York wins over Royal Ascot and Goodwood for an honorary Yorkshireman

Like one of those monumental and magnificent steam trains housed in its National Rail museum, York, the last of our great summer celebrations, chugs steadily towards us. An old friend heaving back into view.

And, for my money, it has a quality of groundedness that marks it apart as the most enjoyable Flat meeting of the year.

Ascot touches it off in terms of quality, but five days always strikes me as getting into half-marathon territory, although the standard of the action does merit the length of the gig.