niche over sprints trip. A non stayer over a mile when finishing sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, he successfully dropped back to six furlongs in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock last time. A two and a quarter lengths winner here, he is from the family of other Royal Ascot winners Cape Byron, Ostilio and Triple Time. The Hambleton based handler now has 11 Royal Ascot winners to his name, while it was Tom Eaves second winner at the fixture - Big Timer won the Wokingham Handicap in 2008.

While the results at Royal Ascot have been very disappointing for the Update, the featured horses in Ahead On The Flat have had a decent week and that trend continued at Newmarket on Friday evening. Burrito (7/1) is one of the Unraced Three Year Olds to follow and the John and Thady Gosden trained colt made a successful start to his career when winning the ten furlongs novice stakes on the July course. A well bred son of Lope De Vega, he is out of Group 1 winning mare Thistle Bird and therefore a half-brother to Group 3 and Listed winner Epictetus and Jumbly. His homework beforehand and reportedly been encouraging and, having led over a furlong out, he stayed on well to beat previous winner Rhetorical by half a length. From a family who improve with age, he looks a useful prospect and one to follow this summer and beyond.