Michal Kwiatkowski held on to take a solo win on stage 13 of the Tour de France on the Grand Colombier as Tadej Pogacar’s bid to snatch the yellow jersey from Jonas Vingegaard fell narrowly short.

Former world champion Kwiatkowski admitted he could not believe the position he was in as he emerged from a breakaway to take his second career Tour stage win, delivering for the Ineos Grenadiers a year after Tom Pidcock took a Bastille Day win on the Alpe d’Huez.

All eyes had been on UAE Team Emirates and Pogacar, who sought to control this 138km stage from Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne aiming to repeat Pogacar’s stage win the last time the Tour finished here in 2020, and looking to overhaul Vingegaard’s slim advantage in yellow.

But although Pogacar was able to distance Vingegaard a little in the final few hundred metres, launching his attack just as Kwiatkowski came home, he picked up only four seconds, plus four bonus seconds for third place, meaning Vingegaard kept yellow by nine seconds.

UAE were left to rue allowing as many as 19 riders up the road on the flat start, a group that proved too big and powerful to bring back.

After sixteen riders hit the final climb with four minutes of an advantage, Kwiatkowski was initially distanced by a group of four riders that included Tour debutant James Shaw.

But he rode back to them and then straight past still with 11km to the summit, quickly opening up a sizable gap and winning by 47 seconds from fellow escapee Maxim Van Gils.

The last time the Tour visited the Grand Colombier in 2020, Kwiatkowski was nursing a struggling Egan Bernal who abandoned the race two days later, but this time he could savour very different emotions.

“When I entered the break I thought, ‘this is just a free ticket to maybe the bottom of the climb’ or something like that, I never thought this group will fight for the stage win because UAE were pulling pretty hard,” Kwiatkowski said.

“But it is not easy to chase 19 guys on the flat for more than 100km… I think UAE let too many guys in the front and I found the best legs I ever had in my life. I didn’t believe that was possible but here I am.”

Although Pogacar hoovered up the last of the bonus seconds on the line to keep the pressure on Vingegaard, the two-time Tour winner would have hoped for more on a climb which plays to his strengths.

“It’s very nice to take some more seconds, but hats off to the breakaway and Michal Kwiatkowski for today,” Pogacar said.

Instead there was relief for Vingegaard, whose team-mates enjoyed an easier day after the chaos of Thursday’s stage 12.

“The aim was to keep the yellow jersey,” Vingegaard said. “I still have it, so I’m happy. Tadej is more explosive than me and this stage suited him more, so I’m really glad to still be in yellow.”

Pogacar and Vingegaard both picked up time on the rest of the overall contenders, with third-placed Jay Hindley now two minutes and 51 seconds back, and the gap to Carlos Rodriguez in fourth nearing five minutes.

Although Ineos lost Ben Turner to illness, there was more good news as Pidcock came home fifth on the stage, 13 seconds behind Pogacar, to strengthen his hold on eighth. Adam Yates is fifth and twin brother Simon sixth, with all three Brits within six minutes of yellow.

“I think Bastille Day should be renamed Ineos day,” Pidcock said. “Two pretty iconic climbs, two pretty special wins.

“At one point we were talking about Kwiato coming back from the break to help with positioning for the final climb because UAE were not giving the break any time, and then he wins the stage. It always happens when you least expect it.”

Andrew Balding unleashed a potentially smart prospect at Newmarket in the shape of Arabic Legend, who quickened up in fine style to take the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes under Rob Hornby.

Sent off at 17-2, the Dubawi colt showed plenty of maturity as he took apart what looked a good bunch of two-year-olds in the seven-furlong contest, downing the well-supported Emperor’s Star, similarly making his debut for the equally-powerful Charlie Appleby yard.

After the length-and-a-half success, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned colt was handed a 25-1 quote from Paddy Power for next season’s Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Balding said: “He quickened up nicely. He’s a nice horse and an exciting prospect.

“He is a very well-bred horse and we think a little bit of him. When the rain came it was encouraging. That certainly wasn’t going to inconvenience him.

“He has got a lot of potential. He was due to run at Doncaster, but it was unfortunate there was a mishap in the stalls. But anyway, it was great to come here. Rob gave him a lovely ride and I’m delighted for his owner. He is a great owner to have, and he bred the horse so it’s great.

“I’m sure he will stay a mile and I’m sure he will get further in time.”

The Sky Bet Ebor Handicap is on the cards next for Live Your Dream, who took the bet365 Trophy for trainer Saeed bin Suroor as the 5-2 favourite, completing a treble on the day for jockey Kevin Stott.

The Godolphin six-year-old, who had won the mile-and-six-furlong affair two years ago, stayed on well to beat Kihavah by a length and three-quarters.

Should he win the York prize next time, he would gain an automatic entry to the Melbourne Cup, but with Australia’s stringent rules, the gelding’s previous leg trouble may keep him out of the ‘race that stops a nation’.

