The best and worst of the weekend racing

Performance of the weekend

The three-year-old sprinting division isn’t the one you would pick to try to gatecrash, what with Caravaggio, Harry Angel, Lady Aurelia and Blue Point all looking exceptional performers.

But Battaash has joined the party in no uncertain terms with two super wins over 5f at Sandown, the latest coming in course-record time in the Coral Charge at Sandown, where he had his rivals cooked after about a furlong. What an exciting rest of the season in store with these classy sprinters.

Disappointment of the weekend

Ballydoyle have been praised for their tactics many times, while Padraig Beggy received plenty of backing after his Derby win, but both got it wrong at Sandown.

Quite why Beggy set such a dawdle on Taj Mahal is uncertain, but his move in the back straight that caused stablemate Cliffs Of Moher to nearly be put through the rail was careless. An eight-day ban for Beggy and a no-show from the two Ballydoyle horses showed how much of a mess the race was for them.

Zenon initiates a double for Robert Tart and John Gosden at HaydockCredit: John Grossick Racing Photography

Ride of the weekend

Robert Tart, who is making the most of the opportunities provided to him at John Gosden’s this season, claimed his biggest success on The Black Princess in the Lancashire Oaks.

However, his winning ride on Zenon was particularly good. Having slipped on the bend and traded at 999-1, Zenon required Tart to be very active and persistent in the saddle to win.

Report of the weekend

As good as some of the rides were this weekend, you'd be waiting a long time to top the stewards' report into the Eclipse, which is a rollercoaster to say the least. There's no way we can express it any better than the stewards, so here it is in all its glory:

"The Stewards held an enquiry into possible interference on the first bend. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that TAJ MAHAL (IRE), unplaced, ridden by Padraig Beggy, had interfered with DECORATED KNIGHT, placed sixth, ridden by Olivier Peslier, which in turn interfered with CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE), placed fourth, ridden by Ryan Moore. The Stewards found Beggy in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift right-handed when not sufficiently clear, causing Peslier to take a significant check off heels, which left CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE) short of room and causing it to make contact with the rail and stumble badly. They suspended him for 8 days as follows: Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 July 2017, inclusive. The Stewards held a further enquiry into possible interference approximately 3 furlongs out. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that EMINENT (IRE), placed fifth, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, had interfered with DECORATED KNIGHT (IRE). The Stewards found De Sousa in breach Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he had manouevered to his left to get a run when there was insufficient gap, shifting DECORATED KNIGHT (IRE) off its intended line. They suspended him for 2 days as follows: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July 2017. The Stewards also noted that EMINENT (IRE), attempted to bite DECORATED KNIGHT (IRE), during the interference."

Jim Crowley: has been very busy during the second quarter of 2017Credit: Edward Whitaker

Quote of the weekend

"Things happen in life for a reason. You have to respect their decision but I don't think I did too much wrong. It's worked out in my favour today."

Champion jockey Jim Crowley, who won the Eclipse on Ulysses having been replaced on fifth home Eminent earlier in the week.

Most impatient man of the weekend

El Hayem became the latest big-race winner the injured Frankie Dettori has missed out on (after the likes of Lady Aurelia and Big Orange at Royal Ascot) after he claimed the Coral Challenge at Sandown. Dettori returns at the Newmarket July festival on Thursday and will be as keen as mustard to make up for lost time.