ROYAL Ascot, the greatest five-day race meeting on the planet, always promises so much and never fails. But last week it arguably delivered more than ever, writes Dave Wright.

There were Frankie Dettori's four successive winners on Thursday, including one on superstar Stradivarius who was winning the Gold Cup for the second year running.

The Godolphin-owned Blue Point won on both Tuesday and Saturday – you don't often see the same horse completing a Group One sprint double in the same week.

Danny Tudhope, not the best known of jockeys, won four races, a record only bettered by Dettori, with seven wins, and Ryan Moore with five. And Hayley Turner became only the second woman to ride a Royal Ascot winner.

There were many more memorable moment and this year's festival will go down as one of the most memorable in its long history.

Attendances ranged from 39,386 on Wednesday to an incredible 75,316 on Saturday and, with the odd exception, everyone left with a memory of their day, but for those there on Thursday it was truly a bit special.

Dettori won the Norfolk Stakes on A'Ali (5/1), followed by the Hampton Court Stakes with Sangarius (13/1) and then the Ribblesdale Stakes thanks to Star Catcher (4/1), completing his four-timer in the Gold Cup with the even-money favourite Stradivarius.

After winning the 2m 4f feature, he said: "When I crossed the line, everyone went mad – it was great. I haven't experienced anything like it at Royal Ascot. We got over 66,000 people here and a lot of them won't know much about racing, but they got to experience something really special. To see a gutsy performance from Stradivarius is good for the sport and I was so pleased to be a part of it."

The Italian added: "Stradivarius has become the people's favourite. It is a privilege for me to ride him obviously, for people in the grandstand and people at home, it is magical to see a horse like that – Stradivarius is a wonderful horse."

Scot Tudhope enjoyed a career-defining week, which began when he won the very first race, the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, on Lord Glitters (14/1) and then the Wolferton Stakes on Addeybb (5/1).

He was back in the winner's enclosure on Wednesday, taking the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes on Move Swiftly (9/1).

The Northern-based rider went up to Ripon on Thursday – where he had another winner – but returned to Ascot on Saturday to win the Jersey Stakes on 25/1 shot Space Traveller.

Tudhope was also second on the fast-finishing Dream Of Dreams in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, which was won by Blue Point (6/4fav), who was following up his victory in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes.

Friday was a dream day for Turner when she burst through a crowd of horses to win the 27-runner Sandringham Handicap on 33/1 chance Thanks Be to earn a neck verdict over the Queen's Magnetic Charm (7/1).

She became the first female to win at the Royal meeting since Gay Kelleway's success on Sprowston Boy in 1987.

However, Turner's riding didn't please the Ascot stewards, receiving a nine-day ban for using her whip too much and fined £1,600.

She later tweeted she was "on cloud nine" – referring to her success rather than her suspension.