RICH RICCI

was delighted with his Thomas Hobson, even though the Willie Mullinstrained horse was pipped by 10-1 shot Oriental Fox in the Queen Alexandra Stakes yesterday.

The 2-1 favourite could not follow up on Tuesday’s triumph in the Ascot Stakes but Ricci said: ‘He pulled very hard and he was never going to win pulling that hard. To have a winner and a second at Royal Ascot is brilliant and we will build from here.

‘Australia (Melbourne Cup) is not the be all and end all...it is a £100,000 punt. He would have to go well at York (Lonsdale Cup).’