IT has been a somewhat circuitous route, taking in being favourite for the Derby (the trip of which his striding suggested all along he had little chance of staying) and defeats at York, the Curragh and Royal Ascot, but Too Darn Hot is right back at the top of the three-year-old tree judged on his emphatic win in the Qatar Prix Jean Prat at 1,400 metres at Deauville last Sunday.

It is not just the form and the visuals which say as much, but his time on ground that was firmer than the official “good”.

I make it a 125 performance, though efficiently-run and without any sectional upgrade, which is one ahead of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Sottsass, the 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia and the dual 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa on my figures after a bit of fine-tuning.

Too Darn Hot did it with closing 200-metre splits of approximately 11.05s, 11.05s and 11.70s, which is sharp if not blisteringly so: the generous early gallop may have blunted the speed of one or two others.

Handsomely

Beating Space Blues, who had not won above listed class previously, and Fox Champion, whose best previous effort was a win in the German 2000 Guineas, may not please everyone, but both could be regarded as smart performers going into this, and Too Darn Hot won handsomely.

I am not absolutely convinced that Too Darn Hot will have the pace to beat the top sprinters at their own game, but he has the ability to beat the vast majority of them, and a return to an undemanding mile is likely to be fine for him also.

It was a low-key card at Deauville otherwise, but British-trained Far Above showed tenacity as well as useful form to take the listed sprint from the strong-finishing Duhail, running a useful time worth a timefigure of 105 (no upgrade).

He looks an out-and-out sprinter, and he could still be going the right way after just four starts and three wins.