iCatcher

THE focus might have been on Epsom last weekend, but there was plenty of action to be enjoyed on both sides of the Irish Sea. In fact it was Down Royal on Friday that threw up one of the tighter finishes, and I’m not sure the best horse finished in front, writes Page Fuller

Esquiline tracked the winner, Countess Of Tyrone, most of the way through His Majesty’s Plate. With three furlongs to go, she got shuffled back as Party Central cut in front of her and get in the way of her run. It left Countess Of Tyrone a free passage to lead into the home straight. Esquiline had to pull wide into the home straight to finally get a run, before motoring up the hill. Once she was rolling, however, she was flying home. She ended up completing the final furlongs 0.24 secs quicker than the winner, and probably would have got there in two or three more strides. It was her first run over two miles and her final furlong of 11.96 secs suggests the trip wasn’t a problem.

She has improving to do to reach the top level, but listed two-mile flat races in the summer look tailor made for her.