The four-year-old was under the pump from the home turn in the hands of Joseph O’Brien, son of trainer Aidan, but stuck to his guns admirably to fend off Estimate by a neck, with the front-running Missunited a gallant third.

Estimate brought the house down at the Berkshire track when prevailing 12 months ago, the first winner of the Royal Ascot feature to be owned by a reigning monarch in the history of the great race.

Her preparation for the defence of her crown did not go smoothly and as a result, Sir Michael Stoute’s mare was making her first start since October.

The five-year-old travelled powerfully for a long way and appeared to have most of her rivals covered on the home turn, but crucially, she was kept in by Leading Light and had to go for a run up the inside.

When the gap came, Estimate fought on bravely, but 10-11 favourite was just too strong.

Last year’s Galway Hurdle heroine Missunited was a 40-1 shot taking a significant step up in class and benefited from a superbly-judged ride from the front by Jim Crowley.

She appeared to have cut loose shortly before the turn for home, but although she gave her all in the closing stages, she was eventually run out of it and had to make do with minor honours, just a short head further back.