CLIFFORD Lee became the latest jockey to ride their first Royal Ascot winner this week when he guided Significantly to success in the closing five-furlong Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap.

The winner, trained by Karl Burke, was offered for sale at the Goffs London Sale earlier this week but was withdrawn when bidding stopped at £380,000.

Drawn close to the stand side rail, Significantly (10/1) was always prominent and held on well to win by a head from the second favourite Boomshalaa. Fantasy Master finished fastest of all to take third and Dream Composer took fourth.

Significantly was a frustrating two-year-old, requiring eight attempts to break his duck. He failed to win in three previous starts this season too, but – in fairness – he ran into a Group 1 horse in Dragon Symbol when second at Hamilton on his latest start.

Lee said: “That last furlong was hard work in the soft ground. We were drawn right next to the rail and the plan was to stick to it. This means the world to me.”

Burke added: “I’ll not say what I would have done to Cliff if he had come off that rail and let those other two beat him! He’s a very talented horse who always saves a bit for himself.” The trainer revealed the winner had worked with two-year-old Kaboo who ran such an exciting race in the Windsor Castle Stakes on his debut. “There’s not many two-year-olds that can go with Significantly,” he said.