Ascot losers: 4 horses that fell short at the summer highlight

Royal Ascot is done and dusted for another year, with new champions crowned and more than a couple of bubbles burst at the Berkshire venue.

We pick out four that sadly fell short at the summer highlight in our Ascot losers.

Stradivarius

John Gosden openly questioned Frankie Dettori’s tactics after Stradivarius just missed out in his bid for a record-equalling fourth Gold Cup.

Dettori had to switch round a wall of horses to mount his challenge and was eventually beaten a length and a quarter in third.

Whether he would have beaten either winner Kyprios or second Mojo Star granted a clear passage is up for discussion but he may get a second bite of the cherry in his planned final outing in the Goodwood Cup.

Golden Pal

Trainer Wesley Ward was incredibly bullish ahead of the King’s Stand Stakes about Golden Pal’s chances but his race was over as soon as the stalls opened.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr completely missed the break and after rushing to make up lost ground, Golden Pal faded to finish last.

That was the third time Golden Pal has met with defeat in Britain and while the Nunthorpe has not been totally ruled out, you have to wonder if this horse really needs a bend to show his best.

Reach For The Moon

Widely expected to give the Queen a Royal Ascot winner in her Platinum Jubilee year, Reach For The Moon attracted heavy support for the Hampton Court Stakes but ultimately found Claymore too strong.

Coming hot on the heels of Stradivarius’ defeat, and that of another royal runner Saga in the previous race, fingers were pointing at Dettori but Reach For The Moon almost certainly found 10 furlongs a bridge too far.