1735: Another day - another blank. At least I know a lot more about Anton Du Beke.

1734: Festivale wins the race. Ord 0-12.

1733: Off for the finale.

1726: Maramba favourite for the finale - even though she's Derek Thompson's best bet of the day.

1725: Bookmakers are busily revising their prices for the Britannia tomororw. Go low seems the message when it comes to the draw.

1715: "Before she even ran this was the plan!" beams a jubilant Quinlan.

1705: Rishi is with Munro who says: "I thought we'd be placed but she really finds and is tough. She has a good mental attitude and is up for a fight."

1702: Quinlan is strangling anyone in his vicinity. That's how to celebrate.

1658: Langs Lash wins for Mick Quinlan and Alan Munro.

1657: Off and running amd they have split into two groups.

1655: Loading for the Queen Mary.

1652: Michael Owen's wife has selected Bahamian Babe as the best turned out. The footballer doesn't look too bad either.

1644: The defeat of Bankable has the bookies purring, David Williams of Ladbrokes saying: "Punters got the Marmalade but we've escaped with the jam. Mr Aviator was our saviour.

"There were accumulators running up on Bankable all across the land and we were desperate for a result. Thankfully for us, Mr Aviator knocked the vast majority of them out cold."

1638: Sherwood loves cornflower blue but not two women. "More Sex In Croydon than Sex In The City".

1632: "I got a good lead and he stuck his head out well," adds winning rider Richard Hughes.

1631: Hannon says: "We were going to run him over a mile-and-a-quarter on Thursday but he didn't like the hill at Epsom so we stayed on the straight course. I nearly took him out this morning because of the ground."

1627: Winning trainer Richard Hannon is shaking his head in the winners' enclosure. Someone knew though!

1625: Mr Aviator - 50s into 25s - wins the Hunt Cup. Bankable only fifth.

1623: Bankable is unsettled in the stalls and they're off. He jumps off on terms.

1620: Money for Mr Aviator. All sorts being backed. But can Bankable be beaten?

1618: "We've always liked the horse and we've got him right again," Walter Swinburn says of his runner Overturn.

1614: Bankable survives a scare when Rishi thought he was going the wrong way towards the track. I can confirm he is heading to the start.

1611: Princess Haya Of Jordan is in Van Gough yellow according to Sherwood. He is back on. Du Beke sidelined.

1609: Du Beke thinks Amanda from Southampton "has lovely hind quarters".

1608: Du Beke has done a twirl as he returns our TV screens. He is loving this.

1606: Bankable next and Frankie Dettori is still excited.

1601: George Primarolo, a former colleague and now PR man at Blue Square, has just spotted Donald Sinden and Nigel Havers together. As he said: "You don't get that at Catterick".

1555: "He's up there with the best I've ever ridden. Aidan has been getting him ready for this all season," Murtagh declares.

1554: "Unbelievable horse, he just keeps getting better. He's the real deal," O'Brien beams.

1549: Duke Of Marmalade has won as he wants. Aidan on the phone again. What does she want this time?

1546: Off for the big one. Stotsfold misses the break. That's him gone then.

1542: At the post - soon loading for the feature. Duke Of Marmalade best-backed horse of the week thus far.

1538: Rishi has a "personal afection" for Sixties Icon. So does owner Paul Roy. He says: "He won the Leger over a mile and six and this is a much shorter trip. Has he got the speed? We'll see."

1532: Dominic's fly is at half-mast as he is given the fashion treatment. Good work from the cameraman to zoom past the offending area.

1531: Du Beke is back on - he has hired his suit for the day but plans to have something knocked up by next year. Ladies beware.

1528: Carson now reveals he is wearing braces for the first time today. He is also reading a book on the history of Saville Row.

1525: Willie Carson is asking Sherwood why he has to pay as much for a suit as a tall man.

1522: Sir David Frost presents the the trophies for the Windsor Forest. Who's next onto the stage. Christopher Biggins is not a big price.

1520: Yes we can! Tom Selleck - playing Magnum - has a very short pair of shorts on. The boys are barely in the barracks.

1519: Channel switch - BBC1 to BBC 2 under way. Can we catch the end of Murder She Wrote again?

