Monday, December 23, 2024

Royal Ascot 2024 results: Porta Fortuna, Inisherin, Soprano, Fairy Godmother win – BBC Sport

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Image caption, Tom Marquand claimed his first victory of the week on Porta Fortuna

Porta Fortuna came with a well-timed run under Tom Marquand to beat Opera Singer and win the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The 7-2 victor won the Albany Stakes at Ascot a year ago and was second in the 1,000 Guineas last month.

Winning trainer Donnacha O’Brien got one over his record-breaking father Aidan, who saddled the runner-up, while favourite Ramatuelle was third with Guineas winner Elmalka in fourth.

Inisherin, ridden by Tom Eaves for trainer Kevin Ryan, was a convincing winner of the Commonwealth Cup.

Marquand’s wife and fellow jockey Hollie Doyle was one of the first to congratulate him after winning on Porta Fortuna.

“It came up on my Facebook memories – Hollie and I were here 11 years ago before I’d even ridden in a race, with my family,” said Marquand, 26.

“We both looked a bit fresher and baby-faced, but this was the dream. It doesn’t get much better.”

Inisherin and Fairy Godmother among Royal Ascot winners

Image caption, Inisherin won the Commonwealth Cup by two and a quarter lengths from Lake Forest

Inisherin justified favouritism at odds of 9-4 to give Eaves a second career Royal Ascot winner, 18 years after landing the Wokingham Handicap with Big Timer.

It was the third year running a Yorkshire-based trainer had won the Group One six-furlong sprint and Ryan plans to aim Inisherin at the July Cup at Newmarket.

Rumours circulating before racing that pop star Taylor Swift might be in attendance before her Wembley gig proved unfounded.

In the opening Albany Stakes, the 15-8 favourite Fairy Godmother managed to shake off her rivals with a stunning burst of speed despite an unpromising position in running.

“I gave her an impossible task and she got me out of a hole,” said jockey Ryan Moore after he and trainer Aidan O’Brien clocked up a fifth victory of the week as his filly passed Simmering in the closing stages.

It was a family affair in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes when Colin Keane rode 11-1 chance Crystal Black to victory for his trainer father Gerard.

“I can’t put into words what it means and I’m sure he can’t but it’s a very special day,” said Keane.

There were jubilant scenes in the winners’ enclosure, with cheers and songs from the Wear A Pink Ribbon syndicate of owners – named in memory of their friend Breda Miley who died from cancer.

Loughnane, 18, scores on Soprano

Image caption, Billy Loughnane had his first winner for George Boughey in June 2023

Teenage jockey Billy Loughnane secured his second victory of the meeting, aboard George Boughey’s 14-1 shot Soprano in the Sandringham Stakes.

The 18-year-old rider, nicknamed ‘Billy the Kid’, said the week “just keeps getting better and better” following Tuesday’s victory on 80-1 outsider Rashabar.

Joe Fanning, 35 years the senior of Loughnane, rode Pilgrim (18-1) to victory in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes for father and daughter David and Nicola Barron.

A first French-trained victory at the fixture since Watch Me five years ago came via Calandagan (11-2) in the King Edward VII Stakes.

The gelding, ridden by Stephane Pasquier for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard in the green and red colours of the Aga Khan, routed his rivals by six lengths.

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