The King and Queen came agonisingly close to ending their Royal Ascot drought on Friday as Warrant Holder produced a brave performance to finish second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
For a fleeting moment it looked as though Their Majesties were about to celebrate a long-awaited success at the Royal Meeting, only for the four-year-old to be denied late on after appearing to have the race at his mercy.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by William Buick, Warrant Holder travelled strongly throughout the 1m4f handicap and looked poised to deliver a first royal winner at Ascot since Desert Hero’s triumph in 2023. However, after striking the front, he was caught close home and had to settle for the runner-up spot.
Despite the narrow defeat, there were plenty of smiles in the winners’ enclosure area as the King and Queen went to greet their gallant runner.
A guard of honour formed as Their Majesties arrived to congratulate connections, with Zara Tindall joining trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick for the post-race debrief.
The Princess Royal’s daughter was later seen giving Warrant Holder an affectionate pat, while the King himself returned to the horse several times, rubbing his nose and appearing keen to offer further encouragement to the popular gelding.
As Buick and Gosden discussed the race with the royal party, the mood remained upbeat despite the disappointment of falling just short.
Warrant Holder’s performance capped a week of near misses for the King and Queen at Royal Ascot.
Tuesday’s heavily-backed favourite Reaching High endured a miserable afternoon when finishing last in the Ascot Stakes, though the royal colours were carried to victory later that evening by Lorca’s Waltz at Beverley.
There was encouragement on Wednesday when Point Of Law finished fourth in the Queen’s Vase, before Golden Orbit crossed the line tenth in Thursday’s Ribblesdale Stakes.
Earlier on Friday, hopes rested on King’s Prize in the Albany Stakes, but the exciting juvenile was unable to make an impact against top-class opposition.
That left Warrant Holder carrying the final hopes of the week and, although victory proved elusive, his courageous display ensured the King and Queen left Ascot with plenty to be proud of.
