Agreement that slow, early pace caused shock

Howard, chairman of Doncaster Racecourse’s parent company Arc, is a co-owner of Highclere Thoroughbred racing’s recent York winner Guarantee, who finished seventh under Thirsk jockey Phil Makin, who was riding in his first Classic.

Like Aidan O’Brien and the vanquished Camelot team, Howard rued an apparent lack of early pace. “We are a bit disappointed and I don’t think the fast ground was ideal,” the Tory peer told the Yorkshire Post.

“The race was run at quite a slow pace. When they finally accelerated, he was asked to quicken – and couldn’t quite go with them. Phil did very well with him at York and Ripon before that. He’s a very good young jockey and I’m sure he is going to go on and have an even better career.”

As the Camelot inquest gathered pace, there were few ‘hard luck’ stories from the other protagonists. “It was a straightforward race and I stayed on well for third,” said Michelangelo’s rider Frankie Dettori.

The sentiment was the same for Johnny Murtagh, who rode Ursa Major into fourth place for former jumps jockey Tommy Carmody.

“He stayed on well at the end and I’m delighted. They went a slow, early pace and I got tapped for toe at the top of the hill” said Murtagh.

Ted Durcan said of fifth-placed Main Sequence: “I missed the break which wasn’t any help so I ended up last which wasn’t the plan.”

Back in sixth, and losing his 100 per cent St Leger record, was twice winner William Buick, who rode Thought Worthy.

He said: “The ground was a bit too quick – it has dried too much for me but he ran a good race for a long way.”

While Camelot was the biggest disappointment, the fact that connections were sporting enough to go for the Triple Crown is testament to the efforts of Doncaster – and race sponsor Ladbrokes – to revive the St Leger in recent years.

“It was a bold move to attempt the Triple Crown with Camelot and it was a shame it did not come off,” reflected Mike Dillon of Ladbrokes.

“It was a race – everyone turned up and they all fancied having a go. The winner got a really enterprising ride and won on merit. Let’s hope someone wants to try again next year.”