Mark Johnston got on the board at Royal Ascot with Fennell Bay in the King George V Stakes.

Johnston had sent out the winner of this 12 furlong handicap three times in the previous 10 years and was winning the contest for the fifth time in 18 years.

Eighteen runners faced the starter and the finish to the contest was fiercely fought with Joe Fanning's mount, who was having his ninth race of the season, sticking his neck out to prevail by a neck from Handsome Man.

Top-weight Rougemont, who was conceding upwards of 12lbs to his rivals, ran a a huge race in being beaten just a further neck into third with the first three pulling clear of Anomaly in fourth.

Gamble of the race, Gabrial The Great, failed to land a blow having been held up in the rear of the field.

Johnston said: "It gets more of a relief every time. It was beginning to look like a blank week so it's fantastic to get one in the bag.

"I'm delighted for Joe Fanning, nobody deserves it more. If he's not the best jockey in Britain he's certainly the most underrated. It was a fantastic ride from a bad draw.

"We didn't really think the horse would get the trip, but he was given a brilliant ride."

Fanning said: "It's grand. He won well.

"We were worried about the trip today. He was just doing a bit much coming down the hill but when I turned in I had a lot of horse underneath me and he stayed on well.

"It's nice to come down and have a winner."