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Sir Michael Stoute has hailed Estimate's narrow reverse in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot as a career-best display.

The Queen's mare put up a gallant bid to try and secure back-to-back triumphs in the year's staying showpiece but was just denied in a thrilling finish by Leading Light.

Stoute reports his five-year-old to have taken her Ascot exertions well and races such as the Goodwood Cup and the Irish St Leger will come under consideration in the second half of the season.

He reflected: "I thought it was a great run in what was a very good Gold Cup. She is just so honest and competitive.

"You are never really thrilled if you finish second, but I was very pleased with her performance - I thought she was brave. It would have been her best performance.

"It was a very, very hard race. Two and a half miles around Ascot, even if you win five lengths, you've had a hard race. But I think {n]Estimate[/n] has come out of it well.

"We've got a bit of thinking to do on her. The Goodwood Cup would be a possibility and she is in the Irish St Leger. But I haven't thought seriously about the next move."

Stoute is also contemplating where to head next with Cannock Chase.

The three-year-old Lemon Drop kid colt completed a three-timer with success in the Group Three Tercentanary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Stoute said: "I have just been starting to think about his next possible race. There is the (Group Two) Prix Eugene Adam over a mile and a quarter for three-year-olds on July 20 (at Maisons-Lafitte).

"We could go for the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood (July 30) and try him over a mile and a half to see if we have that choice as well in his future programme."