Churchill's speed or Cliffs Of Moher's stamina? The choice is yours

An annual Ballydoyle ritual instigated by the stable's founder, Vincent O'Brien, would come to pass every autumn. The great trainer would run two horses in a juvenile maiden, with the stable jockey legged up aboard the one with seemingly rock-solid credentials.

Close to the off a flurry of money would come for the apparent second string who, lo and behold, would cruise through to win as it liked. It was invariably a Group horse in the making, and in Ballydoyle parlance, the successful punt that put beaming smiles on faces at the yard the following morning was described as "one for the lads".

There has not been much evidence of this annual ritual in recent years – the canvas has changed since Vincent's day, although the ritual came to mind in a roundabout way on Sunday when Aidan O'Brien saddled three fillies for the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.