Ryan Moore wraps up double with Diamond Jubilee Stakes win at Royal Ascot

Jockey Ryan Moore claimed a big-race double on the final day of Royal Ascot as Merchant Navy won a dramatic Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, the winner beat City Light by a short head to give record-breaking trainer Sir Michael Stoute an 11th success in the race. American challenger Bound For Nowhere was third, whilst favourite Harry Angel was seventh after getting a leg stuck in the stalls and starting slowly.

O'Brien finished the 2018 meeting as leading trainer for the fourth consecutive time, on four wins, while Moore's five victories this week meant he claimed the top jockey trophy for the Royal meeting for the eighth time in nine years. In the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, a sprint over six furlongs, Harry Angel - trained by Clive Cox - became upset in the stalls before stumbling out under Adam Kirby. Bound For Nowhere set the pace, but it was Merchant Navy who just prevailed in a pulsating climax from the fast-finishing City Light. Last year's winner The Tin Man was fourth.

Earlier, Moore got the first part of his double for the day under his belt with a win on Crystal Ocean in the Hardwicke Stakes. Run over a mile and four furlongs, the race favourite came in two and half lengths clear for trainer Stoute ahead of Red Verdon in second and Cliffs of Moher in third.

The day’s opener, the Chesham Stakes, got proceedings off to a thrilling start with a close win for the Tom Dascombe-trained Arthur Kitt. With Richard Kingscote at the helm, the winner edged out Nate The Great in second by a neck, with Duke of Hazzard in third nearly four lengths back.

There was a large field of 28 for the Windsor Castle Stakes which was won by the Archie Watson-trained Soldier’s Call. Ridden by Daniel Tudhope, the winner was half a length to the good in front of Sabre in second and Dom Carlos in third who was nearly two lengths adrift from the leading pair.

The Wokingham Stakes had a similar big field of 28 horses vying for the honours over six furlongs and it was outsider Bacchus who edged matters on the line for trainer Brian Meehan. Jockey Jim Crowley was at the helm as Bacchus held off the attentions of favourite Dreamfield by a neck with Major Jumbo in second.

The final race of the day and Royal Ascot meeting for 2018 was one for the stayers, the Queen Alexandra Stakes, and it was Pallasator who enjoyed a comfortable victory. Ridden by Jamie Spencer for Gordon Elliott, Pallasator came in a length and a half in front of outsider Renneti in second and Count Octave in third.