So the first day of Royal Ascot 2014 is in the history books – what grand performances by Toronado, Sole Power and Kingman! The second day has already been previewed. We now come to the remainder of the meeting….

Thursday, June 19^th

Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr.2; 12 fur.), 8:15 p.m.

This staying test for three-year-old fillies has an open look and could well cement the stud reputation of Sea The Stars, whose daughter Vazira, owned by the Aga Khan and trained in France by Alain Royer Dupre, comes here after a runner-up effort in a Group 1 in her native land. Also representing the sire is the lightly-raced Wonderstruck, the mount of Frankie Dettori. Fourth to Taghrooda (also by Sea The Stars) at Epsom, Inchila (by Dylan Thomas) makes a relatively quick reappearance here and certainly holds a bright chance.

Coincidentally, the last-named sire has another representative, namely the unbeaten Italian Oaks victress, Final Score, whose challenge is a brave one, given that Italian racing has not exactly excelled in recent times. Ballydoyle's Bracelet (by Montjeu), so disappointing last time out in the Qipco 1000 Guineas, aims to put that loss behind her if she goes here in preference to an alternate engagement on Friday. One feels that John Gosden would not have fielded Bright Approach (by New Approach) had the progressive filly not shown him enough at home.

Ascot Gold Cup (Gr.1; 20 fur.), 8:55 p.m.

The feature of the meeting for decades, this race has lost some of its prestige over the years due to the steadfast refusal by breeders to patronize its winners as stallions, and hence the reluctance of racing stables to pitch their stars here. This was not always the case – the names of founding fathers of the breed like St. Simon, Isinglass, Cyllene, Bayardo and Gainsborough can be found on its scroll of honour.

Perhaps a consequence of the modern trend is that there are relatively few specialist stayers and those that do exist tend to be so vastly superior that they are able to demonstrate their dominance year after year, as for example multiple winners Yeats, Royal Rebel, Kayf Tara, Drumtaps, Ardross, Le Moss, etc. This phenomenon augurs well for one of this year's runners, the Queen's Estimate (by Monsun), who having brought a big smile to her owner's face in 2013 by her victory now goes for a repeat.

Following reports from Sir Michael Stoute's yard that it has been a challenge to get her ready in time, Estimate is only a 7 to 1 chance, and Coolmore's Leading Light (by Montjeu) is the favourite at 5 to 4, last year’s St. Leger winner having steadily gained "banker" status. Football hero Michael Owens has Brown Panther (by Shirocco) headed for the goal, following a pair of victories in "friendlies". A French-bred who could rise to the occasion is Tac De Boistron (by Take Risks), who has not exactly been loafing around recently, having been first or second at each of his last five starts.

Friday, June 20^th

King Edward VII Stakes (Gr.2; 12 fur.), 8:15 p.m.

Sometimes termed the "Ascot Derby", this is the race which brought fame in his time to Foyer[GB], a long-time resident of the Chettinad Stud.

Stablemate of the afore-mentioned Italian-trained Final Score, and a member of the same 2011 crop of Coolmore resident Dylan Thomas, is the interesting runner with the absurd name of Dylan Mouth. Yet to taste defeat, the Italian Derby winner will have his work cut out to pose a threat to either Aidan O'Brien's Adelaide (by Galileo) or the Juddmonte standard-bearer Snow Sky (by Nayef), who had to miss Epsom following a minor injury.

Hitherto a handicapper, Miner's Lamp (by Shamardal) will try and gain a much sought-after victory for the Godolphin operation. Western Hymn (by High Chaparral), sixth in the Epsom Derby, is not altogether without hope.

Coronation Stakes (Gr.1; 8 fur.) 8:55 p.m.

The fillies' counterpart to the St. James's Palace Stakes, this event has drawn 18 possibles, which include some of the best three-year-old distaffers over a mile. Yet to reappear in 2014 is the highly regarded My Titania (by Sea The Stars) whose attempts to get on track have been thwarted by the weather. However her lengthy absence will in no way militate against her chances as veteran John Oxx is sure to have her "ripe as a cherry".

The runner-up spots in all three fillies mile classics this season have been shared by Veda (by Dansili) (France) and Lightning Thunder (by Dutch Art) (England and Ireland) and both will be keen to go one better. "Guineas" disappointments Rizeena (by Iffraaj), Eurocharline (by Myboycharlie), Lesstalk in Paris (by Cape Cross) and J Wonder (by Footstepsinthesand) get another chance to show that they were better than they were able to show in their respective classics.

Saturday, June 21st

Hardwicke Stakes (Gr.2; 12 fur.) 8:15 p.m.

This is the same race that Multidimensional[USA] so nearly won on his only visit to Ascot, exactly six years ago, and has a maximum of seventeen in opposition. Last year's runner-up Dandino (by Dansili) returns from Australia to tackle the event in which the likes of Hillstar (by Danehill Dancer), Telescope (by Galileo) and Pether's Moon (by Dylan Thomas) await him.

Members of the quartet named above have all performed consistently during their careers. Perhaps Hillstar has the edge based on his liking for the Ascot track. As Telescope is his stablemate, the savvy Ryan Moore's choice between the pair will be a pointer. That rider has also steered Dandino, so should have some idea of what that rival is capable of. Rider of the moment, Richard Hughes, will hope to extract slight improvement from Pether's Moon, which will put him in contention, although the Hannon stable has not yet demonstrated that it is quite as powerful a stable over long distance races as it is over a mile and shorter.

Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr.1; 6 fur.) 8:55 p.m.

Forty minutes after the Hardwicke Stakes and over exactly half its trip comes the grand finale. Sole Power (by Kyllachy) returns in irresistible form after his romp on Tuesday but punters would do well to remember that he has never actually won over 6 furlongs in his 41-race career. So the price must reflect that shortcoming. Stablemate Slade Power (by Dutch Art) is probably the better of the pair over this distance. The three-year-old Hot Streak (by Iffraaj), if he turns out again, will try and bridge the gap that separated him from Sole Power on Tuesday.

Back in Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla's colours after a foreign sojourn for owner-breeder Morgan Cahalan – which included a Group 1 win in Australia – is the Irish-trained Gordon Lord Byron (by Byron), who holds a fair chance here with William Buick, who has ridden him before, in the saddle. At his very best, Tropics (by Speightstown) can trouble the leading fancies while the principal Ballydoyle hope (at least at the time of writing), Due Diligence (by War Front), will have his work cut out to make the climb from Listed company to Group 1.