Royal Ascot 2019 results: Latest horse racing updates as Frankie Dettori wins Gold Cup on Stradivarius
Follow the latest from day three at Royal Ascot
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Your support makes all the difference.Day three at Royal Ascot hosts the feature race of the week, the Gold Cup, the event's oldest surviving race.
History was made in 2013 when Estimate won the Gold Cup, making The Queen the first reigning monarch to own a winner in the race’s 212-year history.
Stradivarius is favourite to retain his title for jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer John Gosden, although it faces a much stronger field than the one it enjoyed 12 months ago. Follow live updates in the blog below:
Where to watch?
ITV will be showing live coverage of every race on ITV1 from 1:30 pm BST.
Where to watch online?
The Independent will keep you up to date with the dedicated live blog featuring live results and reaction throughout the day. The races will also be live on the ITV Hub.
Frankie Dettori reaction
"I wasn't sure. It's mad isn't it. I hope I can win the next one, that's the most important one."
Stradivarius has gone from as high as 11/8 to 4/6 as Frankie Dettori makes it three wins in a row.
Connections reactions
Star Catcher winning trainer John Gosden on Frankie Dettori: "These have all been planned. We expect him to win the Gold Cup, it's a funny old game and it may not happen. He's a 38-year-old kid."
Gold Cup time
Right...time for the big one
There is not much to say against Stradivarius, he’s a good stayer and does enough to keep itself competitive, it’s just a less enticing bet this year given the better field. Last year was not the strongest Gold Cup and this year appears to be quite a bit stronger. An each-way alternative might be the way to go here as it would not be a real surprise if Stradivarius was beaten.
Capri offers good each-way value and could improve after disappointing last time out at Leopardstown having stumbled its way through a return run. There’s definitely more to come and O’Brein knows this is a Gold Cup horse in the making.
Cross Counter impressed by winning the Dubai Gold Cup in March and won the Melbourne Gold Cup in November, there’s definitely the quality here to win the spoils at Ascot.
Gold Cup
What the trainers say
John Gosden, trainer of Stradivarius: "He's been in very good form at home since York but the recent rain is a concern as he's a top-of-the-ground horse. He won on the soft there last October but that was a messy race when they put Frankie in a box that he somehow got out of. That race was run in a time 15 seconds slower than average over two miles so hopefully the ground will dry up a bit.
Mark Johnson, trainer of Dee Ex Bee: We've run in the two trials and he's won them both. What more could he do? I can't be anything other than happy with his preparation.People keep saying about the rain but we assume it inconveniences others more than him.
Charlie Applyby, trainer of Cross Counter: The step up to two and a half miles is going to be the question mark with Cross Counter but we feel that he has shown us all the right signs this trip is going to suit.
Pia Brandt, trainer of Called To The Bar: He's in really good form and all the signs are good ahead of his run. He's in at least as good shape as he was before Longchamp, if not better.
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Capri, Cypress Creek and Flag Of Honour: Flag Of Honour has been in very good form this season but obviously over shorter trips. He got the St Leger trip very well when winning at the Curragh in the autumn but we won't know if he stays the Gold Cup trip until he tries it. We think he will but you can't be sure until you try it and go beyond two miles. He's in good form and we're very happy with him. We always thought this trip would suit Capri and he has come forward nicely since his run at Leopardstown. We're happy with him now. Cypress Creek's best run last season was over two miles so hopefully he'll get the trip.
Ian Williams, trainer of Magic Circle: Stradivarius and the gang will make it tough but Magic Circle is a hell of a horse. He'll be staying on at the end and I'm sure he'll run a huge race.
Willie Mullins, trainer of Thomas Hobson: I'd imagine if he finished in the first five or six that would be a tremendous run. I know he ran very well against Stradivarius at the end of last season and got very close to him, but that was at the end of a long, hard season for Stradivarius and I would give him the benefit of the doubt.
Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Master Of Reality: He won the Vintage Crop at Navan earlier on in the season and that's often a good trial for this. This trip should suit and he seems in good shape at home. I'm very happy with him.
Tim Palin, racing manager for Middleham Park Racing, owners of Raymond Tusk: We've freshened him up since the John Porter and he's in great shape. He was giving 5lb to Dee Ex Bee in the Sagaro so in weights and measures he shouldn't be too far away from him.
Frankie win will cost bookies £180m
British bookmakers are set for a monster £180m payout if Frankie Dettori can complete the perfect day at Royal Ascot.
The jockey is on two favourites and a second favourite for the last three races, with Stradivarius (6/5) up in the Gold Cup.
Then, the man-of-the-moment's mount is Turgenev (13/2), which has been cut from 12/1 in the last hour. If second-favourite Questionnaire wins the last, trading floors will be in meltdown, paying out close to £200m.
Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson said: "His popularity means recreational punters will have chanced their arms on the man on fire and bookies are taking evasive action on his last three rides of the day."
Gold Cup horse generator
Not sure exactly who to back in the Gold Cup this afternoon?
Have a go on our Gold Cup generator that will give you a tip for the feature race based on your personality.
4:20 Gold Cup
Live Odds
Stradivarius – 11/10
Cross Counter – 4/1
Dee Ex Bee – 9/2
Flag of Honour – 14/1
Called to the Bar – 16/1
Capri – 22/1
Thomas Hobson – 22/1
Magic Circle – 28/1
Raymond Tusk – 40/1
Master of Reality – 80/1
Cyprus Creek – 80/1
Win 28% more betting on Royal Ascot by placing bets on Oddschecker
Willie Mullins health update
Willie Mullins is not at Ascot this week after undergoing a minor operation.
Rich Ricci confirmed: "He's had a small procedure the's fine. There was no serious cause of it. We're getting older and from time to time he needs little maintenance. He'll be fine."
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