Claims that Royal Ascot was not a level playing field were sounded out by Sheikh Fahad.

Visiting American trainer, Wesley Ward, was given permission to gallop King’s Stand Stakes favourite Lady Aurelia down the straight, prior to the Group 1 on Tuesday.

Maybe the curator of Royal Ascot was caught between a rock and a hard place, when visiting horses from the U S were given permission to gallop on the track, and the locals were not.

The Sheikh’s trainer, Michael Bell, claims it was unfair, when on face value it was, while it can be claimed it sets a precedence that can often be dangerous, we all like to see that no favours are given to horses, provided they have not raced on the track surface.

Racing administrators have to see there are no favours given to any runner, if a horse is engaged in the King Stand Royal Ascot, it must be seen that no favours are given, and common sense must prevail.

Royal Ascot is the show case of horse racing in the U K, and Europe for that matter, races are time honoured events, names of races are rarely changed, it’s about tradition and let’s hope it always is. We must preserve the heritage of our racing and the thoroughbred.