THE last Dandy Nicholls winner was Sovereign Debt, successful in a Group 2 in Qatar in February. The day before the trainer’s sad passing at the age of 61, the same doughty campaigner, now with Ruth Carr following Nicholls’ retirement, landed the Group 3 Investec Diomed Stakes, beating fellow Yorkshire challenger Gabrial by a neck, with Oh This Is Us right behind.

Sovereign Debt was winning for the 14th time.