CLERK OF THE COURSE WILL WATER OVERNIGHT AHEAD OF FRIDAY AT ROYAL ASCOT & JOCKEY BANS FROM DAY 3

After an unexpectedly dry day at Royal Ascot, Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels said he plans to water the whole track tonight.

Weather forecasts yesterday suggested showers at least, if not rain, for the area today, but they did not materialise. Speaking after the final race on day three, Stickels said: "I am going to put four millimetres on across the whole course tonight. We've had three nice days, and while we expected rain it didn't come, which happens sometimes. Sometimes you are on a hiding to nothing.

"There is a risk of a thundery shower tonight, but tomorrow by mid-morning the risk diminishes and the afternoon should be pleasant, warm and sunny. There is a faint risk of a shower then and a slightly higher risk on Saturday, but they've been predicting rain all week and it hasn't arrived.

"We're also dropping the rail from about nine furlongs out tonight. It's a false rail from there to the home bend so that will come down and runners will have use of the full width of the track on the round course."

JOCKEY BANS

Seamie Heffernan

Seamie Heffernan was banned for two days (Thursday and Friday, July 4 and 5) following his ride on second-placed Just Pretending in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

It was held by the stewards that Heffernan had interfered with fourth-placed Winsili and that this was due to careless riding on the jockey's part in that he manoeuvred left and shifted Winsili off her intended line.

Johnny Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh picked up a four-day ban (Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday, July 4, 5, 7 and 8) after the stewards held he had used his whip above the permitted level and in an incorrect place on second-placed Simenon in the Gold Cup.

Mickael Barzalona

Mickael Barzalona was banned for three days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 4, 5 and 6) following his ride on Top Trip in the Gold Cup.

It was held that he was guilty of careless riding by shifting left and interfering with sixth  El Salvador, who subsequently interfered with Simenon.

Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore received a two-day suspension (Thursday and Friday, July 4 and 5) following his winning ride on Estimate in the Gold Cup.

The stewards found Moore guilty of careless riding by allowing his mount to drift left away from the whip, interfering with Top Trip and subsequently Simenon.

DOBBS FINED

Jockey Pat Dobbs was fined £290 after changing his boots after weighing out on Sea Shanty in the Britannia Handicap.