Reflecting on the racing at Royal Ascot today, it was encouraging to see a couple of outsiders perform so well, most notably in the opening race at 2.30, when Ten Bob Tony landed the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr.1) over the straight mile. His trainer appeared pleasantly surprised when interviewed afterwards, which was understandable given the horse returned at 50/1 and was not among the leading fancies.

The St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr.1) at 4.20 went to the favourite, Bow Echo, under Billy Loughnane. The jockey admitted in his post-race interview that he felt he had not given the colt the perfect ride, but Bow Echo still showed plenty of determination to hold on by a nose from the second favourite, Gstaad, trained by the Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien.

Kizlyar won the 5.00 at odds of 25/1 when getting the better of his stable mate Defiantly, who was also a 25/1 shot for Joseph O’Brien.

More tomorrow.