THERE were few major moves on the ratings front from older horses in Ireland in the period under review, but several listed and group winners consolidated their positions in the process, including the British-trained Glen Shiel, who emerged just best in the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint (108, remains on 111). The penalised Speak In Colours ran as well as ever (113 rating) in a close fourth.

Nickajack Cave (Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes, Leopardstown) was another who did not quite have to match former levels to win, running to 108 but remaining on 112. Tarnawa remains on 108 after her reappearance success in a rather messy Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes at Cork, 107-rated runner-up Cayenne Pepper looking better than the result on the day.

Armory confirmed himself a 107 performer with success in the Group 3 The Irish Field Celebrating 150 Years Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh, and may yet do better in a less tactical race and with a clearer run.

Royal Dornoch won the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown in a modest time but was another to overcome traffic problems, and he gets his 108 reinstated from when he beat Kameko, no less, as a two-year-old.

The Irish Oaks fourth Laburnum took the scalp of the runner-up in the Oaks at Epsom, Ennistymon, in a listed race at Gowran, the pair running to 103 and 100 respectively. The latter remains on 106, with this nine and a half furlongs possibly on the short side, but was not exactly paying a compliment to the Epsom form.

The biggest exception to the “as you were” theme among the more elite races in Ireland came in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh, where Delphi made it four wins out of four this campaign and advanced his figure from 105 to 113 in short-heading Master Of Reality (also 113), with the unexposed Micro Manage (110) in third.

The listed wins of Current Option (105, at Cork) and Pista (99, at Leopardstown) were about what could be expected for the races in question.