Gold Cup win for Royal Rebel

Royal Rebel, a 16-1 chance, won the £220,000 Gold Cup for the second successive year at Royal Ascot this afternoon.

The five-year-old, owned by British Horseracing Board chairman Peter Savill, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, held the 5-2 favourite Vinnie Roe by a neck after two and a half stamina-sapping miles.

A length back in third place was Godolphin's Wareed ( 13-2), ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Persian Punch, runner-up 12 months ago, made the running and was quickly joined by Royal Rebel who was given a smack by Murtagh in the early stages to take second place.

Jardines Lookout and Rainbow High were just behind the leading two and the order did not change until Richard Quinn kicked for home four furlongs out in a bid to outsmart his rivals.

Royal Rebel had to be hard-ridden to keep his position but he responded gamely for his jockey as Persian Punch was the first to crack in the straight.

The race developed into a three-horse contest in the final furlong with Royal Rebel, who was headed in the final 100 yards, fighting back to get the better of Vinnie Roe and Wareed in the dying strides.

He is the first horse to win back-to-back Gold Cups since Drum Taps in 1992 and 1993.

Royal Rebel was winning his first race since last year's thrilling triumph but Johnston said he had never lost faith with his six-year-old.

He told the BBC: "They won't call him too many names now!"It's just fantastic. I've said for quite a while not to discount him because the horse has been physically very well.

"You'd have to say it was a different Royal Rebel today - probably the best we've seen him in many years really.

"It's the first time I've seen the horse switched on in a while and I knew if he could go well for the first four furlongs he would take a lot of beating at the end of two and a half miles."