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The Andrew Balding-trained Tullius stayed on gamely to land the Group Three Investec Diomed Stakes by a short-head under an inspired Jimmy Fortune ride.

The 5/2 favourite settled nicely under Fortune and steadily made ground going down the hill. Inside the final furlong, the eight-year engaged in a pulsating three-way battle with Decorated Knight and Custom Cut and just managed to get up on the line to give Balding and Fortune their first winners of the 2016 Investec Derby Festival.

Tullius finished a three and three-quarter length fourth in this race last year and looked to appreciate the softer ground and the use of a visor.

Balding said: "He is a great horse. Jimmy was superb with him. The two of them have forged a great relationship over the years and they have both still got it. The visor helped him find another neck when he needed it. It was a great finish and the right result for us."

The trainer was keen to highlight the importance of older horses who are able to perform at Group level. Balding commented: "It is key to have older horses like him. It is great to have runners like him on a day like today and you need the older horses to do it. There are always economic reasons why you sell horses at time but whilst we may have sold others in the past, I am just thrilled we have held onto him for so long."

Balding was also keen to point out the benefit of the use of a visor on the son of Le Vie Dei Colori. He remarked: "I probably should have put the visor on him two years ago but it definitely seemed to help him. Jimmy gave him a fabulous ride and that made the difference in the end. I would say the horse wants further so we will look to step up in trip now.

"He still has the enthusiasm and ability at the age of eight which is fantastic for us. He has won a lot of prize money for an old gelding that David Redvers bought as a young yearling. He has done us proud.

"The syndicate are wonderful who own him and they have resisted the temptation to sell him after all these years.

"I would have been satisfied if he had come third as he had run such a huge race but to win is something I am obviously thrilled about."

Tullius came out on top of a thrilling three-way finish to the Investec Diomed Stakes at Epsom Downs this afternoon, edging out runner-up Decorated Knight by a short-head with Custom Cut a further head back in third.

The 5/2 favourite had to come between horses to mount his challenge and the eight-year-old had to be brave as the trio thundered towards the finishing line, sticking his head out gamely to record a narrow victory.

Winning jockey Jimmy Fortune was quick to praise his mount following the race and thought that the application of a first time visor was the key to success.

"The visor has made a difference today - Andrew (Balding - trainer) just thought he was taking the mickey a bit," said Fortune.

"He was actually beaten half a furlong out but he's really stuck his neck out well. This is a horse that really wants to win.

"When they headed me, I thought it was game over. He fought back well.

"I've ridden this horse throughout most of his career so I know him well. The owners (Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds) have stuck with me and I'm very grateful.

"Tullius has been a wonderful horse. He has won me two Listed races and numerous Group races over the years.

"He is getting older and wiser but he is very tough and has always tried. He has never run a bad race.

"When I thought I was beat half a furlong out, I put my stick down and then he actually ran on again!"

Decorated Knight, trained by Roger Charlton and ridden by Andrea Atzeni, finished a short-head second to the winner Tullius in the Investec Diomed Stakes.

Decorated Knight, a 7/2 shot, won a Listed race at Goodwood on his last start.

Charlton said: "I'm thrilled he ran so well on ground he hated. He didn't really handle the course and all the way down the straight you could see him getting unbalanced. So he's run a great race. I'm pleased - although it would have been nice to win!

Asked about future plans for the Galileo four-year-old colt, Charlton replied: "We'll find another Group Three for him somewhere. There's nothing for him at Royal Ascot."

The third-placed horse was Custom Cut, trained by David O'Meara and ridden by David Nolan. He finished a neck behind Decorated Knight.

Custom Cut, who is trained by David O'Meara, finished last of eight at Leopardstown on his latest start, but invariably runs well at that track, and will be heading back there in the autumn, O'Meara was absent from |Epsom, but his assistant, Jason Kelly said: "He wasn't himself on his last run on quick ground, but good to soft ground ios ideal for him and he was able to dictate from the front today.

"He was caught out late on, but was giving 5lb to the other two horses, and when that weight comes off his back later in the year he will have a great chance.

"The Boomerang Mile [a Group Two at Leopardstown in the autumn, and which he won last year] is an obvious target. He won at Sandown last year, picked up a penalty and struggled through the midpoint of the season, and then came good at the end."