WHILE we are right in the depths of National Hunt racing, there is, and will continue to be, very significant flat races around the world in the months ahead. This column will still review some of the winners, and especially any that resonate with Irish readers.

Let’s begin with Royal Champion, a seven-year-old son of Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) who died five years ago. The Karl Burke-trained runner, sports the yellow with black spots silks of his breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. He won his eighth race when landing the biggest prize of his career, the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy, and in the process provided trainer Burke with his 20th group win of the year and 38th blacktype success.