Epsom Downs:Ask pipped Youmzain and Look Here in a thrilling finish to the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom. The three horses flashed across the line virtually as one but the judge managed to split them in favour of Michael Stoute's 5-1 shot.
With Ryan Moore on board, Ask got home by a nose on the far side from the luckless Youmzain in the centre and Look Here the same distance away in third.
Frozen Fire soon went to the front and set a strong pace with Expresso Star in close attendance, and Look Here and Eastern Anthem at the back.
There was little change in the order until they turned Tattenham Corner when the cards were played.
William Buick went for an audacious run up the inner on Buccellati but went into the back of Frozen Fire and that put paid to his chances.
Ask went on but he was quickly challenged by Youmzain while Duncan and Look Here came with dashing runs on the outside.
And in one of the best finishes ever seen at Epsom, Ask prevailed by the minimum margin from last year's runner-up Youmzain, with 2008 Oaks heroine Look Here running a fabulous race on her return to action.
"Things just went wrong last year and we never got the rub of the green. This wouldn't be his ideal track but we thought we had to take our chance," Stoute said afterwards. "We were prepared to just go and sit in front and from my angle passing the post I thought he'd won but we've been caught a few times recently so thank goodness it went our way this time.
"Where he runs next will be ground dependant as he doesn't want the ground too quick."
Moore added: "When I crossed the line I was either first or third and I'm just delighted as he deserves one. He's been knocking on the door for a long time and the steady pace didn't really suit him.
"He was very game up the straight as twice he was beat and he battled home really well. He does stay well."
Mick Channon was left to rue Youmzain's ill luck as he once again fell agonisingly short in a big Group One.
"He's run his race again. We got beat and that's that. He keeps turning up and I just hope we get the luck one day.
"It's one of those situations, another stride and he would have been back up.
"He will go for the King George now."
Johnny Murtagh will miss the last two days of Royal Ascot after being found guilty of careless riding aboard the unplaced Frozen Fire.
Murtagh appeared to allow his mount to drift towards the rail in the straight, impeding the run of Buccellati. The stewards subsequently inquired into the incident and banned Murtagh for five days which rules him out of races such as the Coronation Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Cecil gained a modicum of consolation for the defeat when Tom Queally played his cards late on Cloudy Start to take the Investec Opportunity Handicap by half a length from Shamwari Lodge.
Cecil received a great ovation from the crowd as he went up to collect his trainer’s prize after the €23,000 contest.
He said: “This horse really put his head down and battled and it was wonderful to see that after we were just beaten in the Oaks.”
Ocean’s Minstrel gave an indirect boost to the Derby challenges of Guineas winner and third Sea The Stars and Gan Amhras when making every yard in the Investec Surrey Stakes.
John Ryan’s charge led the Guineas field for over five furlongs before fading, but back at seven furlongs here, he never looked like being caught under Jerry O’Dwyer.
The combination maintained a relentless gallop to score by three-quarters of a length from Ermine and Velvet.
Ryan said: “Obviously the trainer got it wrong when campaigning him over a mile and a quarter as a two-year-old, as here he is scoring over seven on the sharpest track in the country.
“This is my Derby. I knew he wouldn’t be far away and I’ll now point him towards the Jersey at Royal Ascot.”