AIDAN O’BRIEN and Johnny Murtagh had enjoyed an unusually frustrating week at Royal Ascot but Lillie Langtry’s victory in the Coronation Stakes ensured there were smiles back on their faces on the fourth day of the meeting.

And then in typical fashion they quickly doubled up with another favourite as Mikhail Glinka (2-1) got up in the shadow of the post to land the Queen’s Vase.

But it was Lilly Langtry’s success that got the ball rolling. The 7-2 favourite had finished fifth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on her seasonal return, but she improved for the run to land the Group One feature.

The Danehill Dancer filly was in a handy position just off the leaders. But when they turned for home Murtagh made his move down the outside.

The leader Gile Na Greine went for glory but Lillie Langtry finally got to her on the run to the line to score by a length and quarter.

Jacqueline Quest, who had been demoted to second despite passing the post in front in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, stayed on to claim third.

O’Brien said: “We are delighted, we always thought she was a very good filly. She was a very good filly last year, she had a little injury at the backend and it’s all credit to everyone for getting her back.

“She was off all through the winter. We started her off in the Irish Guineas and she ran a lovely race there - we were delighted with her and were looking forward to coming here.

“She has the option to step up to a mile and a quarter in either the Pretty Polly (at the Curragh) or the fillies’ race (Nassau) at Goodwood.

“We’ll have to decide whether she stays at a mile or steps up to a mile and a quarter.”

Murtagh added: “I was on the inside and saved ground on the bend in the straight. You need to be travelling round here.

“She’s a champion and I thought she was by far our best filly last year - going to America I was telling Aidan how far we were going to win the Breeders’ Cup by.

“That didn't happen, but thankfully she came back well in the Irish Guineas and she stepped up at home.

“Her homework was very good coming here and I thought she might do something like this today.”

Gile Na Greine’s trainer Jim Bolger was happy with her second place and he said: “I’m pleased. We drew a line through her run at the Curragh. She’s a good filly.

“We’ll take her home now and see where we are. She carries plenty of condition and she behaves a bit like a colt in that we can get plenty of mileage out of her. She won’t be going back in trip, that’s for sure.”

Jacqueline Quest couldn’t quite make up for her disappointment at Headquarters last month.

But trainer Henry Cecil, who also saddled 12th home Chachamaidee, said: “Jacqueline Quest ran very well - there are no excuses - those fillies are the best there are. I haven’t got a plan for her at the moment.

“Chachamaidee ran very well, she just didn’t stay the final furlong. She will drop back to seven furlongs and the obvious race is the Oak Tree Stakes."