WARRANT HOLDER, VENETIAN STAR, TOULEEN, CAUSEWAY, VEFA IBRAHIM ARACI & JUAN HERNANDEZ.

Opportunity was a good winner, I admit, and it was a fantastic ride by James Macdonald. I know it was a fantastic ride as Maureen Haggas said so. Thankfully, her husband agreed. I would think he normally does. I know I find it easier to agree with a better half as it makes for a more peaceful life. Maureen, though, is also lovely, only a small bit scary and always good value to listen to. All that said, I think William Buick hit the front a furlong too soon and I dare say if he could have another go at it he would it quieter, count to seventeen and then apply the accelerator. To my weary eyes, Warrant Holder looks an Ebor horse.

Venetian Star, and yes she is better on ground with ease in it, did not impress me as she impressed the more eduated people at Ascot yesterday. For her to be absolutely top-class, then Spicy Marg must be too and no one is suggesting she is a Grade 1 winner in waiting. And I am as fed-up as Clifford Lee must be of having his motro-bike accident wheeled-out on every occasion he is the topic of conversation as if it is the only interesting aspect of his life.

I never thought I would be on Jason Weaver's side of a debate over the always on the button Ruby Walsh but I thought Touleen was very unlucky in the Coronation Stakes. While Precise had the run of the race, Saffie Osborne was as tied-up in knots as someone taken hostage by the Jesse James gang. She blamed Wayne Lordan, the stewards blamed Luke Morris who got 3-days for getting in her way. It seemed to me that everyone bar Ryan Moore got in her way and from a comment I heard by Jason Weaver, Saffie may have allowed her frustrations full-rein when she returned to the weighing room.

No one can say with any certainty that Touleen would have won with a clear run as no one but Ryan knows how much more Precise had to give. What can be said with certainty, though, is that the Hong Kong type traffic jam Saffie got herself into cost her more ground than Touleen's finishing distance behind the winner. To put the tin lid on Saffie's day she was second again in the following race even though she finished well clear of the third horse, with Green Carrera, the only horse on the rails, well clear of her. I must admit I had not seen Mick Barzalona and for a few short moments I was celebrating a deserved first win at Royal Ascot for Miss Osborne. It will come, though perhaps not this time around. And by the time Touleen next runs Jim Crowley might be back in the saddle.

The Gold Cup was a magnificent horse race, as was the race once-known as Ascot Derby. The one thing Charlie Johnston and Aidan O'Brien have in common is that they are known for horses that try, try and try again, and having a representative from each stable fighting it out in the final two-furlongs was always going to be as intriguing as it would be exciting. Causeway won for O'Brien, but Ancient Egypt lost nothing in defeat and he looks a good prospect for the Doncaster St.Leger.

Credit should always be given where credit is due. Turkish owner Vefa Ibrahim Araci, after his Libertango had won the Albany, while waiting for the trophy presentation, slipped into Megan Smith's hand, groom of the winner as she waited for her silver picture frame, a winning betting slip. I doubt if it was for a fiver each-way. As the grateful owner said. 'They look after my horses so well, so I try to do everything I can for them.' A wonderful example of how the owner/groom relationship should be. Incidentally, Miss Smith has her fourth ride of her career at Newmarket today.

Apparently, Juan Hernandez has ridden over 3,000-winners in the U.S. Yesterday a dream came true for him when he won the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes on Bacio for Wesley Ward. Again, I was seeing the value of Royal Ascot through a foreigner's eyes, further chastening me for all my negative feelings towards the royal meeting. I am ashamed to say I had not heard of Juan Hernandez before yesterday and there he is staying on in Britain to holiday with his wife. I hope they have an enjoyable 'vacation'.