1517: Bradbury has found Bruce Oldfield to discuss fashion. He has spotted one of his outfits being worn by eight different people. Must be a big one.

1516: "Fantastic - the filly was very, very generous to come and grab the leader," Christophe Lemaire tells Rishi of his winner.

1510: Ryan Moore narrowly misses out his first Royal winner - Heaven Sent is beaten by French raider Sabana Perdida.

1508: Off for the Windsor Forest.

1506: "She has an awful lot of ability and is great nick so we'd be very hopeful," Mick Channon says of Majestic Roi.

1501: Sherwood has blasted Du Beke out of the water. Britain's greatest dancer is going for a lie down. Probably on the pink bench.

1459: Bradbury's hat is stapled to her head today. She is flanked by Du Beke and Sherwood. There seems to be tension between the two. Sherwood claims one woman in black looks like a "war widow". He is trying to raise his game.

1454: Duncan's double is down. He hasn't taken it well and is looking for a dark room.

1450: Du Beke is here for the day, replacing Lisa Snowdon. The great Donald Sinden has presented the prize for the opener. Best known for 'Never The Twain' according to Clare Balding.

1448: More fashion on the beeb while it is Amy McNaughton I can thank for the news Du Beke is a dancer - not her dad Duncan. He meanwhile fancies Baharah to win the next doubled with Medici Time at Hamilton. A good, aggressive approach.

1443: "His last two bits of work have been exceptional. He is going to go places," adds Hills.

1442: "Absolutely thrilled to bits. We've always liked him," beams winning trainer William Haggas.

1437: Richard Hills is thrilled. He's like a Du Beke on horseback.

1435: Duncan McNaughton has pointed out that Du Beke, still by the pink bench, is in fact a dancer and not a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. He is the next Brucie by all accounts.

1434: A gamble landed - Aqlaam wins the Jersey. Brave, brave Il Warrd is second.

1432:Off for the Jersey. My tip is trying to make all.

1431: Loading up.

1428: Nearly at the post for the opener.

1424: Rishi begs Saeed bin Suroor not to run away from him. I would. Saeed confirms Frankie did have the choice of Il Warrd and Calming Influence. The trainer feels it is very close between the two of them,

1423: "The horse needs to be covered up and needs luck getting a passage through," Andrew Balding tells his sister of Dream Eater in the opener.

1422: There is a pink bench on the lawn where a man - or woman - can propose their other half today. Du Beke is patrolling it.

1420: Anton Du Beke is on with Bradbury. A quick google search reveals he is a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. He is a Royal Ascot virgin and feels Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie wore skirts that were a tad too short yesterday. One word. Treason.

1416: Glamorous Spirit is Sherwood's tip of the day - knew you were all waiting for it.

1410: Sherwood is looking at the Royal button holes. Even they impress him.

1409: Carriage one makes all again - one or two none-triers in behind.

1408: Still a furlong to go - nearly two furlongs for carriage five. Hope the Queen spots Julia Bradbury when she waves to her again.

1406: Apparently the Duke Of Edinburgh's trousers are cut very high so he doesn't show any shirt. That's the way to do it apparently. Simon Cowell obviously knew.

1405: Haven't heard of anyone in the final carriage. Not like when Peter Ridsdale was in there.

1403: The Duchess Of Cornwall is an a "soft colour that really suits her" according to Sherwoood. It looks blue to me.

1402: The Queen's hat is purple. She has a big coat on. That too is purple.

1401: The Royal procession is here. No earlier than yesterday. Hope they have quicker horses pulling the carriages this time.

1358: Mick Kinane isn't a happy man. He's been jocked off Sixties Icon by Frankie Dettori and complained to the stewards about it.

1355: Duke Of Marmalade is Kevin Darley's best bet of the day but Rishi Persad isn't sure about him - or Bankable. He is in a fiery mood.

1351: Philip Burns asks where we'd be without Thommo? This blog would be more sparse for one thing. Bad news for the "big fella". The vision in yellow he took a shine to has now been featured on the beeb. Don't fancy his chances now.

1349: More drama. Apparently the Queen's hat yesterday was buttermilk and not pink champagne as Sherwood suggested. Of all the things to get wrong...

1348: Sherwood and Julia Bradbury are again the fashion team. He is sneering towards a group having a picnic and feels everyone was incredibly well dressed yesterday.

