GROUP-RACE action in Ireland and Britain last week was restricted to a trio of third-tier events and the Group 2 Ladyswood Stud Hungerford Stakes at Newbury. That latter contest went to Sir Dancealot under a penalty, and on one level the gelding looked better than ever.

What he did not do, however, was back up that impression with a good time. In fact, he was only fractionally quicker than Boitron had been in a listed race for two-year-olds at the start of the card.