Progressive Ulysses blooms again to prove himself true top-level performer

Ulysses took another step forward to land a good renewal of the Juddmonte International Stakes, returning a career-best Racing Post Rating of 127 and showing himself to be a top Group 1 performer.

The race may have developed in his favour, but this smooth-travelling defeat of the dual Guineas winner Churchill rates top-class form, and barring a stamina testing effort in the King George, he has improved with every run this year.

Barney Roy may have compromised his chance slightly by engaging with Cliffs Of Moher on the pace, but the fact Ulysses extended his Eclipse superiority over him further underlines that he has progressed again from Sandown.