1347: Nick Knowles is at Ascot - without a hat. Hope the DIY guru manages to sidestep the eager gatemen.

1346: Mystery solved. When Aidan O'Brien is caught on the phone after a big race it seems he is talking to his wife. Must be a big shopping list she's dictating.

1345: Clare Balding is resplendent in a fuschia number today. She looks wrapped up. Chilly down there it seems.

1342: Turning over to the beeb now. James Sherwood et all. Lot of rain forecast for West Yorkshire this afternoon.

1339: Derek is again ending the morning show by travelling downwards on an escalator. Thommo's tip of the day is Maramba in the last. He signed off with "Whooo big fella" to the escalator. He needs to sit down.

1338: Thommo is still on fashion duty and is praising a young lady for her yellow outfit bought in Islington. She works in London and Derek has definitely taken a shine to her. It is like watching a mating ritual on a wildlife documentary.

1333: Vincent Lahal is back on. Thommo has again introdued him as the Thommo of France. A lawsuit must be in the offing.

1331: Flashmans Papers is bidding for a Royal Ascot double in to

1328: Kingsgate Native runs in the Golden Jubilee on Saturday having not got enough cover in the King's Stand. Thommo is still out with the top hat and tails brigade. That could be his last act of the day in front of camera.

1327: Thommo is out and about with the great and good. He is discussing the male attire with a female expert. The man whois being praised got his waistcoat in Italy. "It looks good big fella" is Thommo's verdict. He is about five foot three.

1323: Mike Barden has joined me in the land of demons. He is on a real roll in the tipster competition but his +33 profit leaves him only on the bottom of page two on the leaderboard. Positive thinking Mike, that's the key. I am now positive Bankable and Lang Shining will finish one-two in the Hunt Cup. I was also positive that Bobby Ewing had shot JR though.

1322: Christophe Lemaire has just been Thommo'd. Q: "Where did you learn your English?". A: "England".

1315: Alan Lee talking to Thommo now. He warns Lang Shining will give Bankable something to think about in the Hunt Cup but still expects the Cumani hotpot to win.

1308: "Good luck big fella" is Thommo's parting shot at Dettori. Goodness only knows what that makes me.

1305: "Seven will be his best distance and it was a tough decision but I liked the way he worked," Frankie Dettori says of his decision to ride Il Warrd and not Calming Influence in the opener.

1304: "It's nice to be on the favourite and under pressure. I love it," Frankie Dettori tells Thommo about his ride on Bankable.

1258: David Taylor is in touch. Emerald Wilderness at place cert in the Hunt Cup. He sounds very confident.

1250: Thommo is with the bookmakers who have moved behind the stands. A bold move according to our roving reporter.

1237: Finally Makaaseb looks Jarvis' best chance of the day in the finale. "She ran in the Rockfel on ground she didn't like, but she will much prefer it today. She was unlucky when getting stopped twice at York and all things being equal today she's got a fair chance," he said.

1236: Jarvis runs We'll Come in the Hunt Cup. "He's not an easy one to win with, but he is drawn with the principals (Bankable & Lang Shining) which could help. He's very well but the favourite looks difficult to beat, but sometimes these handicap good things get turned over."

1235: The excellent Michael Jarvis is talking up the chances of Pressing in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, telling At The Races: "I've been on a learning curve with him, but I was delighted with him in Italy. He was beaten by Saddex who is a very good horse. He has every chance of being in the frame today."

1230: Story from Ascot and Sky Bet PR guru Dale Tempest. He was queuing up to collect his 40p Placepot dividend after the last yesterday when he noted a rather jovial chap ahead of him in the line.

He had backed Flashmans Papers, the 100-1 winner of the Windsor Castle, because his mate owned it! After collecting what seemed to be endless bundles of cash he trundled off towards the car park only for the cashier to shriek that she hadn't given him his last £1000.

Former footballer Tempest hit top gear to catch the man in question and reunite him with the missing grand. His reward? Not even a drink. A sad indictment on the state of Britain today.

1215: Bit of an update for you now on brilliant Coventry Stakes winner Art Connoisseur. Trainer Michael Bell has yet to decide on his next target. Click here to read the full story.

