If he could have broken on terms, Old Is Gold would nearly have won this. Four or five lengths behind the leader (who won the race) after just 100m, and still just about last at halfway, he ran on to great effect, having to go to the left and then back to the right in search of running room. He then had to be brave to force his way through the narrowest of gaps, and finished off his race extremely well, closing with every stride under hands-and-heels urgings as the leaders tired. A never-nearer fifth at the post, found out by that stately start and the brevity of the test. The visor, fitted for the first time, didn’t completely solve his starting issues but certainly didn’t harm his chances. The winner, Miss Yechance, ran almost the complete opposite race: she jumped fastest and never saw a rival.

The Ebor Meeting starts with the loudest possible bang: its signature race, the G1 Juddmonte International, a championship battle of the generations over 10.5f. Wathnan Racing sits that one out, and gets its festival underway with a pair of sprinters in the races straight after the showpiece. Old Is Gold is an enigmatic three-year-old who has so far promised more than he has delivered. He’s undoubtedly talented, but has begun to spoil his record by getting away to tardy starts. If that kink has been rectified by the Kingsclere team of trainer Andrew Balding, he’ll run well – but this 5f trip, the minimum distance, will be unforgiving if he again breaks slowly.