Trainer George Scott: Royal Ascot is ‘Ryder Cup’ of horse racing

“It’s such a special meeting, it’s like no other week in racing – you could sort of equate it to FA Cup finals, Ryder Cups and things like that.”

Newmarket trainer George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd proved a winning combination when Isle Of Jura won the Hardwicke Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot and they can’t wait to get back there for this week’s meeting.

Scott expects to saddle nine or 10 runners from his Eve Lodge Stables yard over the course of the four days and is upbeat about the chances of more success.

“I’m just excited to take a bunch of horses there in this form – this is the first time we’ve taken a proper team,” he told BBC Look East.

“Of course, that moment with Isle Of Jura is very special but we move on. We’ll be looking to try and do it again in some capacity. As long as the horses turn up healthy, then we should be OK.”

Scott became a trainer 10 years ago and 2024 was his most successful to date with 48 winners at home and abroad, including Isle Of Jura’s victory.

It was an especially sweet moment for Shepherd, whose friend and fellow jockey Stefano Cherchi died after a fall in Australia a couple of months earlier – and who had been replaced as rider of Ambiente Friendly, which finished second, for the 2024 Derby at Epsom.

“It’s the best moment I’ve ever had on a horse, the best moment I’ve ever had in sport,” said the 27-year-old Shepherd.

“The buzz was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and he set the narrative, set the tone for the second half of the season last year where we were just incredibly successful. That followed into the winter with success in Dubai, Bahrain, the German St Leger, to name just a few.

“That day just felt like the start of something big. I can’t explain how much we all enjoyed it together. It was magic.”