IN a year in which Irish trainers dominated the classics, there were still moments worth celebrating for domestic stables, if not the ones which might have been expected to hog the headlines.

Hugo Palmer did his bit for Newmarket courtesy of 2000 Guineas and St James’ Palace winner Galileo Gold, but the story of the year belongs to the St Leger, which saw the Nick and Jackie Cornwell-owned Harbour Law win in dramatic style after hot favourite Idaho had unseated Seamie Heffernan just as the race was beginning in earnest.