Ascot specialist Lord Glitters strikes in dramatic Queen Anne

The Queen Anne may have been bereft of a magnificent miler who has dominated the division but the plot more than made up for that.

Accidental Agent stood still, Silvestre de Sousa got too animated on Beat The Bank and picked up a seven-day ban as well as a £1,050 fine, while Lord Glitters avenged his agonising defeat in the race 12 months previously by swooping late to lead home a blanket finish of seemingly unfancied outsiders. There was drama at the start and more was to come at the finish.

Rewind a year and Lord Glitters failed by half a length to reel in Accidental Agent. With his conqueror that day losing all chance at the start, his job was simplified ever so slightly and Danny Tudhope timed his challenge to perfection to register his third, and David O'Meara's fourth, royal winner.

The winning margin may have been small, just a neck, but O'Meara admitted afterwards that he never contemplated defeat at any stage during the race.

"It was one of the easiest Royal Ascot runners to watch as there was never a moment when I though he looked in trouble," said O'Meara.

"He always runs well here as he loves the track. He can be quite strong and keen and that's what happened in the Lockinge, when he over-raced with no cover. Today, as soon as jumped, Danny got him across and got cover. From there on, it all looked like it went pretty well. I was always happy.

"I thought Danny gave him a lovely ride this afternoon and it was brilliant from the word go."

Credit: Getty Images

Lord Glitters is one of those horses who needs to be played late. Tudhope had to show his hand last. The braver you are, the bigger the pot. His Royal flush was worth over a quarter-of-a-million to connections here.

"David told me to ride him as cold as I can and to be brave. If there is anywhere you can do it, it is this track because that last furlong is a long, long way. I got a lovely split and the race just panned out perfectly," said Tudhope afterwards.

The winning rider added: "We had a lot of faith in this horse. We knew he was very talented; things just need to fall right for him. That's the way he needs to be ridden so you need luck on him."

Watch the replay of a thrilling Queen Anne here

Luck is not something that was dished out to Accidental Agent. He consented to move after a good few seconds but the birds had flown by that stage as One Master appeared poised to repeat her Prix de la Foret heroics as she hit a low of 1.16 in-running having stormed from last to first a furlong out.

She did not get home, though, and it was left to Beat The Bank to try and beat Lord Glitters.

Andrew Balding's charge was brave as ever in defeat but he was robbed in a thrilling climax. Not only was De Sousa deprived of Group 1 glory on the biggest stage of all but worse was to come as the stewards deemed he had used his whip above the permitted level inside the final two furlongs and dished out a hefty punishment.

The Eclipse could be next for Beat The Bank.

"We're quite keen to try him over a mile and a quarter and we might look at the Eclipse Stakes next," said Andrew Balding.

But this was the day Lord Glitters eclipsed the best milers in the business. His last five trips to Ascot now read 22211. There are certainly worse courses to be a specialist at.

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