ROYAL Ascot once again provided a memorable - and profitable - day for Mark Johnston when the Middleham Maestro made it two doubles in as many days.

After Attraction and Pearl of Love came home on Tuesday, yesterday was the turn of Russian Valour in the Group Three Norfolk Stakes, before Fantastic Love raced home to land the King George V Stakes Handicap.

Russian Valour was smartly away and with Kevin Darley soon getting a good pitch on the rails, the colt stayed on strongly through the final quarter-mile to hold the challenge of Kheleyf by one and three-quarter lengths.

Johnston had sent out Attraction to win the Queen Mary Stakes and Pearl Of Love to take the Chesham Stakes on the second day.

And there had been a measure of confidence about Russian Valour's chance.

The Middleham trainer said: ''It is wonderful, and long may it last. He was the most experienced horse in the race, but it has been disappointing how he has hung in the past.

''I don't think anyone expected the race to go like that. They were queuing up to go past him, but he came back with an extra gear. It was brilliant.''

Reflecting on the strength of the opposition, he went on: ''They were saying it was a two-horse race, and I could not understand why Russian Valour wasn't one of them, especially with that experience.

''I don't think I have trained a bigger horse of this class. He weighs in at about 560 kilos, which is 45 kilos heavier than Desert Deer (his five-year-old stablemate).

''I didn't know early in his career how good he might be. I thought he was too big to be fast.''

When faced with the obvious question of what was the plan now, Johnston added: ''The filly (Attraction) yesterday did a faster time and she looks more of an out-and-out sprinter than this fellow.

''He feels as if he will get the six - but I don't know what we will do now. You don't worry too much about what you will do in the future when you have just had a Royal Ascot winner.''

Darley was impressed and said: ''Mentally perhaps he has been a bit behind himself physically, but today you saw the real Russian Valour - he looks like a jumper and he will keep progressing.''

And the Johnston team have not finished with their Royal meeting juvenile raids, as he concluded: ''Waterstone could possibly run in the Windsor Castle on Saturday.''

Johnston added another winner to his ever-growing tally when 10-1 chance Fantastic Love got the verdict after the closest of finishes to the King George V Stakes.

Keith Dalgliesh brought the winner from last early on to lead inside the final furlong, but it went to the judge as Salsalino and Pat Smullen rallied, and the winner had only millimetres to spare. Having spent all week telling the jockeys to stay to the inside and keep prominent, it is odd to see one win like that,'' said the trainer.

''When Double Obsession (another of the stable's contenders) hit the front two out I thought they wouldn't reel him in, but the way he weakened I can only presume they must have gone very quickly early on.

''Keith has been a bit unlucky not riding any of my other three winners so far, but that is the way it goes when you have so many top-class jockeys vying for rides. I am pleased he has got one on the board here.''

Salsalino was a first Royal Ascot runner for trainer Alan King, who praised the ride given to his horse.

''Coming down in the lift I knew we hadn't won,'' King said. ''But what a ride Pat Smullen gave him from a poor draw - it was a great race.''

Among those on hand to welcome home the runner-up was star jumps jockey Richard Johnson, who regularly rides for King and was at the races with his Royal girlfriend Zara Phillips.

Johnston and Dalgleish were involved in another photo-finish at the conclusion of the day's finale, the Britannia Stakes.

But this time the duo had to settle for second place as 33-1 chance Helm Bank was beaten a neck by Clive Cox's first Royal Ascot winner New Seeker (16-1).

Kieren Fallon raced to success in the day's biggest race, the £250,000 Gold Cup.

Fallon made his bid for glory when sending Paul Cole's stayer past long-time leader Persian Punch about half a mile from home. He soon had all his rivals on the stretch and the 3-1 second favourite came home six lengths clear of the Persian Punch (20-1).