It was blowing a gale in Ballyliffin. Golf balls were oscillating on the green as we were stung by winds of 50mph and horizontal rain, and any and every aerial shot was in the lap of the gods.

The topsy turvy state of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe market was thrown into further chaos after Sea The Moon lost his unbeaten record to Ivanhowe in the Longines – Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden Baden yesterday.

British raiders were out of luck in the Prix du Pin at Longchamp, with Andre Fabre’s Captain’s Lover landing the spoils under Stephane Pasquier.