Heroic win for Art Connoisseur in Golden Jubilee Stakes

Art Connoisseur emerged as the surprise winner of the Royal Meeting’s richest cavalry charge on Saturday, winning the 2009 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

In race where none of the popular antepost selections achieved a money finish, Art Connoisseur came home ahead of American-trained Cannonball. 33/1 long shot, Lesson in Humility, finished the race in third place.

Unbeaten Greek entry, Ialysos, also finished outside the money in a race that would have left bookmakers laughing all the way to the bank.

Art Connoisuer's victory was all the more remarkable given the fact that swelling in his leg last month had left him in doubt for the race.

"It was touch and go to get him here," winning trainer, Michael Bell, told The Guardian after the race. "He swam twice a day for a ­fortnight and then he cantered for about a ­fortnight.”

"It's such a thrill because we turned down telephone numbers for him and now it looks the right decision. I was slightly regretting it over the winter."