HE came up short when trying his hand against the elite of his generation but Royal Dornoch recaptured the form that carried him to a Royal Lodge victory last season by landing the Group 3 Clipper Logistics Desmond Stakes.

A second feature winner in as many days for Seamie Heffernan, this Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Gleneagles was an unconsidered 12/1 chance for this mile affair. For most of the race the favourite Ancient Spirit looked to be in control as he made the running, but he began to drift markedly right inside the last furlong and, in the process, lost valuable momentum.