On the racing front there was a heart warming success in the €100,000 Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh last Sunday as Elusive Time sprang a 25/1 surprise.

Formerly a prolific winner in Scandinavia this nine-year-old is one of just six horses under the care of Japanese trainer Takashi Kodama and he belied both his odds and his advancing years to bag one of the most fiercely competitive handicaps of the flat season.

Japanese-born Kodama has made something of a habit of winning with exotic imports in Ireland, famously striking with the former Japan Cup and Melbourne Cup second Pop Rock at the 2010 Galway Festival.

The same Curragh card yielded a Group 3 double for Aidan O’Brien but the performance that really stood out was that of Saxon Warrior who made a winning debut in the two-year-old maiden. A son of the exceptional Japanese sire Deep Impact and his trainer’s brilliant juvenile Maybe, Saxon Warrior came from out of the clouds to win at his leisure.

This was easily one of the most striking maiden performances of the season and this colt can surely hold his own at the highest level before the end of the year.

Killarney action

Killarney’s August Festival played host to some interesting action, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kew Gardens was quite impressive in getting off the mark at the second attempt last Wednesday.

He looks a fine middle distance prospect for 2018 but in the interim he will be worth watching out for in some quality mile races this autumn.

The high class staying hurdler Snow Falcon dominated a premier handicap the following day and the manner of his success suggested that he could well bag a major flat handicap before he turns his attentions back to hurdling over the winter.

Perhaps the Irish Cesarewitch at Navan next month could suit him especially well.

Elsewhere Balakani looked a horse with a future in winning a maiden hurdle at the track last Saturday. He was a little unruly beforehand but when it mattered most he applied himself impressively.

This may have been a relatively low key maiden but he can go on to better things.

Russell saga reaches a conclusion

The saga involving Davy Russell punching a horse in the head prior to the start of a race at Tramore dominated the headlines last week before reaching its conclusion last Saturday.

Ultimately Russell escaped with a caution after being found to be in breach of Rule 272 which governs actions of a prejudicial manner to the proper conduct and integrity of horseracing.

The incident itself sparked much commentary, condemnation and no small amount of hysteria on social media and it did come as a surprise to many that Russell escaped with caution and not a suspension.

However, one point to arise from this controversy is the length of time it took to deal with the matter. The incident itself wasn’t spotted on the night but it still hard to fathom how it was allowed to drag out for eight days before a hearing took place. This is something that racing’s regulator should bear in mind.