Legendary trainer Henry Cecil has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
The 68-year-old is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest trainers in history and his services to the sport have been recognised by Her Majesty.
After serving as assistant to his stepfather Cecil Boyd-Rochford for four years, Cecil took out his licence in 1969 and he has saddled 25 British Classic winners as well as a record 72 Royal Ascot winners, and has been crowned champion trainer 10 times.
Cecil dominated racing until the late 1990s, but his career stalled early in the new millennium with a few sparse years prompting rumours of retirement.
However, Passage Of Time's Criterium de Saint-Cloud victory in 2006 saw the Group One flag flying above Warren Place again and was the first indication that Cecil's star would once more soon be in the ascendancy.
He then revealed in February 2007 that he had been receiving treatment for stomach cancer for the previous nine months, but his ailing health did not stop him sending out Light Shift for an emotional victory in the Oaks that June.
Cecil has been almost the force of old again since, with the likes of dual Champion Stakes winner Twice Over and five-time Group One winner Midday among the flagbearers for his yard in recent seasons.
Indeed, Cecil will very much be the centre of attention again on Tuesday as Frankel bids to supplement his scintillating 2000 Guineas win with victory in the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
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