At that stage Orchestra had kicked clear and was cruising. But he then ran around a bit and tired. Most likely he was not quite fully fit and was green and idling a little too. In any event he just managed to hold off the rallying runner-up.

It was a somewhat messily run race. The leaders went off fast for the first quarter mile, slowed down and then picked up again from three furlongs out. Orchestra did well to cope with the varying pace, seeing that he’s a big-bodied sort and not built for a rapid change of gear or tight turns.

This run would certainly buy Orchestra a place in the first four in an average Derby. About one year in five or six it’d be enough to win the race outright. He clearly has scope for improvement. I can readily believe he would have won this by two or three lengths if fitter and more experienced.

That level of performance would put him firmly into Group 1 territory for a three-year-old this early in the season.

The runner-up Romsdal (27-pace adjusted 38) raced with the winner for much of the race but his rider waited patiently for the false rail to create a gap a furlong and a half out before chasing him home. He made a big effort that saw him quickly pull eight lengths clear of the rest and only just failed to get up by a short-head.

Romsdal raced more professionally than the winner, so logically he has less room for improvement. However this was a pretty big run on only his third lifetime start. All we can say at this stage is he’s a good group class horse who stays a mile and a half well.