Poetic justice in the Prelude as Royal Village caps summer campaign in style

The feature handicap chase on this card, run two weeks later this year, is officially called the Prelude, but on this occasion it was the culmination of Royal Village's summer campaign as he landed the spoils under Tom O'Brien.

It could also be termed some sort of poetic justice, as the horse controversially dead-heated over course and distance on Summer Plate day. An unsatisfactory mirror image on the official photograph meant the judge felt compelled to call a dead heat when the overwhelming balance of probability was that Royal Village had won.

Here there was no doubt. Ridden with the confidence race fitness gives you by O'Brien in the Elixir Bathrooms-backed contest, Royal Village went on with Calipto leaving the back straight and, while The Unit and Romain De Senam made big moves to challenge, neither could sustain the run and Royal Village came home just over three lengths clear of Play The Ace.