Relentless drama at Del Mar and Cheltenham clues back home on a packed weekend

There have been times when, from the narrow perspective of a jump racing fan, the Breeders' Cup could be just a tiny bit irritating for the way it would take over the news and obliterate coverage of some excellent, competitive action earlier that day. No such complaint could be made this year, Saturday's jumps action having been good fun in the main but probably not of lasting significance, due in part to the quick ground at Wincanton that turned Bravemansgame and Goshen into non-runners.

So, on this occasion, thank goodness for the US action, which produced drama after drama at 40-minute intervals. A horse is playing up in the stalls! The favourite's a non-runner! No, he's running . . . but you can't back him! Now he's won!

And that was just Friday, when Modern Games landed the Juvenile Turf, though there was a solid attempt at recreating the experience before Saturday's Mile, when Godolphin again had one withdrawn at the start and again had the considerable consolation of winning with their remaining runner, Space Blues.