Hat-trick of wins for Hughes on Royal Ascot opening day

The opening day of Royal Ascot yesterday (Tuesday) saw Johnny Murtagh ride Mastercraftsman to victory in the St James's Palace Stakes, edging out Delegator.

Aidan O'Brien's horse trailed in the final furlong but the favourite hit back to win after a titanic struggle.

Australian Scenic Blast, ridden by Steven Arnold, triumphed in the King's Stand Stakes ahead of Fleeting Spirit and Anglezarke.

Paco Boy in the Queen Anne Stakes was Richard Hughes's first of three wins.

In the Coventry Stakes, Hughes and owner Richard Hannon had their day's second winner with favourite Canford Cliffs, who demolished the field to finish six lengths ahead of Xtension and Rakaan.

Then in the Ascot Stakes, Hughes made it a hat-trick of wins after Judgethemoment made a late burst to fight off Sesanta, ridden by Seamus Hefferman, Royal Rationale and Gala Evening.

It was O'Brien's sixth victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and once again Delegator had to settle for second spot behind 5-6 favourite Mastercraftsman following the defeat in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Ridden by Jimmy Fortune, Delegator took the lead but did not quite have the legs at the finish, with Lord Shanakill coming in third after a fine showing.

Scenic Blast's victory gave Australia a fourth win in the King's Stand Stakes in five years at Royal Ascot. Last year's winner Equiano began strongly, but the 11-4 favourite Scenic Blast, trained by Daniel Morton, pushed on with devastating pace to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of Fleeting Spirit, ridden by Ryan Moore. Anglezarke was a further two and a three-quarters away in third.

In Tuesday's first race, Paco Boy, trained by Hannon, had few problems in seeing off a strong field in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Favourite Gladiatorus, officially the world's highest-rated horse, burst out of the stalls and had a five length lead, but faded two furlongs out as Paco Boy stepped up a gear to cruise home. Murtagh finished in second place on Cesare, Richard Hills on Aqlaam was third and Main Aim in fourth.

The 7-4 favourite Canford Cliffs led over a furlong out in the Coventry Stakes to win in stunning fashion ahead of Xtension by six lengths and Rakaan.