O'Brien biding his time in pursuit of more Royal Ascot winners

The Ballydoyle handler, with his big-money Coolmore connections, has been closing in fast on Ascot's greatest trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who yesterday moved clear of the late Sir Henry Cecil with his 76th and 77th winner.

But O'Brien had to wait until the seventh race of the meeting for Kew Gardens to bring home a 1-2-3 for his stable in the Queen's Vase and, two days in, he has notched just one trip to the winner's enclosure.

It leaves his bid for an eighth - and fourth consecutive - top trainer title looking precarious but Order of St George looks primed to deliver some winning momentum in the showpiece Gold Cup, part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

Twelve months ago the horse lost the title it won in 2016 to the popular stayer Big Orange, the Queen even arriving in a big orange hat to add a royal seal of approval to a horse with a legion of fans.

But the champion is not defending his title, giving jockey Ryan Moore a chance to avenge last year's disappointment, as Order of St George looks to become only the second horse to regain the long-distance highlight.

"We should have won last year but he's won his five races since to prove what an exceptional horse he is," said Moore.

"After Ascot he won the Irish Leger and he won on Champions Day, he's won both his races this season, so we're in a great place. He's the one they all have to beat."

The brilliant Yeats won this a staggering four times for O'Brien but Order of St George, at six years of age, couldn't be described as progressive and faces plenty of challengers.

John Gosden's four-year old colt Stradivarius is hard to ignore, with Royal Ascot form from last year's Queen's Vase win and a Goodwood Cup success later in the summer.

After three wins on the meeting's first day, Gosden drew a blank yesterday with stable star Cracksman failing to deliver on his hype in the Prince of Wales's Stakes - leaving the normally amiable trainer looking a little glum.

"It's a step into the unknown to go two and a half miles but let's see, Stradivarius is in great nick," he said.

"We are very hopeful he will get the trip. If he doesn't, we know what we will do. We will go to defend the Goodwood Cup and then look towards Melbourne.

"Sometimes the Gold Cup can be a little low on quality but this is the best race I can remember for some time, there's lots of good horses and great depth in the field."

Among the other contenders is French raider Vazirabad, racing in the famous colours of the Aga Khan, and Torcedor, who will look to give Jessica Harrington an Ascot Gold Cup to match the one she won at Cheltenham two years ago.

Meanwhile, Gosden insists he still wants to bring Cracksman back to Ascot for the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month.

Jockey Frankie Dettori reported the horse was lethargic and one-paced as Europe's top-rated colt was soundly beaten by Poet's Word in yesterday's showpiece.

Gosden insisted there were ‘no excuses' but claimed an eye for the ladies could have put him off the job in hand.

"He's always been laid-back, but he's gone beyond that now," he said. "We'll have to sharpen him up before the King George.

"He's a clever horse, and before the race he was welcoming all the fillies from previous race as they were walking back to the stables. I think we just need to concentrate his mind."

Sportsbeat 2018