The month of June always revolves around Royal Ascot and for good reason. It is the highlight of the calendar for horseman and racegoers from across the globe. The pomp and splendour are a sight to behold, and the racing is spectacular. Champions are crowned and this year the Group 1 prizes were spread more widely amongst outfits large and small. The raw emotion shown by owners, jockeys, trainers and stable lads gets even the hardest nosed to shed a tear. Winning a race at this meeting is the hardest thing to do in racing and for that reason, it’s on everyone’s wish list. This year Highclere sent four horses to compete and so to come out with a winner and a second was beyond our expectations. One is always filled with hope, but to expect results is usually unwise, since many bubbles have been burst on this hallowed turf!

Merchant was the horse we were hoping would prove to be a Group horse in a handicap, which is what is usually required to win the furiously competitive handicaps at Royal Ascot. He had been beaten on his handicap debut at Newmarket in May, off a mark of 82, but he righted that with an impressive win up in trip at York, which meant he started at Ascot on a mark of 90. Tom Marquand rode a race full of confidence and Merchant did his bit, flying down the home straight to defeat Serious Contender by a length. In doing so he became Highclere’s fifth winner of the King George V Handicap, which is a record to be very proud of. Serious Contender has since finished second in the Irish Derby, which goes to show what an impressive performance it was from Highclere’s colt. Group races now beckon for Merchant, with the Gordon Stakes (Gr 3) at Glorious Goodwood high up on the agenda.