THE Celebration Mile is not what it used to be. And it isn’t just because it used to be sponsored by Waterford Crystal.

In fairness, when you have a roll of honour that includes Brigadier Gerard and Kris and Known Fact and To-Agori-Mou and Selkirk and Mark Of Esteem, you set a high standard for yourself, you provide a high-class rod for your own back. Actually, the Celebration Mile hasn’t been what it used to be for a while now.