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Qatar Racing's Bless him won the ultra-competitive Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

Bless Him had only been second reserve when the declarations for the Britannia were made on Monday, but he managed to scrape into the race and caused a 25/1 surprise as he won the 29-runner valuable handicap by half a length, carrying the third colours of Qatar Racing.

While the majority of the runners raced near the stands side rail - including the Qatar Racing-owned favourite Son of The Stars - Bless Him was one a small group to race on the far side of the track, sitting on the heels of the early pacemakers under Jamie Spencer.

Bless Him made his bid for the lead with over a furlong to run, and then had to prove resolute in the finish to hold off the late charge of Ronald R, who had beaten Son of The Stars at Newmarket on his previous start.

Bless Him's success was a feather in the cap of both Jamie and trainer David Simcock, who had always believed the son of Sea The Stars had a big day in him.

After the race, Jamie said: "He's a horse that's always trained lovely at home and it was our big hope that once he got into a race with a lot of pace on, he was going to be hard to beat. When I moved on him, he was very explosive. He went through a tight gap and I was in front plenty early. He was idling in front."

David Simcock added: "It's very special having a winner here. It's what all the hard work at home is for. He's quickened up really well and Jamie will say he's got there too soon, but he's actually taken Ronald R's gap. He isn't straightforward on the racecourse, but he's very talented and at home, he's great."

The key to Bless Him - who had been keen in his previous starts - is clearly a strong pace, and there are plenty of options open to him going forward.

Sadly, there have been disappointments this week, most notably Lightning Spear and Simple Verse, but there are more chances for Qatar Racing to have another Royal Ascot winner on Friday when unbeaten juvenile fillies Black Sails and Natural go in the Gr. 3 Albany Stakes, and Count Octave and Fierce Impact step up in trip in the Queen's Vase, which is now a Gr. 2.

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