THE last Dandy Nicholls winner was Sovereign Debt, successful in a Group 2 in Qatar in February. The day before the trainer’s sad passing at the age of 61, the same doughty campaigner, now with Ruth Carr following Nicholls’ retirement, landed the Group 3 Investec Diomed Stakes, beating fellow Yorkshire challenger Gabrial by a neck, with Oh This Is Us right behind.

Sovereign Debt was winning for the 14th time.

He has looked better than ever this term, winning four out of his five races, and was defying a penalty here. Held up by James Sullivan, he moved through to challenge as Folkswood headed Custom Cut and kept on well to hold Gabrial with Oh This Is Us struggling to find room.

“I came here prepared to be beaten but he’s a real trier,” Carr said. “He’s on a roll and keeps producing, exceeding all my expectations. He’s not in the Sussex Stakes but the QEII might be an option.”

Epsom Specialist

The term ‘horses for courses’ is one of racing’s more reliable adages but seldom can it have paid out as handsomely as it did on Saturday when Caspian Prince, allowed to start at 25/1 after seeming to lose his way, just clung on to win a frantic Investec Corporate Banking “dash” for the third time in four years.

Remarkably, he has achieved these victories for three trainers – Tony Carroll, Dean Ivory and Tony Coyle.

Adam Kirby and Robert Winston were previously successful on the son of Dylan Thomas down this unique, lightning-quick strip, but Tom Eaves has the ride now and had him quickly away from stall one on the far side, tacking across to the centre.

Caspian Prince ran on gamely and Dark Shot, poorly away and stone last approaching halfway, came storming through on the stands’ side to be beaten a short-head. Another previous winner, Duke Of Firenze, was only inches back.

“The change of yard freshens Caspian Prince up and I think it’s a bit of a ploy with the owner (Stephen Louch),” Coyle said with a smile. “It doesn’t impress everyone but it works. He’ll probably go for the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh.”

Andrew Balding was delighted with Dark Shot, whose dam Dark Missile won the Wokingham, and will aim him at the Stewards’ Cup. Though it would mean moving up a few grades, David Griffiths suggested his Duke Of Firenze could line up for the Nunthorpe, given his liking for York.

Explosive Performance From Laugh Aloud

John Gosden could have another Group 1 filly on his hands with Laugh Aloud (5/4F), who ran away with the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes over the extended mile.

Taking over for James Doyle before the furlong marker, she sprinted away to beat Absolute Blast by five lengths, with Tisbutadream a neck behind.

This was yet another example of Godolphin winning a lesser group race quite easily while the very top races remain out of reach.

“It was an explosive performance,” Doyle said. “I just pulled her out into a bit of space and she took off. She quickened up so well and felt very good today.”

The obvious immediate target, confirmed by Gosden afterwards, is the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Drochaid For July

Balding had earlier enjoyed better luck when 11/2 chance Drochaid, given a fine ride by Oisin Murphy, beat Emenem by a neck in the Investec Private Banking Handicap over 10 furlongs.

The runner-up had to be switched sharply in the closing stages but Drochaid looks progressive and will go for a valuable handicap at the Newmarket July Meeting.

The layers, still smiling after the Derby, had two more cracking results late in the day. The 12/1 shot Soldier In Action, took the mile and a half handicap in clear-cut style, while Reputation won the closing six-furlong handicap at 25/1, appreciating the quicker ground after dropping away on his previous run at York.

Given that he is trained by John Quinn, who employed Padraig Beggy for a while at his Yorkshire stable, it was little wonder there were smiles all round, even if most punters remained rather puzzled. Prices of 25/1, 40/1, 12/1 and 25/1 in four of the seven races had them reflecting that, after all, tomorrow is another day.