Distraught King Charles watches on as his horse FLOPS at Royal Ascot despite being the favourite
Royals were out in force on the first day of the annual event
KING HAS A MARE Distraught King Charles watches on as his horse FLOPS at Royal Ascot despite being the favourite
KING Charles's hopes for his horse at Royal Ascot were dashed yesterday as the favourite failed to dazzle in the sun and finished ninth.
Reaching High had been hotly tipped by bookies at 11-4 before the Ascot Stakes but he flopped in front of the expectant monarch.
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King Charles's hopes for his horse at Royal Ascot were dashed
Credit: Jason Dawso
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Reaching High, circled, had been hotly tipped by bookies
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Queen Camilla was cheering from the Royal Box alongside the King
Credit: Max Mumby
Thousands of revellers who were enjoying a scorching day at the Berkshire racecourse and had backed the favourite were also left stunned.
Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, had been cheering from the Royal Box but were seen leaving shortly after the loss — even with two more races to go.
Despite being trained by legendary Willie Mullins and ridden by top jockey Ryan Moore, the horse got stuck in the pack and never hit the front.
Mullins said: 'Ryan just said he got no run. He's finished full of running, but just got no luck in running, so it's disappointing.
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'Their Majesties are very easy, lovely people to train for and it's a pleasure.
'There's a bit more pressure when you train one for them at this meeting, but to bring one here with a real chance is what we like to do.
'Hopefully this fellow will show us how good he is at some stage later in the season.'
The King, whose only Ascot win was Desert Hero in 2023, is set to attend every day of the five-day festival after The Sun revealed he was surprised at how much he enjoyed the occasion.
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He had taken over his mum Queen Elizabeth II's stable of horses. She had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
Earlier, Charles had written in the official racecard: 'Having experienced the thrill of victory at Royal Ascot ourselves in 2023, we can only wish all those competing this week the very best of luck and that everyone watching has a most enjoyable five days.'
King Charles sends Willie Mullins 'impressive' horse with amazing pedigree in historic deal - as they target Royal Ascot
Royals were out in force on the first day of the annual event.
Sarah Ferguson, 65, was joined by daughter Princess Beatrice, 36, and hubby Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 41,
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For the 200th anniversary of the Royal Procession, Charles and Camilla arrived in a carriage with Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Salman Al Saud and Lady Sarah Keswick, one the Queen's official companions.
Peter Phillips, 47, and his NHS nurse girlfriend Harriet Sperling, 45, were also in one of the carriages.
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