3 minute read

‘It’s a huge result and great to have a Royal Ascot winner’

Ian Williams enjoyed his first success at Royal Ascot when The Grand Visir  defied top-weight in the Ascot Stakes and for good measure addled the third, Time To Study.

The Alvechurch trainer is one of the best dual-purpose handlers in the business and still has a jumps career in mind for The Grand Visir, who came up trumps in this two-and-a-half-mile handicap on his fourth start under both codes since his move from John Butler's stable.

The steadier of 9st 10lb proved no burden as The Grand Visir (12-1) had enough in hand to hold the staying-on Buildmeupbuttercup by one and a quarter lengths under Richard Kingscote.

Time To Study was three and a half lengths away in third, with Fun Mac fourth.

"His hurdling career is still open to interpretation. We ran him back on the turf earlier in the month and he ran very well," said Williams.

"He was dropped 1lb which allowed him into this race, which was fortunate.

"We weren't sure he'd stay the trip, but Richard (Kingscote) gave him a lovely, patient ride into the race.

"Turning for home there were only two horses travelling well and that was Time To Study and him. Time To Study probably didn't stay and he has, all the way to the line.

"It's a huge result and great to have a Royal Ascot winner."

Addeybb relished the muddy conditions to run away with the Wolferton Stakes and complete a double for Danny Tudhope.

The jockey was on the crest of a wave after taking the opening Queen Anne Stakes, while successful trainer William Haggas was finally in the winner's enclosure having gone close with One Master and Skardu.

And it was a belated victory for Addeybb, whose last triumph came in the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown in April 2018.

Addeybb (5-1) was produced on the outside to hit the front and pull away from the opposition in the final furlong, scoring by two and a half lengths from Magic Wand, with Elarqam third and last year's Irish Derby hero Latrobe fourth.

"He's a good horse on this ground and it all came right for him today," said Haggas.

"I'm delighted to win for the owner and for the horse. We lost him a bit last year with the dry ground, but it was as though it was written in the stars today.

"This horse has really come in the last three weeks. He looked great and won really well. I'm thrilled to bits."

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