The Gurkha was slashed in the ante-post market on the Investec Derby after justifying the decision to supplement him for the French 2000 Guineas by powering away with the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Deauville.

A sense of both joy and relief could be detected in the smile on the face of Aidan O’Brien after Minding destroyed her rivals to confirm superiority over her peers when leading home a remarkable one-two-three for the trainer in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday.

Volume levels were at a maximum as Sprinter Sacre announced his return to form in emphatic fashion when making a triumphant visit to a winner’s enclosure he has enjoyed many magical moments in during his career after claiming the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

Karl Burke’s Odeliz sprung a huge surprise when making every yard of the running to win the Darley Prix Jean Romanet in Deauville yesterday.

Kingfisher put himself firmly in the Ascot Gold Cup picture when getting up late in the day to take the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last night.

The weather may have made it feel more like January than June for Royal Ascot trials day at Naas yesterday, but there were plenty of clues on offer for those who braved the wind and rain, not least in the shape of Anthem Alexander.

Success Days is set to challenge for Classic honours as he once again relished the testing conditions with an emphatic victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown yesterday.

Hans Holbein leapt into the picture for the Investec Derby when giving trainer Aidan O’Brien a welcome turn of fortunes with an all-the-way success in the MBNA Chester Vase on the Roodee yesterday.

John F Kennedy lost his place as favourite for the Investec Derby after finishing a well-beaten last of three on his seasonal debut at Leopardstown.

Vautour bounced right back to his brilliant best to win the JLT Novices’ Chase by a wide margin at the Cheltenham Festival.

Champagne Fever got back on track with a smooth victory in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on Saturday.

Carlingford Lough gave Tony McCoy his first victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup just a day after he announced his impending retirement in a thrilling race for the Leopardstown showpiece.

Vautour assumed clear favouritism for the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham after getting his fencing career back on track with a facile success in the Leopardstown Killiney Novice Chase yesterday.

Clarcam made the most of a serious mistake from hot favourite Vautour to grab Grade One glory in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

No More Heroes raced into the Cheltenham Festival picture as he saw off Shaneshill to land the Navan Novice Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and Barry Geraghty yesterday.

Don Cossack maintained his unbeaten record this season with a third victory from as many starts in a dramatic renewal of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Teenage rider Donnacha O’Brien hit the headlines at the Curragh yesterday with a landmark success on El Salvador in the Irish Cesarewitch.

Ol’ Man River enhanced his Classic prospects with an authoritative victory in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.

Andrea Atzeni showed why he has been signed up by Qatar Racing with a good ride to get Cappella Sansevero home in the Nestle Supporting Irish Autism Action Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

Gold Cup hero Leading Light made the perfect return to action in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger Trial Stakes on another fine afternoon for Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh yesterday.

A reputation can be made easily, but real achievements have to be earned on the track.

Aidan O’Brien’s domination of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes continued as Dick Whittington caused a minor upset in the Curragh feature.

Ryan Moore and Michael Stoute teamed up for the second year in a row to land the Kilboy Estate Stakes with Mango Diva at the Curragh yesterday.

Thistle Bird struck Group One gold at the age of six as she dispelled any stamina concerns with an emphatic victory in the Newbridge Silverware Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

According to the bookmakers Roger Varian’s Kingston Hill is the only credible rival to Australia in Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh but the trainer would be "very reluctant to run" on fast ground.

Bookmakers were left reeling after day one of Royal Ascot as brilliant milers Toronado (pictured) and Kingman led the way for punters.

Royal Ascot and a return trip to Ireland are under consideration for Kool Kompany after the exciting juvenile struck for Richard Hannon in the Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes at Naas yesterday.

Aidan O’Brien plans to follow a tried and tested route with Magician after the dual Group One winner left it late to claim the High Chaparral European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh.

Willie Mullins further strengthened his formidable hand for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next month as Killultagh Vic produced a scintillating display at Naas yesterday.

Dunguib is all set for a return to Cheltenham after a heartwarming victory in the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday almost three years to the day since his last win.

Philip Fenton produced a terrific training performance to land the Hennessy Gold Cup with Last Instalment at Leopardstown yesterday.

Hurricane Fly, who did a piece of work on the lead in to the race which was so bad that it shocked Willie Mullins, made no mistake to take a fourth successive Grade 1 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Bryan Cooper’s decision to partner Gigginstown House Stud’s Trifolium, in preference to Mozoltov, reaped a rich dividend in the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors’ Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Willie Mullins made history at Gowran Park yesterday when joining the legendary Tom Dreaper as the only trainer to win the Goffs’ Thyestes Handicap Chase for a fifth time.

Tony McCoy was at his brilliant best as the Aidan O'Brien-trained Plinth claimed a last-gasp victory in the Paddy Power iPad App 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Frankie Dettori looks to have a fairly remote chance of a first European Classic success this year aboard Bermuda Reef in Sunday’s Deutsches Derby with his trainer Peter Schiergen fielding two more strongly fancied stablemates.