Bookies remain ahead after Royal Ascot Day 2

The bookmakers are just in front after the opening two days of Royal Ascot, according to William Hill.

The beginning of day two "got off to the worst possible start" after victory for True Love in the Queen Mary's Stakes in the opening race.

However, that was followed up by defeats for three well-fancied horses.

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Punters can get their own back

We are not even halfway through Royal Ascot yet, and there are still plenty of horses, like Ascot Gold Cup favourite Illinois who could yet sting them.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Things were finely balanced after Tuesday’s Royal Ascot action, and after all of yesterday's excitement, we’ve managed to keep ourselves in front. Things got off to the worst possible start when the well-backed True Love landed the Queen Mary, but the defeats of Cinderella’s Dream, Los Angeles and Rainbow Edge have been welcomed in the trading room.

“We knew Los Angeles was Wednesday's key horse, and we’ll be hoping another Ballydoyle inmate can’t get the job done on Thursday. Illinois is the 13/8 Gold Cup favourite and is one we expect to be a lynchpin of punters’ accas today. He certainly won’t be the only horse who has us sweating as punters look to get their own back on Thursday.”

The Ascot Gold Cup (4.20) headlines the action today but handicaps the Britania Stakes (5.00) and Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.10) supplement it.

It all gets underway with the Group 2 race, the Norfolk Stakes at 2.30.

You can find our Royal Ascot tips for the final three days here.