Royal Ascot 2024: day two results and race reaction - how it happened

Hello all and welcome to our live blog for day two at Royal Ascot.

The Wednesday action gets under way at 2.30pm with the Queen Mary and then we gallop through a high-class afternoon of action with the Queen's Vase at 3.05pm and a third consecutive Group 2 at 3.45pm in the form of the Duke of Cambridge.

The feature race of the day is undoubtedly the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, featuring last year's Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin, six-time Group 1 winner Inspiral and a host of talented challengers looking to upset the big two.

Following that we've two competitive handicaps, the Royal Hunt Cup at 5.05pm and the Kennsington Palace Stakes at 5.45pm, and the card is rounded out by the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at 6.15pm.

Follow along as we discuss another brilliant day's action.

I know what you all want to know, so let's start with the ground. Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickels is describing the ground as good to firm ahead of the day two action after a dry 48 hours and another fine and dry day is forecast.

Due to the dry weather Ascot watered both courses Tuesday evening after racing, with 5mm applied to the straight course and 4mm put on the round.

For those of you into your GoingStick readings, and I know that's more than a few of you, that water has meant the stands' side is given as 8.2, with the centre reading 7.9 and the farside at 8.1.

That suggest the ever-so-slightest of preferences for the stands' side, with either of the rails preferred to the centre (which is where the stalls will be on the straight course). The GoingStick for the round course reads as 7.9, with the stalls aligned to the inside rail. The readings were taken at 8am.

The rail on the round course will be positioned approximately four yards out from around the nine furlong marker to the home straight. This adds 14 yards to the advertised distance of the Queen's Vase and Prince of Wales's Stakes and seven yards to the Duke of Cambridge.

There are three non-runners so far and they come in three different races.

Glorious Kitty (19) is out of the Queen Mary (2.30pm) and Grosvenor Square (2) misses the Queen's Vase (3.05pm), with the reason for both given as the going.

Silent Film (13) is also out of the Royal Hunt Cup (5.05pm), with the reason given a vets certificate for a respiratory infection.

There is also already one non-runner for Thursday's action, with Evening Saigon (5) removed from tomorrow's Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm) as he was reportedly declared in error.

We've had the declarations for day four of the royal meeting, on which the Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm on Friday) and Coronation Stakes (3.45pm on Friday) are the two Group 1s.

The headline is an exciting clash between 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka and Aidan O'Brien's Opera Singer, who missed Newmarket and made a belated reappearance at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent. With that run under her belt last year's champion two-year-old filly is expected – by the bookies at least – to come out on top here.

The full field of ten for the Coronation Stakes is:
Content
Devoted Queen
Elmalka
Folgaria
Opera Singer
Porta Fortuna
Ramatuelle
Rouhiya
See The Fire
Skellet

Read our full story on the day four declarations here.

Right, let's take a first look at the betting market, see what's what and who is on the move early.

There is a gamble developing on Wild Tiger. Smarter folk than me seem to have decided the Royal Hunt Cup (5.05) is, in fact, solvable, and it would appear the Saeed bin Suroor-trained five-year-old is the answer to what I'd class as an unfathomable riddle.

From 9-1 this morning, Oisin Murphy's mount is into a clear favouritism at 13-2. That is a pretty strong move in what you could quite easily label a 30-runner lottery of a race.

To put into perspective how difficult the Royal Hunt Cup is to solve, just once in the last ten years has the favourite (or a joint favourite) finished better than fifth. That was Astro King in the 2021 renewal and he finished second at 11-2, to the Bin Suroor-trained Real World...

It has been a relatively quiet morning but keep an eye on the Paul and Oliver Cole-trained Miss Rascal in the Queen Mary (2.30pm). She was 8-1 this morning but there's a sea of blue next to her name and while at best-prices she is being held as one of three co-favourites at 7-1, it is telling she is as short as 5-1, while Truly Enchanting is 6-1 in places and Make Haste is 13-2 in a place. She will likely go favourite soon.

There has been a small move for Aidan O'Brien's third string, The Equator, in the Queen's Vase (3.05pm). He is into 12-1 (from 14) but you couldn't call it significant at this stage. There have of course been bits and pieces of money for plenty of others, but Wild Tiger looks to be the significant move this morning.

Before we get fully stuck into the racing it is worth highlighting that the second round of matches kick off in Euro 2024.

Croatia and Albania both lost their openers and face off at 2pm, then at 5pm the hosts Germany play Hungary and there's a home nations interest in the 8pm kick off, with Scotland needing a better performance against Switzerland.

Our expert sport team have provided their punting pearls. For all the best bets, read the previews here for Croatia v Albania, Germany v Hungary and Scotland v Switzerland.

While we're on the subject of what else is going on today away from Royal Ascot, there's also plenty of racing to get stuck into.

The shoulder action this afternoon comes from Hamilton and Worcester, while Nottingham and Ripon race this afternoon.

Our Spotlights team has, very conveniently, put together their best bet of the day at each meeting. You can read that here.

