THE week immediately before the start of Newmarket’s July meeting was a remarkably uneventful one on the track. The best timefigures came from Ainippe (111) and Majestic Queen (109) in the Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse on Sunday; smart though they are, that does not put them in amongst the top performers seen out so far this campaign.

Mid-term does give an opportunity to take stock of what has happened so far, and to reflect on who those top performers actually are. Golden Horn is number one in Britain but the two Newmarket Guineas winners lead the way among those trained in Ireland.