Finally, some Classic clarity for punters - and I can see this Ballydoyle colt emulating Australia

While many eyes would have been on Cheltenham and Aintree over the weekend, it was a huge couple of days on the Flat with a view to 2026.

A Group 1 hat-trick for Aidan O’Brien stole the headlines but for punters the most significant aspect was that the weekend seemingly brought some clarity to the markets for next season’s colts’ Classics – long overdue, too, given Albert Einstein was still bafflingly joint-favourite for the 2,000 Guineas beforehand.

Yet without wishing to knock Puerto Rico or Pierre Bonnard, now favourites for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby respectively, I’m immediately going to muddy the waters again slightly by suggesting it was Hawk Mountain who was perhaps the most impressive.