GREAT to see Maarek back. It is remarkable to think that, when he won the Beverley Bullet last Saturday, in an unlikely come-from-behind-and-through-traffic manoeuvre under a brave ride from Jamie Spencer, the 2013 Prix de l’Abbaye hero was recording his first victory since he won the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes 15 months ago.

Trainer Evanna McCutcheon is used to driving around Europe during the summer looking for soft ground, but Maarek proved that he didn’t need it bottomless last Saturday, when the ground was just on the easy side of good, no softer.