IT was a feature of this year’s Royal Ascot that none of the older-horse sprints resulted in a notably good time. The closest was the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday, when Twilight Son emerged on top in a blanket finish.

However, the early pace – set by third-placed Signs Of Blessing – had been fair at best, and the resulting timefigure of 116 is seven below what the winner had recorded behind Muhaarar on Champions Day here in 2015.