Adam Whitty
BBC South

Winter is coming.

Not the famous tag line for a fantasy TV series, but an apt description of the feature this afternoon, the Coronation Stakes.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained horse is odds-on favourite, but racing expert John McCririck thinks a shock could be on the cards, thanks to the jockey on board another of O'Brien's horses, Hydrangea.

"Hydrangea is ridden by Padraig Beggy, a few weeks ago nobody had ever heard of him", he told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"But he wins the Derby on Wings of Eagles, coming from absolutely nowhere, and Hydrangea beat Winter at Leopardstown in April."

"Watch that Padraig Beggy, he's quite a lad".

We are out and about at Royal Ascot, as the crowds pour in to the famous racecourse.

With unerring accuracy, our reporter Anoushka Williams is picking out the most eccentric and eye-catching pieces of fashion around.

Like this piece of vintage action.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute can create Royal Ascot history later.

He's had 75 victories at the Royal Meeting, bringing him level with the late Henry Cecil.

Image source, Getty Images

Today he runs the favourite Crystal Ocean at King Edward VII Stakes at 15:05 BST. A win there would take the Newmarket-based trainer to the record.

If he doesn't manage it today however, he has a chance with The Queen's horse, Dartmouth, in the Hardwicke Stakes tomorrow.

Fillies take centre stage on the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meeting with the Coronation Stakes (16:20 BST) over a mile.

Winter, winner of the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, is set to start odds-on favourite for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.

He also saddles Roly Poly and Hydrangea, who were second and third behind Winter in the Irish Guineas at the Curragh last month.

The home team is headed by by the John Gosden-trained Dabya, while Mark Casse's American challenger La Coronel and Fabrice Chappet's shock French 1000 Guineas winner Precieuse add an international flavour.

You can follow coverage this afternoon on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and 5 live.

Image source, PA

Adam Whitty
BBC South

TV presenter Holly Willoughby has just arrived at Royal Ascot.

She is wonderfully dressed in an outfit featuring... clothes.

Image source, Getty Images

Adam Whitty
BBC South

Sorry, this is too cold, we expect temperatures of 30 degrees now.

It looks like it will stay dry today at the Royal Meeting, although it clearly won't be as sunny as previous days.

Adam Whitty
BBC South

Just the 1000 limos and 400 helicopters descend on Royal Ascot every year.

And I thought it was supposed to be luxurious and grandiose event?

We cannot forget the huge effort involved from the Royal Ascot staff, including the army of temporary staff who turn up every year.

If they are ever looking for a 'head bunting putter-upper', I'll be straight in there.

We have taken a look at how Royal Ascot has changed over the last six decades.

Adam Whitty
BBC South

It's a bit of a dilemma in balmy weather like this.

So you have to bring in absolutely massive electric fans, of course.

Well, lots of horses, but not in that way.

There are six more races of the highest quality this afternoon, with fillies take centre stage on the fourth day with the feature, the Coronation Stakes at 16:20 BST.

There is live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, with extra coverage on BBC Radio Berkshire.

Image source, Getty Images

(All times BST, distances in miles and furlongs):

14:30: Albany Stakes (Group 3) 6f

15:05: King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 1½m

15:40: Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 6f

16:20: Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 1m

17:00: Queen's Vase (Group 2) 2m

17:35: Duke of Edinburgh Stakes 1½m

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Course officials say a bumper Ladies Day crowd of 68,320 watched Big Orange win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

The figure was up on the 64,503 who attended last year and followed the opening of the first new enclosure for 100 years.

"The great thing is that we were able to increase the crowd year on year, but maintain comfort as the new Village Enclosure was able to take nearly 4,000 people," said course spokesman Nick Smith.

Described as "a pop-up summer scene", the new enclosure has a bandstand and two other stages for jazz and funk in the day and bands and DJs in the evening, plus a village green.

Image source, EPA

"One of the great Gold Cups of all time".

So says Rupert Bell, racing broadcaster and brother of Big Orange trainer Michael Bell, who triumphed in the feature yesterday.

As he told BBC Radio Berkshire, he is a little biased, but he's not far wrong.

It was an extraordinary race, with Order of St George almost clawing back a two length lead in the final furlong, but Big Orange just held on to win by a short head.

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks can go, in part, to Frankie Dettori, who was due to saddle that horse, if not for injury.

"Frankie's a real star", said replacement jockey James Doyle. "He called me a couple of nights ago and I was probably on the phone for about 20 minutes getting instructions and him telling me all about the horse. He was spot on."

Michael Bell added: "I was just begging for the line to come. The horse is a superstar - he's a warrior."

Image source, Getty Images

Ladies Day at Royal Ascot was a triumph of flamboyant headgear.

Here are some of our favourites from yesterday.

Image source, DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS

Image source, DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/ GETTY IMAGES

Image source, MIKE HEWITT/GETTY IMAGES

Big Orange pipped last year's victor Order Of St George by a short head in an epic finish to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

The 5-1 winner, ridden by James Doyle for trainer Michael Bell, held on for a memorable triumph after a gripping battle in the final furlong.

Order Of St George, under Ryan Moore, kept on closing but the 5-6 favourite just failed to give trainer Aidan O'Brien an eighth win in the race.

The 33-1 chance Harbour Law was third.

Later, there was a first Royal Ascot triumph for an offspring of the legendary racehorse Frankel as Atty Persse won the King George V Stakes.

Image source, Reuters

Yesterday's Gold Cup was a Royal Ascot classic.

What are the chances of the Queen arriving in a Big Orange outfit today?

Welcome to day four of the Royal Meeting, where more cracking racing action awaits.

Image source, Getty Images