Tiger Cliff gets up late for emotional last-gasp triumph

Following heavy rain overnight, Europe’s richest handicap promised to be an attritional affair, run over the stamina-sapping distance of a mile and three-quarters.

There was drama as soon as the stalls opened as leading contender Opinion completely blew the start, but he soon made up the ground due to the sedate early gallop.

As the pace gradually increased, the strong-travelling Genzy looked the likely winner halfway up the straight, but challengers from further back began to emerge.

Genzy galloped on strongly in the final furlong, but 5-1 shot Tiger Cliff fairly flew home in the hands of Tom Queally to get up by half a length.

Number Theory was a length  further back in third, with heavily-supported favourite Ted Veale  making late headway into fourth.

Queally said: “I wanted to angle to the stands’ side as much as I could because it’s a bit quicker there.

“He travelled well and we were happy to see the rain as he has the attributes of a horse that handles cut in the ground. He always finishes his races and he dug deep when it mattered. It’s probably one of the  hardest races of the year to win.”

Owner Henry Ponsonby admitted his emotion at the occasion after the death of Lady Cecil’s husband Sir Henry earlier this season. He said: “I’m very emotional, I know Sir Herny would have loved this. It’s just wonderful.

“He’s still a very untapped horse this.”