WILTSHIRE-TRAINED Toronado was pipped to victory as Dawn Approach got his career back on track in an incredible finish to the St James's Palace Stakes on day one at Royal Ascot.

Jim Bolger's 2000 Guineas hero Dawn Approach had run poorly in the Investec Derby at Epsom, but was strongly-backed as the 5-4 favourite to get back on the winning trail returning to a mile just 17 days later.

The three-year-old got seriously squeezed for room in the straight, in an incident which also hampered Toronado, trained by Collingbourne Ducis handler Richard Hannon.

Toronado made a real race of it on his outside as the two battled all the way to the line, with Dawn Approach triumphing by just a short head.

Toronado's rider Richard Hughes was in no doubt being hampered in the straight cost him victory.

He said: "I would have won. I deliberately went around the outside to avoid the trouble.

"I had him rolling and had to stop and get him rolling again, but the winner is very brave."

Trainer Hannon said: "I think he would have won but at least he's back. He's a very good horse.

"The winner has been concertinaed, but we've been taken into the middle of the track. But that's racing and we're not dead yet."

Asked about a possible run in the Sussex Stakes, Hannon said: "He could go there. He'll have a break, but we'll take Dawn Approach on again."

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