SOLDIER'S TALE landed a well-judged punt in a thrilling renewal of the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday afternoon. Johnny Murtagh conjured a tremendous late surge from his mount, who was eventually sent off at 9-1, to deny Australian raider Takeover Target (8-1) in the dying strides.

Richard Hannon's 14-1 chance Asset was always prominent and came back for more once coming under pressure to claim third. Lee Freedman's King's Stand Stakes heroine Miss Andretti was weak in the market beforehand and faded alarmingly after showing up well throughout the first few furlongs. Freedman's mare had spearheaded the early dash along with compatriots Magnus and Takeover Target, but the writing was on the wall for the first-named pair some way from home.

The same could not be said for Takeover Target, who poked his nose in front at the quarter-mile point and powered on gamely as challengers queued up in behind.Red Clubs briefly took over before flattening out, and Takeover Target looked to have done enough to grab his second victory at the Royal meeting after last year's success in the King's Stand.

But Murtagh was at his forceful best on board Jeremy Noseda's winner, pushing his head in front just shy of the post. The official winning margin was a head, with Asset a further half-length away in third. Newmarketbased trainer Noseda said:

"I think it might be my best day. He's been a horse with countless problems and we've got him back for this. He's such a tough horse and a brave horse. He deserves it.

"My owner deserves it for his patience and I should give a huge 'thank you' to the whole team at home for getting him back to win this. It's a fabulous, fabulous day.

"He's had countless fractures, colic surgery and pieces of his stomach removed. He has to have a special diet as he finds it hard to digest. We live in fear all the time of him getting colic again, but he's such a special horse. He's a fighter as he's been at the point of having to be put down twice.

"He's my favourite horse in the yard and I love him to bits. I love him for his heart, and 99 horses out of 100 would have given up with all the problems he's had, " he said after the race.

A delighted Murtagh added: "It was very tight, but it was a great race. I got a lovely run through the race and when Takeover Target started to quicken up around two-out I thought he'd go and win the race.

"But my fellow put his head down and responded really well and just in the last 50 yards we were getting there with every stride. The ground was a big help to him today, but he put his head down and it's a great win."

Joe Janiak, trainer of the runner-up, said: "The July Cup and the Nunthorpe come at the wrong time of the year (for us) and would restrict any possibility of us running in the Spring Carnival back home, while I would have to see the training conditions improved in Japan to consider that.

"I love the (training) techniques in England and the conditions are great for horses. I'd love to think the horse will be good enough to come back again (for the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee). If the horse is up to it, I'll be more than happy to come back."