Hayley Turner mount Docklands justifies Britannia gamble into 6-1 favourite (from 14)

Harry Eustace and Hayley Turner combined for a Royal Ascot winner for the second year in a row when Docklands landed a significant gamble.

The progressive three-year-old was put up 14lb for a six-and-half-length win over course and distance on his handicap debut last month and was backed into 6-1 favourite having been 14-1 on Wednesday.

The bookmakers would have been hoping the Roger Varian-trained New Endeavour, who led on the far side inside the final furlong, would be able to hold on with profits from all the largest firms to be donated to six charities. However, the 22-1 shot lost out by half a length to Docklands, who powered home on the stands’ side under Turner.

"I honestly didn't know until they shouted the photo if I'd won or not because it's so far away, so I'm delighted," Turner told ITV Racing. "There's been a lot of history made today so to look back on today will be amazing. I think Harry was half thinking of claiming off him he went up that much in the weights!"

Docklands only got off the mark at the third attempt in a Kempton maiden on the all-weather in April and Eustace, who saddled Latin Lover to win the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at last year's meeting, said: "Credit to jockey and horse. I thought it was a very cool ride. He's always been pretty good and I do think he'll stay further so once he travelled that well in I thought we'd gallop really well to the line.

"It's always nice when a plan comes together but it takes a lot of work from everyone at home, who have put in a huge amount of hours and we're just here to enjoy it thankfully."

Asked if the son of Massaat could be a Group horse after successfully shouldering the rise to win off a mark of 94, Eustace added: "I've no idea – we'll go and decide that at the party afterwards."

Someone who wasn't quite as coy on the prospects of Docklands was Eustace's father James, who saddled Refuse To Lose to land the Royal Hunt Cup in 1998 during more than 30 years training out of Park Lodge Stables in Newmarket before handing over the licence in 2021.

"He could easily be a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper," James Eustace said. "Harry's always thought a lot of him and he's done it on completely different ground to last time which, for me, says it all. I think he's pretty good."

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