Welcome move but sustained revival will take time

It was a glaring anomaly there was no Group 1 test for stayers between the Gold Cup in June and the Prix du Cadran in October. The promotion of the Goodwood Cup has addressed that situation.

In addition, the Queen’s Vase for three-year-olds, recently shorn of Group status, makes a welcome return to the Pattern over the infinitely more suitable trip of a mile and three-quarters. Together with the raft of lesser incentives, this is welcome news in the short term, but, as the BHA makes plain, any sustained revival is a long-term aspiration.

Only by breeding more staying horses will there be a rise in the overall standard. These developments lend encouragement on that score, while the decision to ring-fence the status of all Pattern races over 13 furlongs or more for the next five years offers breeders further succour. They will be fortified to know that the same opportunities will exist in 2021-22 should they breed their mare to a staying stallion this year.