This big field one mile handicap was messy from the very start. Exclusive Code met with early interference before running into the straight in eighth position. The gaps didn’t appear when he needed them, and he was allowed to coast home in his own time when all chance had gone. Meanwhile, down on the rail, Le Samourai pulled hard through the early exchanges, before falling out of contention, this competitive handicap debut proving a bit too much for him. The winner, Blue Courvoisier, made almost all the running and held on well.

This is the Ebor Festival’s one-mile handicap for three-year-olds, emulating the Britannia at Royal Ascot and Exclusive Code’s race at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Our progressive gelding, who won so well that day, has been raised a whopping 9lbs for that pace-setting victory. Will trainer Archie Watson’s charge be as effective on this very different track? Quite possibly, even though he must now concede weight to every one of his 19 rivals. Sneaking in at the bottom of the handicap is Le Samourai, trained by Ralph Beckett. The son of New Bay is a half-brother to Hong Kong-based international superstar Romantic Warrior – a 15-time G1 winner, can you believe! Le Samourai started his career barely two months ago, and he’s shown a great deal of potential. For all that this, his handicap debut, will represent a steep learning curve, it isn’t an unassailable one.