BRITISH Champions Day at Ascot started with a right old boil over in the Sprint, in which Donjuan Triumphant scored at 33/1. The temptation is to think that he – a proven mudlark and only once a winner in group company previously – was grossly flattered, but the overall time and some other factors suggest that may be harsh.

Sectionals confirm that the leaders overdid things, with Hello Youmzain (119) and Make A Challenge (118) two of the chief sufferers, but Donjuan Triumphant got a desperate run through before finding plenty and appears to have run to 122.

One Master (116 here and 121 at her best) was similarly hampered but got up for second, while Forever In Dreams (117) belatedly confirmed the form she had shown when second to Advertise (better than the result in seventh here) in the Commonwealth Cup at this course and distance in June.

By contrast, the Long Distance Cup went largely to form but in a race which tested late speed within the context of the prevailing conditions. Sectionals show that things really heated up from four furlongs out, and in the last two furlongs Kew Gardens and Stradivarius separated from the field to run nose to nose to the line.

Kew Gardens showed great resolution to prevail, and might have been helped by a slightly handier position turning in. Stradivarius quickened smartly to get to him, and even to edge past, but could not quite sustain it thereafter.

The overall time is nothing special, but that time and the sectionals combined point to Kew Gardens running to 125 and Stradivarius to 127. Another day and another set-up in the race might have brought about a different result, but there is little between the two horses and further encounters are to be relished.

There was another nail-biting finish in the Fillies & Mares, in which Star Catcher just denied front-running Delphinia, both running 115 figures.

The three-year-old middle-distance fillies have not been a strong division this year, and Star Catcher has won four big races without ever running to a very high rating.

On this occasion, things might have been different if fourth-placed Fleeting had not run down a blind alley late on. But Star Catcher also has the happy knack of needing no excuses and of having, in Frankie Dettori, a partner at the very top of his game who has consistently got the best out of the filly.