Bless Him provides Ascot triumph!

BLESS Him justified trainer David Simcock’s faith in him with a superb victory in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot this afternoon.

The 25/1 shot proved just the tonic for Trillium Place after Lightning Spear and Sheikhzayedroad were unable to land a telling blow in their respective Group 1 targets this week.

Bless Him, initially a reserve for the ultra-competitive mile handicap, only just got in the race at the 11th hour after a couple of late withdrawals.

Thanks goodness he did! The Qatar Racing colt went on to show exactly why he has always been held in such high regard by his trainer.

With 29 runners in the field, Bless Him raced in the smaller far side group under jockey Jamie Spencer.

The son of Sea The Stars relaxed and travelled well, enjoying the true gallop. When it came to the business end of the race, Simcock’s charge showed his true colours, knuckling down to burst through a gap with just over a furlong to run.

Ronald R through down a strong late challenge but Bless Him had all the moves covered and scored by half a length. It was David’s second Royal Ascot winner and a sweet one.

He said: "Fantastic – I'm chuffed to bits. It hasn't been the best of weeks so far – a bit quick for old Sheikhzayedroad [sixth in the Gold Cup] and Lightning Spear didn't run his race [in the Queen Anne Stakes] for one reason or another, so this is great, good timing, and a hard race to win.