Queen Elizabeth's horse wins at Royal Ascot for the first time in four years

Queen Elizabeth would no doubt have been cheering at the TV today in Windsor Castle, as her horse won on Day Two of Royal Ascot.

Tactical became the first royal-owned horse to win at Royal Ascot in four years when it took out the aptly named The Windsor Castle Stakes.

Jockey James Doyle who rode the horse to victory told ITV Racing: "To ride Her Majesty a royal winner here; it's what dreams are made of... I hope Her Majesty enjoyed watching it."

"It is obviously a great shame Her Majesty isn't there to enjoy the buzz of having a runner, but she has studied every bit of it today, watching the races," the Queen's bloodstock adviser John Warren told Telegraph UK

"It's the icing on the cake to have a winner for her," he added.

The 94-year-old monarch has not have been able to attend this year's race week, which is being held behind closed doors for the first time, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, Her Majesty's horses have still taken part in the meet, with two of them racing on Wednesday.

Prior to the 4.10pm race, Tactical was given a fair chance to take out the Stakes in the wet racetrack conditions.

The horse, trained by Andrew Balding, was a favourite to win, with 4:1 odds.

"It's obviously a great thrill for all of us to have a royal winner at the Royal meeting," Mr Balding told Telegraph UK.

"On racedays we tend to give the Queen a ring in the morning and give her our thoughts. We did that this morning, so she was well informed!" he added.

Earlier in the day, The Queen's horse First Receiver came second in the Hampton Court Stakes.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, First Receiver was ridden by jokey Frankie Dettori in the Queen's colours (red, purple and gold) and was also an odds-on favourite to win.

However, it was pipped at the post by Russian Emperor.

The last of the Queen's horses to win at the annual event was Estimate in 2016.