ROSSA Ryan was rewarded for slimming down to 8st 8lb, his lowest riding weight in the past 12 months, with a big-race win at Ascot on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

The Irish jockey rode the Roger Varian-trained Apparate (8/1) to victory in the 1m 4f Lavazza Stakes, holding on well to beat Persian Moon by a short-head.

"When I grabbed him a furlong out, he dug really deep. You don't mind losing the weight when they win," said Ryan, who was recording his 10th win in 14 days.

The runner-up was ridden by Adam Kirby, who earlier in the afternoon had won the seven-furlong Cunard Handicap on 10/1 chance Salute The Soldier.

Clive Cox's four-year-old, following up his win at Goodwood last month, made most of the running and held on well by a neck from the fast-finishing Tabarrak, ridden by Ryan, and Ripp Orf (Jason Watson), who dead-heated for second place.

Winner of this race last year, David Elsworth's five-year-old Ripp Orf was once again showing his liking for big-field handicaps at Ascot, finishing in the first five home in seven outings at the course.

Watson, who would probably have won in another stride or two, had earlier taken the Royal Foresters British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes aboard the Roger Charlton-trained Pocket Square (9/4) on only her second start, following third place on debut at Yarmouth last month.

Newmarket-trainer John Gosden and Kieran O'Neill teamed up for a double with Cherokee Trail (7-2), who won first time out in the Italian Tourist Board British EBF Novice Stakes, and 11/4 joint-favourite She's Got You in the Ritz Club British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap.

Swindler, the mount of Louis Steward, needed a lot of encouragement to go to the start for the six-furlong Fever-Tree Handicap, but Ed Walker's three-year-old flew back to win at odds of 100-30, finishing three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of Alkaraama with Dane O'Neill on board.

The Ascot Stewards were not impressed by the jockey's riding, however, as there was interference involving four runners on the run to the line and their enquiry, while allowing the placings to remain unaltered, led to Steward being suspended for eight days for careless riding.

Seamus Cronin, the winning jockey of the Fortnum & Mason Handicap, also had to appear before the stewards after the last race on the card, and was suspended for two days for using his whip above the permitted level from approaching the final furlong. The apprentice got 11/4 favourite Texting home by half-a-length from Blue De Vega, the mount of Ryan.

Ryan had won the Victoria Racing Club Handicap on the Kevin Frost-trained Francis Xavier (12/1) at Ascot on Friday when the card also featured the Lexicon Bracknell Handicap, which was won by 4/1 chance Bless Him, ridden by Jamie Spencer for David Simcock.

Members of the Royal Ascot Racing Club were celebrating on Sunday when their Platform Nineteen, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Clifford Lee, won the two-mile Little Green Rascals Children's Nurseries Handicap at York, the three-year-old's fourth win in a row.