Notable Speech looked to be at the peak of his powers with a simply brilliant win in the Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The heavily-backed 2/1 favourite for Charlie Appleby and William Buick, the 2000 Guineas hero from two years ago was last seen picking up placed prize-money when particularly unlucky in Keeneland, having ended last season with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

While an intriguing field had been assembled for this latest renewal of the Group 1 showpiece, Notable Speech was always travelling well within himself and Buick was able to pick off horses from the three-furlong pole onwards to score by two lengths from More Thunder, who himself ran a big race for William Haggas.

Kalpana's winning return

Earlier on the card Kalpana picked up right where she left off last with a cosy success in the Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes.

Andrew Balding’s star mare is a dual Group 1 winner and was last seen striking for a second time at Ascot on British Champions Day, with her return coming under a 4lb penalty at Group 3 level.

She was the 11/10 favourite to prevail in a field of five in the hands of Colin Keane, and duly obliged after stalking the field into the straight and taking up the running three furlongs from home.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s West Wind Blows went with her as the market leader got a little lonely in front, but ultimately could not close the gap and eventually went down by a neck.

Balding said: “Her fitness was telling a bit inside the final half-furlong, but she showed she still has the appetite and desire for it and when you sportingly keep horses in training as a five-year-old you just hope they still want to do it and she certainly seems to.

“Twelve months ago we started off by taking on colts in Ireland in a Group 1 (Tattersalls Gold Cup) which was a tough ask, this was much calmer waters.

“I think she was just getting tired towards the end and was entitled to win the race on ratings. She was carrying a little extra condition and she hasn’t run for a good while, so we’re thrilled.”

While all roads led to ParisLongchamp for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 12 months ago, this year it will be Kalpana’s beloved Ascot which will be central to running plans.

Balding added: “I think the Fillies & Mares Stakes would be the big plan, we tried the Arc last year and it didn’t work out and I don’t think any horse has won three races consecutively on British Champions Day.

“Next stop will probably be something at Royal Ascot and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes would be a nice midsummer target having finished second in it last year.

“The Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Hardwicke will be available to her at Royal Ascot and I think if the ground was very soft it might make the Prince of Wales’s more attractive.”