Poet's Word makes Stoute the trainer most well-versed in Royal Ascot success

How are the mighty fallen? That is the most famous line from the Old Testament's Book of Samuel and the answer is with a ground-shuddering thud in the case of 2-5 shot Cracksman, who was beaten all ends up by Poet's Word in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, although he looked the architect of his own eclipse.

This was a landmark triumph for Sir Michael Stoute, as a 76th winner at the royal meeting took him past Henry Cecil's silk-topper tally.

An old popular song began "Seventy-six trombones led the big parade" and Stoute, who can sound a touch trombone-ish when guffawing loudly and thumping you bone-jarringly on the back, has had a cavalcade of winners here rather than a mere parade.