IT was a splendid Ebor meeting for Yorkshireman William Haggas, who took his tally to five when Ajaya, 7/2, landed the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes in the hands of Graham Gibbons. The son of invincible Spirit led well before the furlong pole and stayed on strongly to beat Richard Fahey’s 25/1 outsider Ribchester with Raucous, also trained by Haggas, back in third.

The race would have been more informative had Buratino not been taken out because of the ground but there is every reason to suppose Ajaya is one of the best juveniles seen out so far. He was only just denied in the Prix Robert Papin and did everything asked of him here, picking up immediately Gibbions asked him and soon stretching clear.

WESLEY WARD

It was a little surprising that Wesley Ward’s American challenger Finnegan was made 11/4 favourite. Forced to miss Royal Ascot with a bout of colic, his winning form at Pimlico came over five furlongs on fast ground, in total contrast to six on a rain-softened surface on the Knavesmire. He went along in the lead for half a mile but was soon being niggled along, Edgar Prado accepting the situation some way from home.

Ajaya appreciated the longer trip and will probably stay at six for the time being.

“Physically he’s changed completely,’’ Haggas observed. “Back in March I was all for giving him six weeks off but his form shows how he’s come on. I think we’ll go for the Middle Park now, there’s nothing to be gained by going lower.’’

Ribchester can be backed at short odds to lose his maiden tag next time.

ANOTHER FOR THE BOOKIES

All in all the layers had few complaints over the four days and one 33/1 winner, Litigant, was followed by another as Shadow Hunter proved a neck too good for Godolphin’s Rouleau in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes for two-year-olds over the minimum trip. This was a welcome success for Newmarket trainer Paul d’Arcy and provided Phillip Makin with yet another winner at the track that has served him so well this summer.

The winner, a filly by Arcano, was reluctant to enter the stalls but came out of them quickly enough and hit the front before the furlong marker. Rouleau chased her hard but was held close home.

Shadow Hunter had done well to finish third to Lumiere on her debut but left herself with a little too much to do at Newbury last time. She will no doubt step up to group company.

“She’s in the Cheveley Park and we’ll have to go for it,’’ d’Arcy said. “I think she’s a Group 1 filly but she has too much speed for the Guineas so we’ll be looking at trips short of a mile.’’

FAVOURITE WINS

Favourite backers had started the afternoon with a happier result when David O’Meara’s 4/1 market leader Mondialiste just repelled Haggas’ Mutakayyef in the Group 3 Betfred Mobile Strensall Stakes over nine furlongs.

An entire five-year-old by the irrepressible Galileo, Mondialiste had won by 10 lengths at Pontefract. Making his effort for Danny Tudhope after Mutakayyef had picked off clear leader Dream Walker, he kept on to lead close home and it is easy enough now to see why he attracted shrewd support before the Lincoln back in March.

“Yes, we thought he’s win that and he nearly did,’’ O’Meara said. “Maye we ran him a bit too quickly afterwards. We might look at going up another furlong to a mile and a quarter now.’’

WHIP BANS

The stewards suspended Tudhope for four days over his use of the whip. This, together with a similar ban handed down to Oisin Murphy after the Ebor, prompted more comment in the press this week. However, nothing really changes. The way the whip is employed in valuable and prestigious races is very different from the way most jockeys use it from Monday to Thursday. The core problem remains the same - whether to use disqualification as a punishment or deterrent. Quite how punters would react the first time a warm favourite was stood down is an interesting question.