SO to speak, the Irish Derby wasn’t won when Latrobe fended off both Rostropovich and Saxon Warrior in the closing stages, it was ‘won’ much earlier than that. Right back to start of the race actually, when the cars and lorries travelling on the M7 were still in the backdrop.

In fact, it was exactly when the sign for Newbridge, Kilcullen and The Curragh was in the background of the television camera that Donnacha O’Brien made the most significant move of the race, sensing the prospect of an easy pace to the race and rushing Latrobe up to take a prominent position.