Orange Squeezes Home

Big Orange brought the house down by winning one of the most exciting Ascot Gold Cups in recent memory.

The 5/1 shot beat odds-on favourite and defending champion Order Of St George and the game front-runner did it the hard way, clinging on by an ever decreasing margin to hold off the Ballydoyle challenger by a short head at the end of two-and-a-half gruelling miles.

Trainer Michael Bell is no back number but he doesn't have the fire-power of many rivals. He was thrilled to see his standard bearer win the big prize.

Bell said: "He's just absolute super-star. He gives his all and he's got a heart as big as himself. On fast ground in the middle of the summer, he's a monster.