IRISH-trained horses had some notable successes in the last week, not least through Cougar Mountain in the Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket. A sizeable defeat of the likes of Gifted Master and Amazing Maria reads well, for all that the resulting timefigure was an underwhelming 95.

Cougar Mountain is talented on his day – and deserves extra credit here for coming from behind in a steadily-run race – perhaps never more so than when a running-on third to Solow in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015.