Bookmakers left ‘gasping for air’

Bookmakers were left reeling after day one of Royal Ascot as brilliant milers Toronado (pictured) and Kingman led the way for punters.

The heavily-backed pair were considered ‘banker’ material and sent off at odds-on for the Queen Anne and St James’s Palace Stakes respectively, never giving their followers any cause for concern.

Toronado’s success was the first of a double on the day for Richard Hughes, who also struck on the well-fancied Sole Power at 5-1 in the King’s Stand Stakes as the Irish raider repeated last year’s success.