Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Ascot

It had largely been thought in the build-up to today's Gold Cup that the 2016 winner and last year's runner-up Order Of St George would go off favourite for top Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.

But punters are hoping the John Gosden-Frankie Dettori combination can get a tune out of Goodwood Cup winner Stradivarius, currently around a 7-4 chance with bookmakers.

Order Of St George, meanwhile, is out to 2-1.

When you see pictures of rather eccentric 1990s fashion, it is slightly hard to believe the whole decade actually happened.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Winstanley
BBC Berkshire at Royal Ascot

This pair have been attracting a lot of attention today - I can't think why.

Dressed in matching rainbow regalia, Rebecca Johnson and Brian Mann have travelled here from Wokingham, Berkshire, via Florida, which was the inspiration for the outfits.

Image source, Reuters

"We spent a lot of time in Florida this spring", said Rebecca. "It was beautiful and sunny, and rainy. I saw so many rainbows that were out of this world, so I brought the sunshine with us and made the outfits myself.

"It took weeks and weeks, it was a labour of love."

Brian also chipped in by saying "I get a lot of compliments" - he told me he has 15 similar waistcoats .

• 1700s - Beau Brummell, a close friend of the Prince Regent, decrees that "men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons". This has set the tone for the dress code still worn in the royal enclosure
• 1920s - Hemlines become shorter and cuts shorter as the post-war generation rebel against old traditions
• 1971 - Trouser suits become more popular after being introduced into the dress code
• 2012 - Royal Ascot officially launches its style guide to racegoers for the Royal Enclosure and Queen Anne Enclosure
• 2017 - The jumpsuit is formally accepted into the Royal Enclosure and Queen Anne Enclosure dress code

Image source, Getty Images

If you are going to Ladies' Day, then you can't go far wrong being inspired by royalty.

We'll leave it up to you to compare and contrast these ladies who have just arrived... at least we know they won't clash with Meghan if she comes today.

Image source, PA

Image source, Reuters

Jack Winstanley
BBC Berkshire Sport at Ascot

Helen Hunt and Sarah Moore are on their eighth Ascot this year, having travelled from Wales, and have kept it simple this year, on purpose.

"We've learnt the hats blow off" said Helen. "You can have too many frilly things so we are trying to keep it clean cut".

Although with the wind as it is today, Sarah adds "it will be difficult" for their purple and blue fascinators to stay on in the wind.

These racegoers look to be donning the colours of a favourite superhero TV series (although with more glamour and style).

We're only missing a green outfit to complete the theme - maybe they didn't get the memo.

Image source, PA

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Ascot

It is quite a sight, gazing from the grandstand down the long straight of the Ascot track.

The going for the third day of Royal Ascot remains Good to Firm - in other words, it's pretty fast conditions.

Both the straight and round courses were watered after racing on Wednesday, with three millimetres put on all over. It was dry overnight.

Absolute scenes at Royal Ascot as the famous black and gold gates outside Royal Ascot are opened.

In they flood like a fabulously dressed hoard of locusts, ready to suck the bars dry and devour acres of finger sandwiches.

We are off and running.

Well here's who the writers at the red tops have their money on... at the moment.

We notice the list is written in wipe-clean marker, so there may be some changes to come.

Image source, PA

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Ascot

Image source, Frank Keogh

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Ascot racecourse is bathed in warm sunshine for day three - Ladies' Day.

A dry, breezy day is forecast with sunny spells and a crowd of 70,000 expected at the Berkshire track.

Image source, Frank Keogh

Bridgitte Tetteh
BBC Radio Berkshire at Royal Ascot

The fashion is always stunning here at Royal Ascot, but what I am noticing is that people are going for a hue of pink - whether that be a baby pink or fuchsia.

If people haven't gone in that direction, then they have gone for the really muted colours. You can see the 1940s vintage look coming through, a lot of beige and creams.

We are all looking for some incredible hats, and I saw a woman a few moments ago who was wearing a hat so filled with feathers that she couldn't see.

That's called dying for your fashion.

Image source, PA

Record breaker Sir Michael Stoute has put his name in the annals of Royal Ascot history with his 76th win yesterday.

He was born in Barbados before moving here aged 19 to become an assistant at a stables.

Image source, Reuters

Stoute is based in Newmarket, training winners since the early 1970s in what has become a superb career.

"Michael Stoute is a legend of modern-day Royal Ascots and of flat racing as a whole", said BBC horse racing correspondent Corelius Lysaght.

"OK, numbers are down and things are not perhaps what they used to be. But the innings being played by this most enthusiastic of amateur cricketers still has a few runs in it."

A year ago, Olivia Attwood was sunning herself in the Love Island villa.

Today, she is one of the first through the gate wearing a themed hat related to the ITV show - although we're not exactly sure how that works... Nobody is half naked on it, for starters.

Image source, PA

The gentleman's dress code is a little simpler, although there is a new addition to the royal enclosure list.

They must wear socks...

Image source, Getty Images

Gentlemen are kindly reminded that it is a requirement to wear either black or grey morning dress which must include:

• A waistcoat and tie (no cravats), a black or grey top hat, and black shoes worn with socks

• The customisation of top hats (with, for example, coloured ribbons or bands) is not permitted in the Royal Enclosure

• A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility’s terrace, balcony or garden, and within any enclosed external seating area within the royal enclosure garden

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Sir Michael Stoute became the all-time leading Royal Ascot trainer as Poet's Word shocked strong favourite Cracksman in the Prince of Wales' Stakes.

It gave Stoute a record 76th Royal Ascot triumph, beating the late Sir Henry Cecil's 75.

Image source, Getty Images

"It's a relief because we were stuck on it last year," said the 72-year-old Newmarket trainer.

Elsewhere, Kew Gardens (10-3) won the Queen's Vase under Ryan Moore in a 1-2-3 for Aidan O'Brien.

Trainer Marco Botti claimed his first Royal Ascot winner thanks to Aljazzi, and there was a big-priced winner in the opening race for the second day running, with 25-1 chance Signora Cabello.

These are the rules for women in the royal enclosure.

Image source, Getty Images

• Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer

• Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater

• Trouser suits and jumpsuits are welcome. They should be of full-length to the ankle and of matching material and colour

• Hats should be worn; however a headpiece which has a solid base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat

Ladies are also kindly asked to note the following:

• Strapless, off the shoulder, one shoulder, halter neck, sheer, bardot and spaghetti straps are not permitted, and midriffs must be covered

• Fascinators are not permitted; neither are headpieces which do not have a solid base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches/10cm)

There will be some well-combed manes and some manicured hooves on show across Ascot today.

And that's just the punters.

Prepare yourself, there are some pictures of hats coming.

Image source, Getty Images