The last time the iconic landmark was totally surrounded by seawater was 134 years ago

Racing was given a real jolt yesterday when Ballydoyle announced the bad news that St Nicholas Abbey, one of the best horses in the world, had suffered an injury so serious that it has not only resulted in his immediate retirement from the track, it has also put his life in jeopardy.

It was a King George who described an English summer as “three fine days and a thunderstorm”, so it seems somewhat appropriate that this hot spell is about to give way to heavy rain as Ascot prepares to stage the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.

Ignorance tells the story of two French girls whose friendship is interrupted by the Second World War.

The final chapter of one of racing’s true fairy tales came to an end in Newmarket yesterday morning. Snow Fairy, the Cinderella mare who rose from the humblest beginnings to win six Group One races worldwide, aggravated an old leg injury during a routine gallop and has been retired. “It is with much sadness that the decision was made,” said her trainer Ed Dunlop, “but she owes us nothing.”

Every woman needs some turbot liver

Plans will cut water supply to abbey where Belgian monks brew prized Rochefort ale

Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson’s team, the Swedish America’s Cup challenger Artemis Racing is to try and take part in the elimination trials which start in San Francisco in four weeks, but they do not expect to be able to race until up to a month after that.

St Edward’s Crown, the official coronation crown of kings and queens for more than 350 years, leaves the Tower of London for first time in six decades amid secrecy and tight security

Dominic Brigstocke, Steve Connelly DVD/Blu-ray (360mins)

How to feast Roman style, from vineyard snails to wafers

French Benedictine abbey streams its daily round of Latin liturgy to a worldwide audience

Get in the saddle of a heavy horse at the only riding establishment in the UK specialising in these magnificent beasts. Cumbrian Heavy Horses (01229 777764; cumbrianheavyhorses.com), near Millom, is offering a new three-day ride around the central Lake District on its Clydesdale, Shire and Ardennes breeds this summer. The trek passes through the

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