They’re built this way because the slippery nature of dirt makes it more economical for a horse to use most of its energy early rather than late in a race.

Most dirt races are won well before the finish, with the winner just loping through the last furlong in 13 seconds or slower. Having the size and strength to keep on ploughing through the sand is a big plus.

Out Of Bounds (35) is just such a horse. He looked seriously promising when winning a Grade 3 on dirt in fast time early in 2012.

Since being switched from America he has done less well on turf and Tapeta, his sole win coming on yielding ground at Doncaster where he made all the running to grind out a narrow success.

Last week at Newbury, Out Of Bounds looked big, clumsy and slow to manoeuvre as he ran fifth in a good listed race. He wasn’t given a hard time in the last half furlong when it became clear he lacked the pace to go with the leaders.

Next spring though he will have the chance to go back on dirt thanks to the surface being re-laid at his owner’s racecourse Meydan in Dubai. I will be interested in his chances of landing the Dubai World Cup. Certainly he should have a big chance of landing at least one leg of the Maktoum Challenge beforehand.

Out Of Bounds finished just a neck behind another former star in Al Kazeem (35) who was making his comeback following a failed career at stud.

Al Kazeem moved well for a long way and was allowed to come home in his own time through the last half furlong after looking to blow up through lack of fitness.

He was reportedly 20 kilos over his normal racing weight so I would imagine he’s going to need a couple more runs before he’s in shape to return to his old form - if indeed he is capable of doing that.

If Al Kazeem can run a bit better than this next time I’ll be inclined to think he will have some kind of shot against Cirrus Des Aigles and co in the Champion Stakes come October.

The winner at Newbury was Amralah (38). My best guess at this stage is that his optimum circumstances may involve a smallish field as he tends to make or press the early pace - and bigger fields tend to generate a stronger early gallop.

The runner-up Vancouverite (38) finished with a surge when switched out late for a run and nearly got up.

If the photo-finish had gone Vancouverite’s way he would have won five of the six times that he’s run nine or 10 furlongs on turf, with his sole loss being a good second to international Group 1 performer Vercingetorix.

He’s earned slightly bigger ratings from me in the past and will doubtless be shooting for more Group 1 races later this year or early next when he returns to Dubai.

Big things

I was expecting big things of seventh-placed Triple Threat (31) as he has a terrific record off breaks as long as the one that preceded this race. He had won three of the four times that he’d run off breaks of 60 days or more and run a close third to two Group 1 performers in his sole loss.

Here however he was floundering halfway up the straight.

Triple Threat also ran poorly on his only previous visit to Britain. Indeed all his wins and good runs have been close to his home base of Chantilly. It’s looking like he’s not a good traveller.