SUPPORTING all of the horses ridden by Richard Hughes at Royal Ascot this afternoon is a policy which could potentially pay handsome dividends.

Fans of multiple bets such as Yankees and Canadians should strongly consider linking together the pick of his mounts, kicking off with Reel Buddy (2.30) in the opening Group 3 Jersey Stakes.

Hughes, one of the most gifted jockeys I have ever seen, is an ideal foil for Reel Buddy, a classic hold-up colt who needs to be produced as late as possible.

The talented Irishman possesses the canny knack of being able to settle most individuals, however hard they may be pulling for their' heads.

And with Reel Buddy's most potent weapon being his lethal turn of foot, Richard is just the man to come late and fast to snatch the spoils.

Reel Buddy's trainer Richard Hannon might well be in the money again for the following Queen Mary Stakes via Red Opal (5.05).

She showed plenty of promise on her debut at Sandown, finishing third to a David Loder hot-pot, Izwah. Given the normal amount of improvement, Red Opal cannot be dismissed despite her relative lack of experience.

If Hughes is successful on either of the first two selections, it will provide an excellent springboard for Observatory (3.45) in the top-of-the-bill event of the day, the £250,000 Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes.

John Gosden's ultra-smart raider steps up from a mile having won twice over that trip over the course last season, including at the Royal meeting when he prevailed with a gutsy display in the Jersey Stakes.

Given his superb track record, Observatory will be many people's idea of a banker bet - yet Hughes may have an even better chance on Her Majesty's Temple Way (4.55) in the marathon Ascot Stakes.

He's really useful stayer who was just collared by Bay Of Islands in the Millennium running of Newcastle's Northumberland Plate, prior to collecting a valuable handicap at Glorious Goodwood.

Neither is Richard without prospects in the preceding Royal Hunt Cup aboard Border Subject (4.20), a four-year-old he partners for his principal retained owner, Prince Khaled Abdulla.

Border Subject blitzed a big field at Lingfield in May with a pulsating pillar-to-post victory. The strapping son of Selkirk is equally effective over a mile and his naturally exuberant style should mean he keeps well out of trouble up front.

In the finale, Hughes gets the leg up on the speedy youngster, Glenmorangie (5.30), bidding to win the seven furlong Chesham Stakes.

The selection is clearly improving at a rate of knots having scooted up on his last two starts at Goodwood and Windsor.

With that sort of firepower under his belt, he may hold to many guns for the almost certain favourite, David Loder's Seba.

Mark Johnston, who did the business for us at Royal Ascot yesterday, introduces a nice two-year-old at Hamilton by the name of Scottish River (2.20), while the bet of the night at Ripon is Colway Ritz (8.00), primed to perfection for the Norman Wells Memorial Handicap Challenge.

* Don Enrico Encisa's wonderful stable servant McGillycuddy Reeks was the star of the show at Thirsk yesterday winning her 10th race in all for the Middleham trainer.

The ten-year-old mare showed her rivals a clean pair of heels once regular pilot Kim Tinkler kicked for home at the two-furlong pole.

"I took her out of York at the weekend in favour of this race," said the winning handler, who was ending a lean spell on the turf.

It was an all family finish to the Radio York Lunchtime Show Fillies' Handicap when the Richard Fahey-trained Dakota Sioux, pipped his brother-in-law Tim Easterby's The Wife right on the line.

The race looked all over as The Wife nosed ahead with a furlong to travel, but Sanders was having none of it, bursting through on the far rail to claim the contest by a short-head.

As well as napping 10-1 shot Takamaka Bay on day one of Royal Ascot, JANUS (Colin Woods) also selected the last gasp 8-1 winner of the St James's Palace Stakes, Black Minnaloushe.

Persian Punch faces 11 rivals as he bids to make it fifth time lucky in tomorrow's Gold Cup, the highlight of the third day of Royal Ascot.

And although the eight-year-old has not enjoyed the best of fortune in the race in previous years, trainer David Elsworth is hopeful that his charge can build on two promising efforts so far this season.

''He's run consistently well both times this year, he's in great form and I think he'll run a smashing race,'' he said.

''He is capable of performing to a high standard but for some reason he's never managed to do it in this race before.''

Persian Punch is unquestionably a top-flight stayer, who has accumulated well over £400,000 in prize-money in his career, but his record in the Gold Cup is a disappointing two sixth placings and two 12ths in four attempts.

Also among the 12 declarations for the £210,000 contest are the Mark Johnston-trained pair, Royal Rebel and Yavana's Pace.

John Hills has booked Billy Newnes for Miss Lorilaw, in the Group Three Deutscher Herold Preis over 11 furlongs at Hamburg on Saturday.

The daughter of Homme de Loi finished fifth to Ulundi on her return in a class B conditions race at Goodwood.

Eoghan O'Neill's Insenor (Willie Ryan), off the board in both her outings this term, and Sweden's Yankee Bloom, complete a trio of foreign raiders.

The ten-runner field includes the respective third and fifth in the German Oaks, Nouvelle Fortune and Astilbe.

Brid Rodgers, the Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, has announced the resumption of horse imports from Great Britain following the suspension of those movements in February because of the onset of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

She said: ''As from June 18 horses may be imported from Great Britain with the appropriate health certification."

Members at Carlisle and Catterick, two tracks badly affected by nearby outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, will be admitted free at Thirsk's extra fixture on June 27, a week today.