AS Festival openers go, today’s first day of the Royal Ascot meeting exceeds with regal abandon.

Rachel Alexandra has been ruled out of next month’s planned showdown with Zenyatta.

FOR four hours yesterday, Carol Minihane basked in the calm of a temporary reprieve from her kids.

IT has been a circuitous journey to get to Churchill Downs but the connections of Kentucky Derby hope Denis of Cork are confident their bay colt can take the shortest route possible in tonight’s 134th Run for the Roses.