Royal Ascot: Rosallion strikes in St James's Palace thriller

came out on top in the anticipated rematch of the English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas winners in what was billed as arguably the Group One feature of the week with a thrilling success in the St James's Palace Stakes at . 

Runner-up behind at Newmarket, the Blue Point colt went on to win the Irish 2000 Guineas at the subsequently and stepped forward again here to run down Henry Longfellow inside the final furlong to earn the landmark victory of his career under jockey for trainer . 

Towards the back of the field and in behind runners on the far-side rail on the approach into the straight, it appeared that Levey would need some luck to navigate a smooth passage but things opened up nicely in the closing stages and, once in the clear, ran out a somewhat cosy winner from the Ballydoyle runner-up with French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan taking third at 20-1. Notable Speech, ridden cold out the back, didn't show the sparkle and acceleration he did at as the 6-4 favourite trailed home in seventh of the eight-runner field. 

An emotional and "just delighted" trainer told ITV Racing moments after the finish: "We always thought he was an extremely good horse and he proved it before this.

"I love being part of these races and winning them is very hard."

On whether this was his highlight in the training ranks after holding a traiing licence for the best of a decade in his own name, Hannon added: "Probably."

The trainer later added: "I couldn't believe he got beaten in the Guineas [at Newmarket] the way he was travelling, but he's always been brilliant and he's the complete package."

The rider said: "It means the world to me and everyone at home. 

"I knew it was going to be a bit tactical and I'd loved to have gone forward a litle bit more, but there was just a risk of him being a bit too competitive. 

"He had to be good today - I knew the stiff track would help me, but boy was he good today.

"He travelled so well and picked up strong and he was very tenacious towards the line.

"I think once I had him out in the open I always thought I'd pick [Henry Longfellow] up - with this horse when he has something to aim at he tries, I think he showed that at the ."

Levey added: "'I'm just hoping one day they go a really good gallop and you get to see him really show his true potential - at the moment he's just showing how versatile he really is.

"I always said I always had great belief in the horse. I always hoped he would be that horse I've been waiting for all my career. People say to me, you remember the horse along with who rode it."

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Henry Longfellow, said: “We are delighted with him. He ran a great race, so what can you say? 

"We think there’s more to come. He didn’t have much of a run in France, so that was his first real race this year. It is really like a first time out for him, because France was a non-event. 

"He is happy at a mile but he could step up further.

"Ryan was surprised, he said, that the winner came and got him, because he was running to the line.”

Metropolitan’s trainer Mario Baratti said: “That’s racing. 

"I find him quite unlucky; he’s a horse who is never travelling very strongly. 

"I wouldn’t complain at Alexis; I’m happy with the ride, but he started galloping the last 200 metres when he had the gap. When he saw the horse coming along it was too late, the other two went already. But it was good to see that he is of the level to run with the best. 

"I think we will stay at a mile again. With more pace early in the race, you never know, he might have got it. It wasn’t an easy race, but I’m very happy with the horse.”

Trainer Charlie Appleby said of Notable Speech: “Will [Buick] said he was happy where he was, wheeled him out like he normally would and expected him to pick up through the gears. He said he just didn’t pick up and we weren’t strong going through the line – he lost a place or two just at the finish.

"He seems fine afterwards with no abnormalities at all. We will just see if anything comes out of it. 

"It is disappointing, obviously, but full credit to the winner. He’s a Blue Point and you always know that they are going to bring their A game to Ascot. Full credit to Richard [Hannon], Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and all the team.”