Ryan Moore is in a class of his own - and his injury couldn't have come at a more painful time for his paymasters

When it comes to Coolmore’s all-important balance sheet, the leg fracture sustained by the outfit’s number one jockey, Ryan Moore, could not have come at a more delicate time.

The asset value of Coolmore’s best horses will be determined over the next two months. It’s a time of year when a favourable short-head verdict multiplies a horse’s worth many times over, and it will all unfold while Moore, whose saddle influence brooks no argument, is confined to the sidelines.

There is a great deal at stake, in particular where Delacroix is concerned. The colt booked his place in Coolmore’s stallion barn when winning the Eclipse, yet some of that lustre dimmed when he was beaten by Ombudsman at York. Delacroix’s bid to resume winning ways in the Irish Champion Stakes is thus a high-stakes ticket.