Bin Suroor said: “This distance was better for him. The Ebor will be his race next. I think a mile and six is his best trip. We tried different distances, but we found after his races that he likes a mile and six best.

“Now we will take him to York as it is the same distance. We give him a break between races, as that’s what he likes.

“He is tough, a big horse, with time he is looking good. He gave him a good ride and kept him nice and calm in the race.”

Killybegs Warrior (20-1) won twice at Newmarket over seven furlongs as a juvenile and dropping in grade came good for Charlie Johnston in the 6 Horse Challenge At bet365 Handicap in the hands of Stott.

Well held in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot on his last run, the three-year-old bounced back in good style to down Obelix inside the final furlong and score by three-quarters of a length in a race that his father, Mark, used to farm with regularity.

Johnston said: “It has been a while. I think there was a period when we won five of seven renewals and won with some really good horses.

“This horse is now three from three at this track and clearly loves it here. We set him some very difficult challenges this year, the Dante, the Hampton Court and this was him at a more realistic level and he’s bounced back.”

He added: “We spent a lot of time debating whether he was a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter horse and I think we eventually realised a mile and a quarter is his best trip. We would go to Goodwood next, I would assume.”

Stott also won the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on Persian Dreamer.

Michal Kwiatkowski held off the charge of Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates squad to take a solo win on stage 13 of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard just clung on to the yellow jersey.

A year after Tom Pidcock took a Bastille Day stage win on the Alpe d’Huez, Kwiatkowski delivered for the Ineos Grenadiers on the Grand Colombier.

The former world champion caught and immediate passed four other members of the day’s break – including James Shaw – to go alone with 11km of the 17km climb remaining and had enough in reserve to stay clear of the main group of favourites.

Just as Kwiatkowski was crossing the line, Pogacar launched an attack to try to shake Vingegaard, his sights set on taking the yellow jersey.

The Slovenian managed to open up a few bike lengths and rolled in third, picking up four bonus seconds although not enough time to move into the race lead, Vingegaard’s 17-second gap at the start of the day now reduced to just nine.

Pogacar’s UAE squad had sought to control what had been a 19-strong breakaway with designs on repeating his stage victory on this mountain from 2020.

But having hit the foot of the climb four minutes behind the surviving escapees, they could not reduce that gap quickly enough, with Kwiatkowski’s margin of victory 47 seconds from fellow breakaway rider Maxim van Gils and 50 seconds from Pogacar.

Last time the Tour visited the Grand Colombier in 2020, Kwiatkowski was nursing a struggling Egan Bernal who abandoned the race two days later, but this time he could savour a second career Tour stage win.

“When I entered the break I thought, ‘this is just a free ticket to maybe the bottom of the climb’ or something like that, I never thought this group will fight for the stage win because UAE were pulling pretty hard,” the Pole said.

“But it is not easy to chase 19 guys on the flat for more than 100km… I think UAE let too many guys in the front and I found the best legs I ever had in my life. I didn’t believe that was possible but here I am.”

Novak Djokovic lost his cool with umpire Richard Haigh and the Centre Court crowd but saw off Jannik Sinner in straight sets to reach a fifth consecutive Wimbledon final.

The Serbian is making history with virtually every victory and a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (4) win in his record-equalling 46th grand slam semi-final earned him a record-breaking 35th final, taking him past American great Chris Evert.

He had to save two set points in the third set but is now only one victory away from matching Roger Federer by winning an eighth Wimbledon title and Margaret Court with a 24th grand slam crown.

This was not entirely smooth sailing, though, and he was clearly annoyed by the decision of British umpire Haigh to call a hindrance against him at 15-15 in the fourth game of the second set.

Djokovic had suddenly let out a loud and late grunt after hitting a backhand down the line that he probably expected to be a winner only for Sinner to reach it.

It is unusual for a grunt to elicit a hindrance ruling and Djokovic reacted with disbelief, saying to Haigh: “You must be joking. Calling that in the semi-final of Wimbledon? What are you doing?”

To compound the situation, Haigh then gave Djokovic a time violation for taking too long on his serve in the same game but the reigning champion managed to keep his cool and chose not to initiate another confrontation.

It was a different story with the crowd, who were willing Sinner to make a contest of it, when the 21-year-old created two set points at 4-5 in the third set.

Djokovic clapped sarcastically and gave a thumbs up when noise delayed his second serve, with a man shouting ‘Vamos Rafa’, and was then booed for taunting the crowd when Sinner missed both chances.

When Djokovic held serve, he turned to the fans closest to him and mimed crying, but it was he, once again, who had the last laugh, extending his winning streak of tie-breaks to 15 at grand slams.

Sinner and Djokovic had met in the quarter-finals here last year, where the 21-year-old Italian opened up a two-set lead only for his opponent to win in five.

