Frankie Dettori, how we'll miss him when he's gone. In the daily attritional battle between punters and bookies, it was the latter who were all smiles at Royal Ascot, as a succession of favourites faltered and long-priced rivals triumphed, ripped up betting slips raining down like confetti.
Sid Hopper, Ron Christie and Dave Spice - the bookies with the premier pitches in the Royal Enclosure - were stuffing readies into their top hats and not containing their glee. Only two favourites placed in the opening five races, all claimed by double digit winners that would have returned you a handsome £550,000 for a £1 accumulator.
Tears were being cried into the Bollinger, other brands available, when Dettori seized his moment late in the day. Timing, as the diminutive 53-year-old Italian knows, is everything.
