By Keith Melrose, betting editor
One of the most distinctive angles on Ascot's straight course is in evidence again. In the Queen Anne and King Charles III, it has paid to be played late. Ten Bob Tony and Mission Central were both still near the back two furlongs out.
The Ascot straight course is one of the few in the country that regularly offers equal chances to hold-up horses. Look out for that in future races on the straight course, which admittedly means waiting for tomorrow now.
The winners keep coming for O'Brien. Could his latest have Ka Ying Rising in his crosshairs?
He said: "Ryan gave him an unbelievable ride, he's very fast. He could head for the Everest at the end of the year."
Now that would be worth setting the alarm for, wouldn't it?
Aidan O'Brien: 98 Royal Ascot winners and countingCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Like O'Brien, Moore is now closing in on a century of royal meeting winners.
"He's progressive horse, they went hard and he got into a nice rhythm," he says.
Rayevka finished second at 7-1. Aussie raider and favourite Overpass came third at 10-3.
Ryan Moore: off the mark Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Wow! The King Charles was the only Royal Ascot race missing from the glittering CVs of Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore - but no longer.
French raider Rayevka looked to have it won as she swooped through a packed field but Mission Central thundered home under Moore to bag her on the line.
A 14-1 winner and a full house at the royal meeting for the game's deadliest duo.
"He started rolling forward for me, and he was probably drifting a little left looking for company because I was out there on my own, but I always knew he was running forward, and I had every chance. You never know till you pass the line in front, but I hit the line well.
"Because of where I was, I thought David Egan was the only pace I had to follow, so I wanted to follow him and keep it simple. From halfway, I started coming forward, and he kept picking up all the way to the line. He feels like he hit the line well enough to step up in trip."
Winning connections of Great Barrier ReefCredit: Edward Whitaker
There can't be many horses who are sent to stud and then sent back to the track but Starlust, who lines up here in the King Charles III stakes, is one of them.
The Breeders' Cup winner is back in training with Ralph Beckett after a short stint as a stallion in Australia. You can read the full story here.
Starlust: Breeders' Cup winner back in trainingCredit: Edward Whitaker
It's time for the speedballs next in the King Charles III Stakes. Will we have another Australian winner of it?
As an extra treat, we've got a brilliant pinstickers' guide for every runner, with ratings and connections' quotes .
By Keith Melrose, betting editor
If the Coventry Stakes is anything to go by, high numbers are likely to be favoured in the short term on the straight course.
You can see that having an effect on the King Charles III market. Rayevka (stall 15) has deposed Night Raider (six) as second-favourite. Favourite Overpass (19) is sitting pretty.
Aidan O'Brien is now just three away from a stunning century of Royal Ascot winners.
Reflecting on his latest, he said: "The history of this race is unbelievable. I actually ride this horse out and Wayne rides him work.
"I'd say he will get seven and could get a mile. He's not your typical sprinter - he could get a mile as a three-year-old."
As number twos go there can't be many better out there than Wayne Lordan, who enjoyed his first winner at the royal meeting since 2023. He did well to move across from stall three with those on the near side having the better of things.
Adaay of Scarlett ran a mighty race to finish second at 40-1.
After his first race heroics Kieran Shoemark is up on The Ginger Kid in the Coventry, who can be backed at around 22-1. Be a nice double, wouldn't it?
Remember the recently retired Rashabar won this at 80-1 two years ago so there is a precedent for big-priced winners.
The Coventry Stakes also marks the start of Pricewise Tom Segal's first tips of the day.
I won't give away who he's gone for at Ascot, but there's a blockbuster five to go at for the rest of the card!
Find out who they are here.
Notable Speech (all blue): not a fan of Ascot, it seemsCredit: Patrick McCann
A penny for Charlie Appleby's thoughts. Opera Ballo ran a stormer from the front, but Notable Speech once again failed to fire at Ascot.
Nevertheless, big days remain ahead for both of them.
Appleby said: "There's a headwind out there. It's tough to do what we tried to do. Opera Ballo got into a nice rhythm and was doing everything right but it was always going to be tough with that headwind. He stuck at it and we know what this horse wants, the Sussex, which we've always thought is tailormade for him.
"Notable Speech I'm afraid you've got to say it's Ascot. He just doesn't turn up as the same horse. You could keep the eye on the Sussex with him or he could go back on his travels to France, before heading over to Canada and back for a Breeders' Cup."