Back to the action at Ascot and I'd give you some tips myself, but it all seems rather pointless when much better judges than myself have all gathered in front of a camera this morning for your viewing pleasure.

Hosted by the wonderfully talented and incredibly handsome David Jennings (he has only paid me to refer to him as one of those, I'll let you decide which one!), sit back and enjoy an hour of fun as he, top tipster Paul Kealy, pro punter and all-around 'character' Johnny Dineen and brilliant broadcaster Kate Tracey discuss all seven races today.

You can watch the full show here, and if you don't have time for that and just want to know their best bets then their respective horses to back are as follows:
Paul Kealy - Miss Rascal (7-1, 2.30pm)
Kate Tracey - Illinois (15-8, 3.05pm)
Johnny Dineen - Auguste Rodin (6-4, 4.25pm)
David Jennings - Rowayeh (14-1, 5.40pm)

The support of Paul Kealy may help explain the bit of a move for Miss Rascal as touched on earlier, he's a shrewd judge.

What a day we have in store, let's look at some of the big talking points.

Top of the list has to be Auguste Rodin and which version of this clearly talented horse we're going to get.

On the one hand there's the Champions Juvenile Stakes, Futurity, Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf winner. On the other we've the 2,000 Guineas third last, and final finisher from the King George (perhaps significantly, here at Ascot?) and Dubai Sheema Classic.

This is a horse who has only ever finished in the first two, or final three in every race he's run. Talk about boom or bust!

Jonathan Harding discusses here the challenge punters face in talking themselves into backing Auguste Rodin.

As already discussed, Auguste Rodin is hard to trust completely, and yet he's a strong 15-8 favourite here.

Part of that is because when he's good he's very, very good, and, let's be honest, the other part is because there are similar questions surrounding plenty of the others.

Second favourite Inspiral is capable of a stinker herself, not least last time out in the Lockinge when she trailed in some 13 lengths behind the horse most assumed was her pacemaker, while Alfaila and Horizon Dore are both Group 2 winners who are yet to get the job done at the highest level.

Blue Rose Cen: Prince of Wales's Stakes contender?Credit: © APRH / QUENTIN BERTRAND

If the Blue Rose Cen Christopher Head trained for the last two seasons was in here she would probably be favourite, given her incredible record with four Group 1s.

However she is no longer trained by Head, with her owner making the surprise decision to switch his star filly to the care of the lesser known Maurizio Guarnieri.

Unfortunately for Guarnieri, she disappointed in the Prix D'Ispahan, finishing fifth of eight, and Big Rock – another horse switched this winter from Head to Guarnieri – has now flopped twice, in the Lockinge and yesterday's Queen Anne.

Then we have Lord North, who even John Gosden admits is getting on and no longer the force of old, and then in Zarakem, Royal Rhyme, Hans Andersen and Snobbish we've four young horses who are yet to show the sort of form required for this level.

If that's only confused you more why not read our big-race analysis from Robbie Wilders and David Jennings' preview, with quotes from all the main connections. 

One of them has to win, and it's easy to turn back to Auguste Rodin and just hope Aidan can work his magic, but I'm going to side with Blue Rose Cen and hope Maurizio Guarnieri can rediscover the filly who looked top class herself last year.

Blue Rose Cen16:25 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Christophe Soumillon Tnr: Maurizio Guarnieri

Sky Sports Racing pundit and former champion jockey Seb Sanders has had his say on Inspiral's chances in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, and let's just say he wasn't glowing.

"What happened in the Lockinge?" Sanders said. "She was nice and relaxed, she should have at least been running on past horses and she wasn't, and that's sticking with me.

"She's drawn ten, so that makes it easy for them as they have to drop in and ride for luck. I'll be delighted if she runs well, but it's in the back of my mind how she ran in the Lockinge. I know she's done it before, but I didn't like what I saw."

By Jack Haynes at Royal Ascot

I will happily admit to being a radio station hopper in a desperate bid to avoid the adverts. That was a confession you were not expecting.

While station switching on the drive down to Ascot, the topic of Royal Ascot cropped up on Capital.

Host Jordan North revealed he is on DJ-ing duty in one of the premier enclosures on Gold Cup day on Thursday, and has been having some clothing troubles.

North said: “I like a day at the races and tend to have an annual trip to Haydock with my family, getting the coach in and having a few drinks. This, however, will be on a different level.

“I’m required to wear a top hat and tails tomorrow and, in all honesty, it’s a faff. I’ve actually got my top hat, or party hat, from a joke shop or equivalent, and I bought a cane too that is kind of a walking stick really. I’ve gone full Monopoly.”

I don’t think they will turn away the DJ, but for North’s sake, I hope the hat lasts the day!

Royal Ascot racegoers on day twoCredit: Patrick McCann

Racegoers are lapping up the occasion before racing gets under way on day two at Royal Ascot. If you've got a strong fancy on today's stellar card, let us know by emailing us liveblog@racingpost.com.

The carriage list for the royal procession, which will take place in exactly an hour, is through and while the Queen will once again be in attendance, the King will not.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, given the feature race of the day, Charles is deputised for in carriage one by his son and heir, the Prince of Wales. The Earl and Countess of Halifax round out the first carriage.

