Owner Martyn MacLeod celebrated success with his first ever runner at Royal Ascot as Snoano sprang a 25/1 shock in the Wolferton Handicap.

The five-year-old burst out of the midfield in the closing furlong and a half of the Listed race, asserting in between Elbereth and eventual third Kidmenever.

Majeed came late and with purpose but Snoano, ridden by David Allan, held on for a neck triumph.

Trainer Tim Easterby wasn't present for his fifth winner at the Royal Meeting and owner MacLeod said: "I don't know where he is - probably at Redcar! He rang before the race.

"It's my first runner at Royal Ascot - not a bad way to start! It's absolutely fantastic.

"We ran him at Ripon last time - and I know he was off the same mark here - but he just had a bit of interference in that race. It just stopped him from going forward.

"Today he was brave enough when the gap came - he darted into it."

Snoano was bred at Minster Stud by riding legend William Carson who was on hand to greet connections in the winner's circle.

Carson said: "He has always been a lovely little horse - a real trier."

Snoano (25/1) gave jockey David Allan his first success at the Royal Meeting.

The pair hugged the inside rail before making a bold switch to the outer and accelerating into the lead. The son of Nayef battled on well for his rider to hold off the challenge of the fast-finishing Majeed, also 25/1, by a neck.

Allan said: "He really likes to come through horses and we set off at a good rate of knots. He doesn't have a lot of early speed so I just brought him in at the end. I was coming through on the inside but he wasn't happy then I switched out and the gap was there. He was very brave to go in there and he didn't flinch it for a second."

Of the close finish, Allen explained: "I was looking for the line if I'm honest, but I knew when we hit the line that we'd held on. It was getting a bit scary for a minute.

"He has surprised us a bit because he actually likes the ground a bit softer. He is an absolute legend of a horse and has improved again this year.

"It's hard enough to get a good ride here so to win one is a big achievement. You come down here, take on the big boys and it is not always easy. He has done it well."

Having arrived at the Royal Meeting on a train, Allan will be flying to this evening's meeting at Haydock straight after the Wokingham "on a plane with Andrea Atzeni".