One of the most distinctive angles on Ascot's straight course is in evidence again. In the Queen Anne and King Charles III, it has paid to be played late. Ten Bob Tony and Mission Central were both still near the back two furlongs out.
The Ascot straight course is one of the few in the country that regularly offers equal chances to hold-up horses. Look out for that in future races on the straight course, which admittedly means waiting for tomorrow now.
The winners keep coming for O'Brien. Could his latest have Ka Ying Rising in his crosshairs?
He said: "Ryan gave him an unbelievable ride, he's very fast. He could head for the Everest at the end of the year."
Now that would be worth setting the alarm for, wouldn't it?
Aidan O'Brien: 98 Royal Ascot winners and countingCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Like O'Brien, Moore is now closing in on a century of royal meeting winners.
"He's progressive horse, they went hard and he got into a nice rhythm," he says.
Rayevka finished second at 7-1. Aussie raider and favourite Overpass came third at 10-3.
Ryan Moore: off the mark Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Wow! The King Charles was the only Royal Ascot race missing from the glittering CVs of Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore - but no longer.
French raider Rayevka looked to have it won as she swooped through a packed field but Mission Central thundered home under Moore to bag her on the line.
A 14-1 winner and a full house at the royal meeting for the game's deadliest duo.
"He started rolling forward for me, and he was probably drifting a little left looking for company because I was out there on my own, but I always knew he was running forward, and I had every chance. You never know till you pass the line in front, but I hit the line well.
"Because of where I was, I thought David Egan was the only pace I had to follow, so I wanted to follow him and keep it simple. From halfway, I started coming forward, and he kept picking up all the way to the line. He feels like he hit the line well enough to step up in trip."
Winning connections of Great Barrier ReefCredit: Edward Whitaker
There can't be many horses who are sent to stud and then sent back to the track but Starlust, who lines up here in the King Charles III stakes, is one of them.
The Breeders' Cup winner is back in training with Ralph Beckett after a short stint as a stallion in Australia. You can read the full story here.
Starlust: Breeders' Cup winner back in trainingCredit: Edward Whitaker
It's time for the speedballs next in the King Charles III Stakes. Will we have another Australian winner of it?
As an extra treat, we've got a brilliant pinstickers' guide for every runner, with ratings and connections' quotes .
By Keith Melrose, betting editor
If the Coventry Stakes is anything to go by, high numbers are likely to be favoured in the short term on the straight course.
You can see that having an effect on the King Charles III market. Rayevka (stall 15) has deposed Night Raider (six) as second-favourite. Favourite Overpass (19) is sitting pretty.
Aidan O'Brien is now just three away from a stunning century of Royal Ascot winners.
Reflecting on his latest, he said: "The history of this race is unbelievable. I actually ride this horse out and Wayne rides him work.
"I'd say he will get seven and could get a mile. He's not your typical sprinter - he could get a mile as a three-year-old."
As number twos go there can't be many better out there than Wayne Lordan, who enjoyed his first winner at the royal meeting since 2023. He did well to move across from stall three with those on the near side having the better of things.
Adaay of Scarlett ran a mighty race to finish second at 40-1.
After his first race heroics Kieran Shoemark is up on The Ginger Kid in the Coventry, who can be backed at around 22-1. Be a nice double, wouldn't it?
Remember the recently retired Rashabar won this at 80-1 two years ago so there is a precedent for big-priced winners.
The Coventry Stakes also marks the start of Pricewise Tom Segal's first tips of the day.
I won't give away who he's gone for at Ascot, but there's a blockbuster five to go at for the rest of the card!
Find out who they are here.
Notable Speech (all blue): not a fan of Ascot, it seemsCredit: Patrick McCann
A penny for Charlie Appleby's thoughts. Opera Ballo ran a stormer from the front, but Notable Speech once again failed to fire at Ascot.
Nevertheless, big days remain ahead for both of them.
Appleby said: "There's a headwind out there. It's tough to do what we tried to do. Opera Ballo got into a nice rhythm and was doing everything right but it was always going to be tough with that headwind. He stuck at it and we know what this horse wants, the Sussex, which we've always thought is tailormade for him.
"Notable Speech I'm afraid you've got to say it's Ascot. He just doesn't turn up as the same horse. You could keep the eye on the Sussex with him or he could go back on his travels to France, before heading over to Canada and back for a Breeders' Cup."
