THE Great War (36) earned a Group 2 speed rating from me for the third time when running away with the Blenheim Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh.

This big, muscular, mature colt was full of running in the closing stages despite the good early pace. Proof of this is that he covered the final furlong in just 11.99 seconds. That’s 0.4 of a second than the next fastest finish which was in the five-furlong handicap. It seems trainer Aidan O’Brien is right to say The Great War is best on fast ground. He’s won all three of his Irish starts impressively when the word ‘firm’ has appeared in the official going description.