When the dust has settled or perhaps more accurately the mud washed away, it’s time to accept that British Champions Day at Ascot is what it is.

A great day’s racing, at a track that can create such a spectacle and make it a great occasion. The attendance was good, the weather was good.

All the winners had legitimate chances before hand. Only Madame Chiang could be called a surprise winner.

Yes, the timing isn’t great but it’s time to accept that it just can’t be in September because the Irish Champion Stakes is there and both races won’t get the top 12-furlong horses while the Moulin at Longchamp will also be in competition for the top milers.

The horses who were there provided great races. You can’t have everything and only The Grey Gatsby, Toronado and Rizeena were missing because of the ground. The others were absent because of injury or retirement. Had Kingman been there and with conditions in his favour, won the QEII, it would have been the icing on the cake and hailed a success with a true champion.

Even in September, you can never be completely certain of anything with British weather. We lost York in August a few years ago.

We no longer qualify golf tournaments with - oh but Tiger Woods wasn’t there. Even the Breeders’ Cup has lost two big players already, nothing is certain.

European racing's a pretty big pie and there’s enough to satisfy everyone. You just can’t all have the same slice. Or the cherry on top.