Sylvester Kirk was in red-hot form at Ascot last Saturday, saddling three winners on the card, writes Dave Wright.

The Upper Lambourn trainer won the listed Buckhounds Stakes with odds-on favourite Salouen, ridden by Oisin Murphy and then the following race, the British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap with 14/1 shot Bubble And Squeak, in the hands of Jason Watson.

And Kirk completed his hat-trick when apprentice Poppy Bridgewater steered home She Believes (8/1) in the Stella Artois Silk Series Lady Riders' Fillies Handicap.

Kirk described it as a "wonderful day" and told the Racing Post: "Having three winners on any day is fantastic, but for it to happen on a Saturday at Ascot during a televised meeting was lovely."

Another Lambourn trainer to visit the winner's enclosure was Ed Walker, who landed the Stella Artois Handicap with 4/1 favourite Molls Memory, ridden by

Liam Keniry.

Ascot's three other races on the day were all won by Newmarket horses.

Sir Michael Stoute sent out Sextant (7/1), owned by the Queen, in the opening Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap, with Louis Steward wearing the Royals silks, while Charlie Appleby's Expressionist (5/2 fav) was too hot for six rivals in the Barbados Novice Stakes.

Cape Byron, from Roger Varian's yard, won the feature race of the day, the £65,362 Tote Victoria Cup, leading home the field of 26.

The 8/1 shot, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, just managed to hold on to beat 7/1 favourite Kynren by a neck at the end of seven furlongs.

Atzeni said: "He deserved it as he's been knocking on the door in these big handicaps. We were happy with him at home, but he was coming off a long break so we weren't sure if he was fit enough, we also weren't sure about the ground."

Ascot's Friday meeting was a happy one for retired local businessman Peter Ridgers, the former Bracknell cricketer and footballer. He owns Louie De Palma, who won the Montfort Handicap at 6/1 in the hands of Adam Kirby and trained by Clive Cox.

Second place went to Vegas Boy (14/1), whose owners include Nas Bashir, a former Reading FC Academy coach and founder of the FAB Academy based at Bisham Abbey.

Another Berkshire owner celebrating at Ascot on the same day was Sonning businessman, Max McNeill, following Aweedram's success in the Women In Racing Handicap.

It was a rare flat winner for him as his colours are more frequently seen at National Hunt meetings, but his main trainer, Alan King, is currently in very good form with his Flat runners.