Jan Brueghel defied a lengthy absence to run out an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Thursday.
Early last June the 2024 St Leger winner looked set for a special summer after beating Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but front-running tactics did not work in the King George at Ascot and he did not run again.
Briefly trapped on the rails when the pace quickened, it looked like Sons And Lovers had got first run but once in the clear Jan Brueghel (4-7 favourite) quickened impressively for Ryan Moore to beat Mount Atlas by two and a half lengths.