Muteela best in Royal Ascot finale

Muteela held off the late thrust of Queen Catrine to keep her unbeaten record intact in a thrilling renewal of the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot.

The Mark Johnston-trained Muteela was the 9-2 favourite following a hat-trick of victories at Lingfield, Beverley and Newmarket and forced the pace from the outset in the hands of Paul Hanagan.

The challengers were queuing up to have a pop at the market leader entering the final furlong, but she stuck her head down determinedly to fend off all-comers on the run to the line.

There was a late worry for her supporters as 14-1 shot Queen Catrine flashed home down the middle of the track and there was little between them as they hit the line, with the judge calling Muteela the winner by a short head.

Wee Jean and Graceful Grit finished third and fourth respectively.

Hanagan said: "To be honest, I wasn't that confident we'd won, because the second horse was quite away from me. Jamie (Spencer) said well done to me when we were pulling up, so that was enough for me.

"It would have done her good if the second horse had come to her, as she was on her own the whole way with no company.

"Every race she's run she's up there with the pace. She wouldn't really quicken, but she's very genuine and keeps galloping all day.

"We had a little fall out at Chester (earlier in the season) when I fell off her, but she's none the worse for it."

Johnston said: "She's very fast and there would be a slight debate about whether we should go back to seven furlongs, but there are so many opportunities at a mile and we've had this race in mind for quite a long time, so it's great to do it.

"We thought when she has run before that she needed every inch of a mile but the dam injects so much speed.

"Everyone was asking whether we were disappointed to get an 8lb rise for winning at Newmarket last time, but she needed that to get a run here.

"It's a tremendous family. I trained the dam (Nufoos) and I trained the half-brother Awzaan who won the Middle Park.

"She took a while to mature and grow up, but we knew this was on the cards.

"It's so hard to get a winner here, we didn't manage to get one last year so it's a great relief.

"I entered her in the Falmouth Stakes yesterday. As she has won over that course and distance, it would be very tempting."