Royal Ascot: Going The Distance lasts out in King George V Handicap

Going The Distance came from the clouds to grab victory in a thrilling renewal of the King George V Stakes at .

A field of 19 runners went to post for the mile-and-a-half contest, with much of the pre-race focus on Gilded Water, who was the 5-1 favourite to provide trainer William Haggas, jockey Tom Marquand and the King and Queen with back-to-back victories following Desert Hero’s memorable success 12 months ago.

Going The Distance, who won his last two starts of last season and his first of this, was a 9-1 shot for Ralph Beckett and had only behind him rounding the home turn.

Both horses made up from hand over fist in the straight and it was Going The Distance who finished just the best down the outside of runners to beat Neski Sherelski by half a length in the hands of Rossa Ryan. was a well-beaten 12th.

Go Daddy, from William Muir and Christy Grassick’s stable, was a further half-length back in third, with the George Boughey-trained fourth of the 19 runners.

Beckett saddled to win yesterday’s Kensington Palace Stakes Fillies’ Handicap under jockey Hector Crouch.

Beckett said: “I said yesterday that wasn’t a plot, but this was a bit of a plot. When Going The Distance won at Kempton, I think he was our only winner in April, and got a few pounds for winning there, so it all fitted together like a glove.”

He added: “I am very fortunate Hector rode a winner for us yesterday, and to have Rob Hornby and Rossa, we are very fortunate to have three fellows really going places. Today Rossa was foot perfect on this fellow, he really was. He got it absolutely right, we planned it, it was a balls of steel ride and it worked out well.

“We will see what the handicapper does, but I think he’s certainly bred to get a little bit further, I wouldn’t mind thinking of that. We will enjoy today. Today was the plan.”

Ryan said: “Beautiful. The biggest applause has to go to the lads in Kimpton [Beckett’s stable], they're brilliant. Fair play to Ralph, he's been plotting this lad all year. There was a question mark about the ground, but he did a nice bit of work last week and we were all hopeful that he'd run a big race.

"To get a winner for Mr Chan and his team… it's hard getting on some of the horses Frankie was riding and trying to do something with them, but to get a Royal Ascot winner is brilliant. I was a bit sick going home last night after just getting touched off in the Royal Hunt Cup but it's amazing what 24 hours can do.

"I got shuffled out turning in, but Going The Distance is very gutsy. To be fair, he picked himself up at the top of the straight and he kept galloping for me. He had a little look around when he was in front, but he did it well and should go on. When he gets on softer ground, he'll be better again.”

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Neski Sherelski, said: “It was a fantastic ride from Jamie [Spencer]. I am very proud of the horse. It is frustrating not to win, but he ran great. We’ll see how he pulls up and speak to Barry [Taylor], who owns him, but we probably won’t be rushing him back – that was a big run on hard ground, but he’s really exciting for the future.”

Go Daddy’s co-trainer William Muir said: “I am delighted. I came here thinking he had a big, big chance and that the step up to a mile and a half would suit. If it had been soft ground, he’d have won easy, but he copes with this ground fine and he’s run a blinder. As I said to Lewis [Edmunds] coming in, we can go wherever we want now.”