Free and easy in Britannia

Fast Or Free ended a blank afternoon for favourite backers as he justified market support with victory in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sent off the 6-1 market leader for trainer William Haggas, Fast Or Free ran out a convincing winner under Ryan Moore.

The 29-runner field split into two groups early on before coming back together when they hit the racecourse proper and it was Frankie Dettori who was showing the way on Piri Wango.

However, he began to back-pedal as Moore produced his mount two furlongs out.

Fast Or Free zipped into the lead but 50-1 shot Mister Music emerged from the pack to challenge and Haggas' runner had to dig deep to hold on by a length and a quarter.

Bronze Angel (20-1) finished with purpose to take third, a further length and three-quarters adrift, with Compton (40-1) fourth.

Haggas said: "It's nice to win. I think the rain maybe helped him quite a lot.

"Notnowcato (sire) enjoyed the ground and I think he's enjoyed the ground.

"He was tailor-made for this race if he got in and he just did.

"He's had three races in quick succession and he's come a long way. We'll just have to see where we go now.

"Ryan thought after his last run he'd get a mile and a quarter, but I think a mile on soft ground is good for him as he has plenty of pace and stays on well.

"I can't tell you how much this means to all of us who train to have a winner here, it's great."

Moore said: "I don't know how good a race it was but my lad is a very straightforward horse and got a nice lead.

"He travelled very well and he has a good rhythm. I actually got to the front quicker than I would have liked but he showed a good attitude. He's a good, honest horse.

"He likes a bit of cut in the ground. I've only ridden him on slower ground so I don't know how he'd handler quicker ground."