IT often seems strange, when we glorify racing as such a great sport, to have to also convey to casual sports fans that, in comparison to other sports which build to a finale, a final, a clash of the best, racing’s best are often more likely to try to avoid each other.

Frequently, the two best horses do not meet in face-to-face competition, relying on official assessors to determine who was best on their ratings.

This is more prevalent of course on the flat and it is usually around this time of year when the head of divisions are usually established – and stallion careers being planned – that you hope rather than expect there might be the big clash, the ‘decider’.

The Group 1s at York and Leopardstown are often such races, underfoot conditions should suit every horse. But it is beginning to looks as though it may be the case this season that we have two exceptional three-year-old colts but when will they meet?

Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington is unbeaten in his six races this season and French star Ace Impact is unbeaten in his five lifetime runs.

Paddington goes to York so surely misses the Irish Champion Stakes which might tempt Ace Impact in the manner it did with Almanzor back in 2016. Indeed, it pulled in the two top French colts, Derby and Eclipse winner Vadeni and Grand Prix de Paris winner Onesto last year. And trainer of Almanzor, Vadeni and Ace Impact, Jean-Claude Rouget also ran Sottsass at Leopardstown in his four-year-old Arc-winning season. The Grey Gatsby and St Mark’s Bascilia were also Jockey-Club winners to follow up at Irish Champions Weekend.

Ace Impact looks a 10-furlong specialist – on good ground at Chantilly, his last three furlongs in the Prix du Jockey Club were all under 12 secs and a final furlong of 11.39 was the fastest of the field. On Tuesday at Deauville on good to soft and off a 72-day break, he clocked 10.92 for the second last furlong when in full flight, none of his opposition going under 11secs for any of the last four furlongs.

The Irish Champion and the Arc look like his targets. What will the globally-warmed world throw up in the line of underfoot conditions at ParisLongchamp in October? His sire Cracksman would have had no issues with it, his two dominant British Champion Stakes wins coming by wide margins on soft ground. The last three Arcs have been run on heavy, very soft and heavy ground.

Paddington’s run of four Group 1s have elevated him to some lofty comparisons. Questions will be answered at York. Paddington continues on Giant’s Causeway’s Iron Horse route. Is Mostahdaf a champion in his second coming as a five-year-old? York first showed Desert Crown to be a high class three-year-old last season, he is back with a lot to prove.

Would Paddington’s abilty to cope in different conditions - he has answered every question this season - mean a Breeders’ Cup Classic bid could even come into consideration? Santa Anita might offer better conditions in November than an east coast edition. And America is still looking for its ‘sure thing’ top horse. Cody’s Wish has a question to answer and the three-year-olds so far lack a star. It could be the ideal opportunity for a top European.

The lastest World Rankings, produced before the French race on Tuesday, had Paddington 2lb clear of Ace Impact who is then the equivent of Luxembourg and 1lb ahead of Auguste Rodin, who is also likely for Leopardstown.

York has crowned true champions – Sea The Stars and Frankel and last year Baaeed. But it has thrown up plenty of shocks too. After Inspiral’s Group 1 win for the Gosdens in France, Nashwa’s entry at York is interesting. Both fillies seem to have some of the same characteristics – when they are good, they are very, very good but can throw in an underperformance too.

WE have had plenty of outstanding ‘gift of the gab’ winning owner interviews over the years in this country but it is hard to beat our friends across the ocean for something original.

In the aftermath of his part-owned horse Casa Creed winning the Grade 1 Fourstarsdave Stakes at Saratoga, LRE Racing owner Lee Einsidler was quoted thus in the BloodHorse race report: “I was looking at the Daily Racing Form for today and Casa Creed was not on the cover. Annapolis was. So I took the Daily Racing Form to the barn this morning at 5:30 and I showed it to ‘Casa.’ I told him ‘You’re disrespected again.’ He looked at me and winked and said, ‘Don’t worry, boss. We’ll get them today.”’ Beat that!