Improving Winter could be the one to challenge older milers

If Churchill looked like a ten-furlong horse in the making when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the performance of Winter on Sunday may well allow him to step up in trip after Royal Ascot. It seems increasingly likely that Coolmore would lose no coverage by it.

With a hop, skip and jump Jonathan Edwards would do well to match, Winter has gone from everyday maiden winner to double Guineas success this spring. Her improvement and dominance is no better illustrated than through Hydrangea, a dual Group 1 runner-up behind whom she was beaten a head on her debut for Aidan O'Brien less than two months ago. There are now leagues between them.

The Irish 1,000 Guineas was admittedly run to suit Winter, but so confident was Ryan Moore that when he found his mount without cover over two furlongs out he had no qualms about sending her on.