WITH Royal Ascot firmly on one horizon, and the Derby meeting disappearing over the other, UK flat racing suffers something of a lull, and that was probably exacerbated by conditions at Haydock, which hosted the three pattern races over the past week.

That said, the opportunity afforded to smaller operations to take a starring role is always to be celebrated, and both John Quinn and the veteran Eric Alston hit the mark to gain deserved kudos, a remark which also applies to winning jockeys Jason Hart and Tom Eaves respectively.