Sir Mark Prescott after Pledgeofallegiance's win in the Ascot Stakes on TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Prominent participants from the sport are also present, with Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, who founded Watership Down Stud, are in carriage two, while Sir Mark Prescott, who had his first winner at the meeting for 28 years yesterday, is a guest in carriage three.

The carriage list

1st Carriage

The Queen
The Prince of Wales
The Earl of Halifax
The Countess of Halifax

2nd Carriage

The Duke of Gloucester
The Duchess of Gloucester
The Lord Lloyd Webber
The Lady Lloyd Webber

3rd Carriage

Princess Eugenie
Mr. Jack Brooksbank
The Lady Sarah Keswick
Sir Mark Prescott Bt

4th Carriage

The Marchioness of Lansdowne
The Earl of Rosslyn
Baron von Westenholz
Baroness von Westenholz

Bookmaker Ray Mulvaney with Eoghan Fitzgerald on day two of Royal AscotCredit: Patrick McCann

On-course bookmaker Ray Mulvaney predicts a bad day, for himself at least, if favourite Auguste Rodin wins the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

My colleague Scott Burton had a pre-race Royal Ascot chat with Mulvaney, getting reaction to his day one results and looking ahead to the action on Wednesday.

He says: "I'll be trying to get Auguste Rodin in at 6-4 and we'll see how we go. Aidan [O'Brien] is the same as Willie yesterday, they tend to be at the top of their game and if he wins, I'll have a bad day. Because of the nature of the horse and that he'll be a 6-4 shot, I will have to stand him for something."

Read the full story here:

• 'If Auguste Rodin wins, I'll have a bad day' - rails bookmakers reflect on an up-and-down day one

The Queen's Vase has become something of a pointer to future staying superstars, with Stradivarius (2017), Kew Gardens (2018), Eldar Eldarov (2022) and Gregory (2023) all emerging in recent years.

So is there a potential superstar in this year's field? Well, the Aidan O'Brien pair of Illinois and Highbury are at the head of the betting at 2-1 and 100-30, but they are both a best-priced 12-1 for the St Leger later this year. So perhaps they should be a little closer in the betting here?

Third favourite and gelding Birdman is not quoted in the St Leger betting, while Meydaan, a 7-1 shot here, is 33-1 for the St Leger as is The Equator (9-1 today).

Imperial Sovereign is at 66-1 for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster, as is Pappano, while Mr Hampstead who is the 100-1 outsider here today is a best-priced 50-1 for the St Leger.

You can read our preview of the race here.

The race on Wednesday's Royal Ascot card is off in under an hour. Here's a reminder of what's to come this afternoon:

• 2.30 Royal Ascot: Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2), 5f, ITV4/Sky
• 3.05 Royal Ascot: Queen's Vase (Group 2), 1m6f, ITV4/Sky
• 3.45 Royal Ascot: Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2), 1m, ITV4/Sky
• 4.25 Royal Ascot: Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1), 1m2f, ITV/Sky
• 5.05 Royal Ascot: Royal Hunt Cup, 1m, ITV/Sky
• 5.40 Royal Ascot: Kensington Palace Stakes, 1m, ITV/Sky
• 6.15 Royal Ascot: Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed), 5f, ITV4/Sky

I spoke to Oisin Murphy yesterday for a few preview quotes and he rides Running Lion in the Duke of Cambridge (3.45pm).

He said: "This is on the round course now, which will make it more tactical. On ratings he'd have a chance and I'm looking forward to him."

But why does the switch to the round course make it more tactical? Well, first and foremost with 14 runners, the stalls in the middle and the field coming up the straight mile in previous years, no-one is overly inconvenienced. Yes, you may not be drawn optimally compared to the pace in the race, but especially if they stay in one group then there are fewer hard luck stories.

Being drawn in 14, or 11 as Murphy is on Running Lion, when the field has to go around a bend means those drawn widest cannot stay where they're drawn, so they have to go forward, or drop in, to find a slot nearer the rail. This in turn impacts the pace of the race as the more who try and go forward the more the pace is pushed.

Then you have the bend. Wider is worse so everyone wants to be as close to the rail as they can get, this makes the field more stretched from front to back and means riders 'fan out' off the bend, meaning it can be a long way around or you're left riding for luck on the inner. See yesterday's St James's Palace versus the Queen Anne.

This combination of factors means this year's renewal of the Duke of Cambridge on the round course will be a more tactical affair than previous years and it is another factor for punters to consider.

Our on-course team at Ascot have caught up with 18-year-old jockey Billy Loughnane, who partnered his first winner at the royal meeting yesterday. Loughnane held on aboard 80-1 outsider Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes and he has four more rides today, albeit at big prices. Not that odds are a barrier to his success!

We've two more out of action today.

Imperial Fighter (26) has been self certificated out of the Royal Hunt Cup (5.05pm) due to not being sound. Jm Jhingree (14) misses the Windsor Castle Stakes (6.15pm), he had a vets certificate stating he is lame.