The Derby: it's a different race now and harder to sell to the general public

So that was the Derby that was. It bequeathed us a thrilling five-way lunge for the line with Anthony Van Dyck scrambling home from four opponents in hot pursuit, any one of whom might have prevailed had the race unfolded a little more kindly for them.

In the end, however, the difference between victory and defeat was almost certainly down to experience. In making his ninth career start, Anthony Van Dyck was the most seasoned colt in the field.

There was no shortage of drama, which was sadly absent from a preamble dominated by horses trained at Ballydoyle. This will likely be the template for the future, since no other outfit holds the race in such high esteem.