It's so tough at Royal Ascot that even the hottest trainer can suddenly cool off, while everyone else seems to be celebrating

We all know what a test of stamina the four days at Cheltenham present for those humans lucky enough to be present throughout. It doesn't often get said, but how much more taxing must five days be at Royal Ascot if results aren't going your way, the pitiless sun is reducing you by the minute and all around are celebrating groups, entirely at odds with your mood?

That was my thought while watching the grace with which Francis Graffard responded to Zarigana's defeat in the Coronation Stakes. This was the moment at which he knew that all his hopes for Ascot, very reasonably nurtured in preceding weeks, had come to naught and there would be no victory to raise his mood until the next day at Compiegne at the earliest.

Graffard ran five in Berkshire last week, but the first one was a taste of what was to come, Asmarani never getting involved in the Queen's Vase, for which he was 4-1 joint-favourite. Map Of Stars was a 'wise guy' tip for the Prince of Wales's but finished a well-held fourth, while Candelari could beat only the 50-1 shots in the Gold Cup.