3 minute read
The longest race of the day provided the closest finish yet, as 66/1 outsider Reshoun won the two and a half-mile Ascot Handicap by a fast-diminishing short-head.
Winning rider William Buick – who was recording his 26th Royal Ascot victory – just held off the Ryan Moore/Willie Mullins combination of M C Muldoon (11/2), with Elysian Flame (16/1) a further length and three quarters back in third. Golden Rules (12/1) finished fourth.
Seven-year-old Reshoun – owned by Dr Marwan Koukash – was giving his trainer Ian Williams a second victory in this long-distance handicap, following the win of The Grand Visir in 2019.
Williams said: "The secret to this horse today was that William got him out of stalls. He has forfeited so many chances in races. In the Chester Cup he ran a great race, but he was slowly away and it's impossible when you're lacking a bit of pace to catch up that quickly.
"The boys at home have been working with him, and I couldn't believe today that he was out as sharp and in front in the first furlong. It was a good place to have him, but then it was whether or not he stayed. When he just got taken off his feet a bit turning in, I thought he wasn't staying, so I thought, that's it, and turned my attention to Mancini, and when I looked back for him, I couldn't actually believe he was plugging away there, and he stayed very strongly to the line.
"I was celebrating winning but wasn't sure I had! It was good; it's good to have people here to enjoy it with, and it's a fantastic result. The owner [Dr Marwan Koukash] - I can imagine the noise in Liverpool this afternoon. He'll be very disappointed it wasn't at Chester, but I don't think Royal Ascot's ever going to be at Chester. This horse has done him proud, and he has done me proud.
"We got a great team at home. I am extremely lucky to have been given probably one of the nicest places in the country to train from by my friend and landlord, Pat Kelly. It all comes together on days like this and makes every moment worthwhile."
Buick said: "He jumped well, which he hasn't really done in the past, and I was never in any fear of him running a bit too keen as he gets in that lovely staying rhythm. We ended up in a good spot and I wasn't going to change anything.
"The pace was about a two-and-a-half-mile pace. We were going a sensible pace; we certainly weren't going too quick.
"He always kept finding. I felt in the finish that he was just pulling out that little bit more - when the second horse came to me, he just found a bit more.
"It's a little bit of a surprise but, at the same time, Ian has a great record with these stayers and every time I'm on one for him, it's always respected. He didn't look at 66/1 show in the paddock - the horse didn't know his price at the end of the day, it's one of those races where it's an extreme distance for Flat horses so it's hard to really get a get a proper true gauge on it.
"I was confident he would stay, we had a nice run through, and we had a good draw, which I think is under played a little bit in these long races. I think a good draw is important as it makes your life a little easier. He had that, which was great, and it's great to get off the mark."
