A BUSY campaign that featured some stiff tests has clearly brought out the best in Blenheim Palace who saved his best effort of the season for the Group 3 Matthews.ie Diamond Stakes which went to Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien for the second time in three years.

Churchill’s younger brother came into this with just a Navan handicap success to his name, which was achieved off a mark of 76, but his efforts in defeat featured a series of placings at Group 3 level. One of those was an excellent third to Norway on Irish Champions Weekend and just under two weeks later he was at least as good.