HORSERACING’S attempts at staging and promoting big showdowns are proving notably unsuccessful this summer, to the detriment of the sport. Golden Horn vs The Rest failed to materialise at Ascot due to the late defection of the former, while Gleneagles vs Solow at Goodwood and then Gleneagles vs Golden Horn at York met the same fate.

Whereas Gleneagles’ no show at Goodwood – at a mile and on ground that was ultimately no softer than good – seemed difficult to justify, his absence at York this week could at least be explained by ground that was probably genuinely good to soft, on the round course at least.