Prospect of King George brings Desert Orchid to mind

It's a brave move, but we shouldn't be too surprised by Gary Moore's decision. Indeed it was mentioned as a possibility in the trainer's stable tour last month.

If you watched Saturday's Tingle Creek you could certainly be forgiven for questioning Moore's thinking, given how Ar Mad steamed off in front looking every inch a two-miler.

But this is all a bit similar to 30 years ago when many wondered what on earth David Elsworth was doing running the tearaway Desert Orchid in Kempton's big race, and Ar Mad shares many of the great grey's unique qualities, not least a preference for right-handed tracks.

Desert Orchid's 15-length victory in 1986 was the start of something special, while Edredon Bleu was another trailblazer who managed to overcome the rigours of three miles when winning in 2003.