Both looked a little edgy at the start, with Sinner contesting his first slam semi-final after the sort of draw that players dream of.

The eighth seed could not convert two break points, though, and in the second game Djokovic took his chance.

Sinner, who struggled with his footwork throughout the contest on the slippery grass, had another break point in the fifth game only to miss with a forehand, and three aces in a row helped Djokovic clinch the set.

Sinner is one of the biggest ball-strikers in the game and he elicited oohs and aahs from the crowd at the sound made by the slap of strings on ball under the Centre Court roof.

There were too many errors to go with the winners, though, and an over-cooked forehand on break point at 1-1 in the second set put Djokovic firmly in control.

Sinner had a chance in the contentious fourth game to retrieve the deficit immediately only to net another forehand and, although Djokovic showed signs of stress, gesticulating towards his box, he found his first serve again just when he needed it most to serve out a two-set lead.

Djokovic’s biggest weapon is arguably his ability to lock in at the most important moments and that – helped by 15 years extra experience – was the main difference between the two players.

Sinner produced his own clutch serving to recover from 0-40 at 1-1 in the third set and looked the better player for much of the remainder of it but he could not capitalise on an early lead in the tie-break as Djokovic claimed a 21st win from his last 22 slam semi-finals.

City Of Troy could be challenging stablemate River Tiber for favouritism for next year’s 2000 Guineas should he follow up his impressive debut success in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

Currently second-favourite for the Classic at a best-priced 12-1, he created a real stir at the Curragh two weeks ago when Ryan Moore struggled to pull him up after crossing the line.

A colt by American Triple Crown winner Justify, out of a Fillies’ Mile winner in Together Forever, he bears all the hallmarks of a top-class prospect.

“We were impressed with him on his debut, but he hasn’t done much since,” said O’Brien.

“That was only two weeks ago, but he’s been in good form at home and you had to be delighted with him first time out.

“This looks an ideal race for him and hopefully it will do him good long term and it gives him a good education.

“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse.”

It is no surprise that Charlie Appleby provides the sternest opposition and the Moulton Paddocks handler is represented by impressive Leicester winner Great Truth.

The son of Dubawi put distance between himself and his rivals on debut and having reportedly thrived since his outing in the East Midlands, now takes an immediate step up in class.

“Obviously he won that maiden impressively,” said Appleby.

“He was very green that day as you saw, he hung across to the left. Mentally and physically he’s done very well since. When I say physically, he’s tightened up, but mentally he galloped on Wednesday, William rode him, and he was very slick.

“He quickened up well. It is a competitive Superlative this year. We were second with Victory Dance last year and he didn’t quite get to where we hoped he might get. But this year, with Aidan’s horse, it will be tough, because he looks decent.

“But we like our horse. He is slick.”

Various Royal Ascot form lines will be tied together in the Group Two event with Richard Hannon’s Haatem (fifth), Andrew Balding’s Spanish Phoenix (eighth) and Cuban Thunder (10th) stepping up in trip and representing the Coventry Form and Patrick Owens’ Oddyssey looking to build on his Chesham Stakes third.

The son of Ulysses was beaten less than a length behind Snellen and his handler has been pleased with his development since that huge effort at the Royal meeting.

“He’s come out of Ascot good and is training well,” said Owens.

“He has grown up a lot mentally which is great and we know he is going to be a nice, big, strong horse next year, but physically he has done so well this year.

“Hopefully he can step up on Ascot and I guess we’re only going to find out on the day. He has done everything right at home, but it is a massive step up.

“I’m happy with the draw, especially the two horses I’m drawn next to (City Of Troy and Great Truth), which I’m really pleased about and hopefully the ground stays as it is, that would be important. He might handle a bit of cut, but if it could stay as it is that would be perfect.

“We’ve been very pleased with him and please God he can run another big race.”

Charlie Hills’ Iberian made a taking impression when scoring first time at Newbury and the 200,000 guineas purchase will be attempting to justify connections’ decision to jump straight in at the deep end.

“He did it very well on debut at Newbury and we sort of earmarked this race as an idea,” said Richard Ryan, racing manager for owners Teme Valley.

“He’s trained well leading into it so we’re taking part and hopeful.

“Charlie is quite bold on him and he shows up quite well in the morning. We’re hopeful progress can continue to be made, but it is a hell of a race.”

In the bet365 Bunbury Cup, Streets Of Gold will attempt to build on his Jersey Stakes third, dropping back to handicap company for Eve Johnson Houghton.

The son of Havana Gold landed some valuable heats last season and has shown no sign of hitting his ceiling this term having finished just over a length behind the winner Age Of Kings at Royal Ascot.

“We were thrilled (at Ascot), but not surprised,” said the Oxfordshire-based handler.