1214: Some news on the final declarations for Friday's feature - the Coronation Stakes. Cheveley Park pair Spacious and Infallible - second and fourth in the 1000 Guineas - lock horns once again. Click here for the full story and the card.

1213: "I am very hopeful. The horse has never been better and is a real class horse," Head says of his charge.

1212: Freddy Head up now and taking of Marchand D'Or in Saturday's Golden Jubilee Stakes.

1210: Shane Kelly rides Geordieland in Thursday's Gold Cup. He rode a peach of a race to get Jamie Osborne's charge home in front in the recent Yorkshire Cup, and here is his take on Thursday's big feature.

1207: Kelleway also has Beat Seven in the Queen Mary and is much more upbeat over her. "She is in magnificnet form and has been trained for the race. If she's good enough she'll go very, very close."

1205: She also runs Ballinteni in the same race and adds: "He'd want a bit of cut in the ground and Bankable looks like a Group horse in there today."

1203: Gay Kelleway has runners today and tells Matt Chapman of Fajr in the Hunt Cup: "He's in good form and has been trained for the race but could have done with easier ground and a better draw."

1157: Thommo is being pestered by a romany lady outside the track trying to sell him a flower. He is trying to ignore her by waving at passing traffic. TV gold.

1150: Still no rain at Ascot. I am very warm in Leeds but that has little bearing on the ground in Ascot.

1145: Derek Thompson has been very quiet on the latest At The Races visit to Ascot. Something special brewing is my forecast.

1135: Will Hayler has filed his latest preview and after making his fortune on the spreads yesterday - he is at it again today.

1125: Baharah in the second as she wasn't suited by how the race unfolded at Epsom last time. Shelling peas.

1110: The warm glow left with a belch. It was indigestion. Fancy Il Warrd in the first - and no I haven't been drinking.

1101: Gavin now points out my 0-6 record yesterday and suggests a pin is my best form of selection. How little he knows. I have a warm glow about today's action although that could be down to acid indigestion.

1050: Gavin Charman emails to ask if I have fallen asleep. I haven't - although I didn't sleep well last night. The demons descended in the early hours and have yet to leave. I was actually going through the card to put up my best bets. Gavin has made me lost my train of thought.

1020: Our June Tipster Competition is now in full swing - but you will have to go some to match Tuesday's heroics. No fewer than five people found 100-1 winner Flashmans Papers, including Paul Reed. The Windsor Castle winner was his first selection of the month.

1015: Our Irish correspondent Ryan McElligott has filed his preview for today - he is firmly with Duke Of Marmalade.

0957: Derek signs off with a feature on a massive book of Vivienne Westwood fashion shots. He was out of his comfort zone.

0955: Lovely feature with Derek going down an escalator with Laura Stephens from Stan James. They are taking on Bankable and now go 2/1. Derek was staggered.

0952: The day has started badly. Owing to a cuttlery crisis in the office I am having to eat my cereal using a plastic teaspoon. At this rate I will be finished by around noon.

0945: Stan James have seenfloods of money for two of the Pricewise selections Sugar Free (8s from 14s) in the Queen Mary and Flipando (16s from 25s) in the Royal Hunt Cup.

And also in the Hunt Cup they have cut the Andrew Balding-trained Oceana Gold from 25s into 20s.

Stan James' head of PR Charlie McCann said: "The form of Sugar Free's second to Intense Focus at the Curragh was given a boost by that one's excellent run in the Coventry and despite Pricewise's lean patch by his own high standards his followers remain loyal and have been out in force today."

0935: Carol Kirkwood tells Derek the worst of the weather will arrive after racing. Fast ground again it seems. What a rollercoaster.

0925: Derek seems to have the same hat on. To these untrained eyes it is ill-fitting. He is discussing Secret World's Hunt Cup prospects with Jeremy Noseda's travelling head lad. Say what you want - but he has a work ethic.

0912: Derek Thompson has opened up with a joke. He has asked David Williams of Ladbrokes: "Are people getting stuck into marmalade for breakfast". It could be a long day.

0905: News from Matt Chapman of a severe weather warning for the Ascot area - heavy, thundery showers, May not be quick after all!

0900: A dry night but the ground has been watered. Day two will take place on ground that is officially good to firm, firm in places.

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