Michael Stoute within touching distance of Henry Cecil’s record

Michael Stoute moved within one winner of the late great Henry Cecil’s Royal Ascot record as Frankie Dettori shone aboard Across The Stars in the King Edward VII Stakes.

Cecil recorded an astonishing 75 winners at the showpiece meeting during his fantastic training career, but it would appear just a matter of time before his great friend and rival Stoute surpasses that total after moving to the 74-winner mark on the penultimate day of this year’s fixture.

Across The Stars (7-1) was turning out just under a fortnight after disappointing in the Epsom Derby, but showed his true colours with a determined victory over front-running favourite Beacon Rock.