Royal Ascot 2019: Aidan O'Brien begins with two wins as favourites have day to forget
Re-live the action from the first day at Royal Ascot
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Your support makes all the difference.Hitting the ground running has not quite been the style of Aidan O'Brien at Royal Ascot in recent seasons - but an opening-day double at this year's meeting swiftly changed such an approach.
Having failed to saddle a winner on the first day of the meeting for the past two seasons, there might have been a few willing to discount runners saddled by the master Ballydoyle trainer on Tuesday, given his recent trend of starting the event slowly and finishing with a flourish.
However, those willing to ignore the statistics and follow the man that has dominated proceedings on the biggest stages in Britain were well rewarded, to set what the nine-times leading trainer at Ascot will be hoping is a theme that will continue throughout the rest of the meeting.
After watching Arizona and Ryan Moore leap to the head of the market for next year's 2000 Guineas with victory in the Coventry Stakes, O'Brien pulled off what looked a real masterstroke when dropping Derby also-ran Circus Maximus back to a mile to capture the St James's Palace Stakes.
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Circus Maximus
The horse was trained for the Epsom Derby but it dropped in distance for this, making it a stunning training performance from Aidan O'Brien.
"That's why he had the blinkers on. I'm delighted," said the pleased trainer, who only entered the horse into this race at a fair late stage.
5:00 Ascot Stakes
The final race of the day is where the big National Hunt trainers weigh in at Ascot with Willie Mullins, Jonjo O’Neill, Nicky Henderson and Martin Pipe all enjoying success.
Mullins has won four of the last seven and is looking for a third straight win, so Buildmeupbuttercup is worth keeping an eye on, although you feel that it would have much higher odds if it was trained by anyone else.
A high-odds each-way bet may be the way to go in this one.
Buildmeupbuttercup – 7/1
Coeur de Lion – 7/1
Mangli Khan – 15/2
Batts Rock – 12/1
Snow Falcon – 14/1
Mancini – 14/1
Gunnery – 14/1
Fun Mac – 14/1
Kerosin – 16/1
Time to Study – 16/1
The Grand Visir – 18/1
Ulster – 25/1
Arctic Fire – 28/1
Not Never – 33/1
Mixboy – 33/1
Yabass – 50/1
Jukebox Jive – 66/1
Cosmelli – 66/1
Percy Street – 150/1
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Ascot history
There may be a first female rider to win a race at Royal Ascot since 1987 in the next race.
Hollie Doyle is on-board 40/1 Archie Watson-trained Yabass in the Ascot Stakes.
"Trip dependent he should run a good race," said Doyle, who does not pay a large amount of attention to the record she may break. "If it wasn't highlighted I wouldn't think about it. It would mean no more to me than anyone else riding here.
She did, however, say that she has seen a large increase in the number of female riders. "The amount of lady riders is getting bigger, there's a full weighing room now. When I first started riding it would be lonely, I'd be the only one in the weighing room."
They're off!
A bit of a delay as Mengli Khan takes his time to get into position.
The Grand Visir wins!
Ian Williams strikes for the first time at Ascot.
The Grand Visir tracked well from an early stage and then took off with two furlongs to go.
Ascot Stakes result
1. The Grand Visir 12/1
2. Buildmeupbuttercup 7/1
3. Time To Study 16/1
4. Fun Mac 11/1
The Grand Visir
Jockey, Richard Kingscote: "It was good, he gave me a great feel even from the four or five pole. I turned in quite confident. He gave me a beautiful ride. He sailed beautifully and had a lovely rhythm, I never had to bother him once.
Trainer, Ian Williams: Novice Hurdle or Ascot, we went to Ascot. We're all chuffed to bits. It's a huge success.
The final race of day one
We're almost there, folks. Just one more race to go, and we can tell you it is absolutely chucking it down with rain at the moment.
Right, on with the final race.
5:35 Wolferton Stakes
Star of Bengal may have slightly more favourable odds had it not been handed such a tricky draw (8) to negotiate its way through. Expect Addeybb and Elarqam will also do well.
Elarqam – 5/1
Magic Wand – 11/2
Addeyb – 7/1
Riven Light – 8/1
Latrobe – 8/1
Mountain Angel – 12/1
Star of Bengal – 12/1
First Nation – 12/1
Willie John – 12/1
Oasis Charm – 25/1
Dolphin Charm – 25/1
Mountain Hunter – 66/1
Global Giant – 66/1
Zihba – 100/1
Zorion – 100/1
Master the World – 200/1
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