Royal Ascot Jockey/Trainers Championship Update

Those out there thinking the jockeys championship is done and dusted after Frankie Dettori's incredible four-timer on Thursday afternoon, should have a second look at the standings.

Of course, the Italian will be a very short price to now be crowned champion jockey of the meeting with his winning rides already published in the book, but old advisory Ryan Moore has a handful of leading chances on Friday to close the gap.

With Dettori on six for the week, his closest pursuer is the first choice rider for Ballydoyle, who currently has half the amount with three.

An opening day double, matched with victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes with Southern Hills has kept Moore prominent, and with three favourites to look forward to on Friday, he definitely cannot be discounted just yet.

Ten Sovereigns, Japan and dual Guineas winner Hermosa are the three standouts for Moore for main boss Aidan O'Brien, but he will not be quick to forget the chance he has with Baghdad for Mark Johnston in the concluding Duke Of Edinburgh contest.

Of course, a couple more winners for Dettori on Day Four will leave Moore as well as Daniel Tudhope - also on three winners for the week, with an impossible task.

Tudhope carried the infamous white armband on Wednesday after hacking up on the likes of Lord Glitters and Addeybb on the opening day, but already had a book of rides at Ripon on Thursday to fulfil.

He will return to Ascot for Friday and Saturday to commence his pursuit on Dettori, but the bird may have already flown.

Jockeys James Doyle, Richard Kingscote, Oisin Murphy, Jim Crowley, Harry Bentley and Seamie Heffernan will all be hoping to add to their sole winners this week.

The Trainers Championship is much more open than the jockeys race, but Aidan O'Brien can cement his position at the top of the table with a Frankie Dettori-esque Friday.

With Ryan Moore riding the best of his chances, O'Brien currently leads the way in the trainers category on four victories, with John Gosden, William Haggas and Sir Michael Stoute next best all with two.

It would have been a shock to many if either O'Brien or Gosden were not crowned champion trainer by the end of the week, and with Hermosa, Ten Sovereigns and Japan all currently claiming the role as the favourite in their selected races on Friday, the Irish master should extend his lead by some means today.

On Saturday, he kicks off the day with the exciting Lope Y Fernandez in the Chesham, before looking forward to the likes of So Perfect in the Jersey Stakes and Southern France in the Hardwicke.

Meanwhile, Gosden's best chance on Friday lies with Private Secretary in the King Edward VII Stakes, with man of the moment Frankie Dettori in the saddle.

The Newmarket-based trainer will be hoping Lah Ti Dar can bounce back to her best in the Hardwicke, whilst fellow filly Angel's Hideaway will look to build on her fourth in the English Guineas in the Jersey Stakes.

Charlie Appleby still has plenty of cards to play particularly on Saturday, when he could send Blue Point back out to achieve further Group One glory at this meeting after success in the Kings Stand earlier this week.

Mark Johnston with forty-four Royal Ascot winners to his name, will be excited with the chances of Baghdad later today, hoping to follow up his victory twelve months ago.

David O'Meara landed the opening contest with Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne, and he along with Ian Williams, Andrew Balding, Charlie Hills, Simon Crisford and Ralph Beckett will be hoping to add further Royal Ascot winners to the one winner each they have achieved this week so far.