HENRY Candy ended a 37-year wait for a Royal Ascot winner when Twilight Son lifted the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday, writes MARK EDWARDS.

The Wantage handler admitted he nearly withdrew the four-year-old in the build-up to the race, but was relieved he stuck to his guns with his charge winning more than £340,000.

It made it six wins from just eight starts for the son of Kyllachy and for Candy a third winner at the meeting after Kambalda won the Ascot Stakes in 1974 and Pipedreamer triumphed in the 1979 Royal Hunt Cup.

The 7-2 chance was settled in the middle of the nine-runner field by Ryan Moore for much of the six-furlong contest before bursting through to make his presence felt inside the final furlong.

Candy’s four-year-old was not to be denied, with one late lunge putting his head in front and denying Gold-Fun by a neck as Candy’s barren run of just three winners since the turn of the year came to an end.

The delighted trainer commented: “I never come here thinking I’m going to have a winner. We’ve been close a few times and it’s marvellous to get the job done finally.”

Of his stuttering start to the season, he added: “They were all getting to the furlong pole and not getting any further.

“It was nice to have a winner at Newbury last week but they have been few and far between.

“He is as tough as boots. I thought when Ryan got stuck into him he would find more, but I thought Frankie had more in reserve as he rode a brave race.

“It’s fantastic, as it is the place everybody wants to be winning at.

“It’s a wonderful race – the best sprint of the year.”