Oh, Danny boy: Tudhope stays on a roll with Duke of Cambridge success

Danny Tudhope was 100-1 with Ladbrokes to be top jockey before Royal Ascot began. Paddy Power didn't even quote him on their initial list but laid him at 66-1 upon request.

After two days Tudhope is alongside Ryan Moore at the top of the table with three winners following his late surge on Move Swiftly, which propelled him past Frankie Dettori on Rawdaa.

In a similar style to his opening-day victories on Lord Glitters and Addeybb, Tudhope took little interest in the early part of the race but picked them off one by one and got by them all with 100 yards to go.

It was yet another perfectly judged hold-up ride from the 33-year-old. We have come to expect nothing less this week.

View the race replay and result here

So, Danny, three winners and leading rider at the moment, how does that feel? A giggle delays the answer for a few seconds.

"I could never have imagined that. I knew I had a decent set of rides at the start of the week and when you ride for William [Haggas] you have always got a chance," he said.

"It's nice when you get on good horses like this, they make your job a lot easier and I'm riding for great people at the minute. I couldn't do it without them."

It was a terrific training performance from Haggas, who had spent the previous 40 minutes beating himself up over running Sea Of Class on unsuitably soft ground in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Like Tudhope's challenge, this tonic was perfectly timed.

On Move Swiftly, who was having her first start since being beaten on the all-weather at Lingfield in November, Haggas said: "I'm thrilled to bits with this filly and she enjoyed the ground. We took a few to Newbury to work and she worked nicely. She's run well. The other one, Pretty Baby, didn't go on the ground and probably didn't get the trip either."

Move Swiftly (yellow) wins a thriller from Rawdaa, I Can Fly (purple) and Veracious (white cap)Credit: Bryn Lennon (Getty Images)

Move Swiftly certainly did get the trip and Tudhope thinks the daughter of Farhh could win another big prize before the season is done.

"It was her first run of the year, so she's bound to improve. I felt she was just getting tired on me and I'd say there's more to come," said the winning jockey.

There was nothing wrong with this performance. She beat the favourite and the second favourite fair and square. Indeed, I Can Fly traded at a low of 1.17 in running on the exchanges.

I Can Fly could not find a way past an inspired Tudhope on Move Swiftly, however.

"The ride I was most looking forward to before the week began was Lord Glitters, so he got my week off to the perfect start. I slept well last night," said Tudhope.

Another good night's sleep was in order after another good day at the royal meeting.

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