STEEL Bull is nibbling playfully on the visitor, even though he has already emptied his pot of its contents twice. He may be facing into a third run in 17 days, having been prepared to perform at the Goffs UK & Arqana Breeze-Up Sale from where he was bought on July 1st, but you couldn’t have any concerns stepping into his box on Tuesday.

The maiden triumph at Naas was akin to a piece of work but following up in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes a week later was more of an examination, as much for the travel as the mild inconvenience of being caught in one of those infamous Goodwood pockets a little longer than was comfortable. Lightning acceleration attended to the latter and the Clodovil juvenile was significant value for the margin that separated him from Ben Macdui at the line.