Almeraq completes return from fall with Ascot win

Almeraq prevailed in a photo finish to beat a quality international field in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

The four-year-old colt was a 25-1 shot for the feature race on the final day of Royal Ascot, a Group One sprint over six furlongs.

Australia's Joliestar and Japan's Satono Reve were battling it out with a furlong to go, until Almeraq burst through on the far side to snatch victory by a nose.

That completed his return from a worrying fall at York last September, which left his regular rider Jim Crowley needing surgery on a pelvic and leg fracture.

It also gave trainer William Haggas his fourth win of the meeting and jockey Tom Marquand his third.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, Satono Reve finished second in this race for the second consecutive year while 15-8 favourite Joliestar was third.

"I'm not just saying this for effect, genuinely my first thought when I thought I'd won was for Jim," said Marquand.

"This horse and him both took horror falls at the back end of last year. Jim's fighting for his career - he should be aboard this horse. It's his [ride].

"It's great to have him here and hopefully he can find a bit of pleasure seeing this lad get up off the ground and win a big one."

Orthodox produced a stunning performance to land a second Norfolk Stakes for trainer Clive Cox.

Rossa Ryan brought the 9-2 shot through at the furlong marker before bursting clear to beat Nigel Tinkler's El Floridita by three and a half lengths.

Giavellotto added a Royal Ascot victory to his glittering CV by edging out old rival Kalpana in a thrilling finish to the Hardwicke Stakes.

Kalpana was well placed throughout before Goliath moved into contention during the final furlong, but Marco Botti's 9-1 chance Giavellotto managed to beat 9-4 favourite Kalpana by a short head.

Double Rush then held on to beat Completely Random in the Wokingham Stakes and give Andrew Balding his third win of the week at Ascot.