Royal Ascot day three – in pictures

Heartbreak for Stradivarius – and so close to a royal winner.

Stradivarius may have the hearts of the Royal Ascot crowd, but he left without his much-desired fourth Gold Cup success as Kyprios proved too good in the day three feature. Frankie Dettori pointed to younger legs prevailing as Aidan O’Brien’s charge laid claim to the title of the new staying king on another pulsating afternoon of action. We pick out the highlights of the day:

Thursday is unofficially known as Ladies' Day, and racegoers certainly put their best foot forward on the fashion front
Thursday is unofficially known as Ladies’ Day, and racegoers certainly put their best foot forward on the fashion front (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Queen is yet to appear at this year's meeting, but the Princess Royal and daughter Zara Tindall led the way on Thursday
The Queen is yet to appear at this year’s meeting, but the Princess Royal and daughter Zara Tindall led the way on Thursday (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Ridler obliged any DC Comics fans - but Paul Hanagan got a 10-day ban for causing interference in the Norfolk Stakes
The Ridler obliged any DC Comics fans – but Paul Hanagan got a 10-day ban for causing interference in the Norfolk Stakes (Adam Davy/PA)

Magical Lagoon (left) was just too good for Sea Silk Road in the Ribblesdale
Magical Lagoon (left) was just too good for Sea Silk Road in the Ribblesdale (David Davies/PA)

So near, yet so far. Stradivarius (right) was within touching distance of a slice of Ascot history
So near, yet so far. Stradivarius (right) was within touching distance of a slice of Ascot history (David Davies/PA)

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore with the famous Gold Cup
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore with the famous Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

A blanket finish to the Britannia Stakes saw the Queen just denied a winner as Saga was a narrow second
A blanket finish to the Britannia Stakes saw the Queen just denied a winner as Saga was a narrow second (Adam Davy/PA)

Reach For The Moon was expected to win for the Queen, but it was second again in the Hampton Court Stakes behind Claymore
Reach For The Moon was expected to win for the Queen, but it was second again in the Hampton Court Stakes behind Claymore (David Davies/PA)

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