“He’s 4lb well-in on official ratings and it seems the obvious race to go for.

“I know three-year-olds have a great record in it, but they don’t actually run in it that often. Because of the weight for age, you have to be rated quite high to get into it.

“I’m really pleased with him and I’m looking forward to a big run from him.”

Streets Of Gold is joined in the line-up by Johnson Houghton’s stable stalwart Accidental Agent, who finished a gallant seventh in the race last year.

She added: “He ran so well in in it last year and Mia (Nicholls) is going to take 7lb off him, so we thought we would give him a nice day out.”

Nashwa excelled on her return to a mile under Hollie Doyle to absolutely bolt up in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Riding her seventh Group One winner, Doyle was briefly stuck in a pocket as the pace quickened – but once she was in the clear the race was over in a matter of strides.

John and Thady Gosden’s filly had run well to be placed in the Oaks over a mile and a half last season, and went on to win Group Ones over 10 furlongs in the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes.

However, she had looked fairly lacklustre in her two previous runs this season, in France and down in Group Three company at Newcastle.

But she clearly thrived for being dropped in trip on rain-softened ground, looking in a different league to her rivals.

Pam Sly’s Astral Beau led until just over a furlong out when Remarquee looked a huge threat, bidding to give Ralph Beckett and Rob Hornby another victory in the race after Prosperous Voyage 12 months ago, only for Nashwa (4-1) to take off, ultimately winning by five lengths.

Remarquee was second and the even-money favourite Via Sistina third.

Sonny Liston will try to deliver a knockout blow as he steps back up in trip in the John Smith’s Cup at York.

The four-year-old was last seen finishing second to Jimi Hendrix – also trained by Ralph Beckett and owned by Chelsea Thoroughbreds – in the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile at Royal Ascot last month.

Sonny Liston tackles an extended 10 furlongs on the Knavesmire, a trip the gelding has encountered before when third in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester as a three-year-old.

“I think gelding him has really helped and he was the last off the bridle at Ascot,” said Emma Spencer, managing director and racing manager for owners Chelsea Thoroughbreds.

“I expect him to be ridden the same when he steps up in trip at York, he seemed to switch off well, but obviously Jimi Hendrix was quite a long way ahead of him on the other side.

“I think it looks a good race for him, obviously a very different race to Ascot, but I think he’s kind of proven himself over the trip before and could now get his act together and build on what he did in the Hunt Cup.”

Daniel and Claire Kubler’s Astro King finished down the field in the Royal Hunt Cup, but had previously ran well over a mile at York, coming home fourth and beaten just a length and a quarter despite not being afforded a clear passage through the race.

“If he hadn’t run in the Hunt Cup, what price would he be for this?” said Daniel Kubler.

“That first run for us at York was very encouraging. Straight after the race, we were like, ‘here’s a plan’ – because he finished off the race really nicely. So, we sort of always had it in our minds that probably Hunt Cup and then this looked very logical from that point onwards.

“Our analytics and stuff that we do would suggest that he should get a mile and a quarter. It’s definitely something that’s worth exploring further. I suppose the only thing is we wouldn’t want loads of rain. That would be our slight one, we’re a little bit concerned about.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Sea The Casper will be popular after his sole run of the year ended in victory in a 10-furlong Lingfield handicap.

Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: “He’s a horse who hasn’t had a lot of racing, but he is going the right way and seems to be improving.

“He’s working nicely and we’re hopeful he will have a great chance.”

Kevin Ryan’s Marhaba The Champ is another horse with York form under his belt after his success over the course and distance in a May handicap.

His owner Jaber Abdullah is also represented by Robinson, who said: “He loved the track when he won there earlier this year.

“He had a tongue-tie on last time at Epsom (sixth) and he didn’t face it, but the ground should be fine and it’s all systems go.”

Elsewhere on the card, there is Listed action in the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes, a five-furlong sprint that has attracted 11 runners.

Ed Bethell’s Regional, an impressive winner of the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock and victorious over course and distance on his penultimate run, leads the way.

The latter effort was on good ground and the former on good to firm, meaning the five-year-old would not appreciate the heavy rain forecast in the York area.

“It’s very much weather-dependent at the moment. I’m hoping for a miracle and that every weather forecast will be completely wrong!” said Bethell.

“He’s in absolutely brilliant form at home, he looked pretty progressive in his last start when he won the Listed race at Haydock.

“He’s got a penalty to contend with as a result but it is more the weather that is my concern really, we’ll keep an eye on it and then make a call.

“I had thought that he could run here and then work towards the Nunthorpe, but if he didn’t run here and I had to go straight there then it wouldn’t really bother me.”

Queen Me, trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Jaber Abdullah, finished just three lengths behind Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on her last outing and now takes on a five-furlong trip for the first time.

“She has showed quite a lot of ability and she finished behind Swingalong in the Lowther last year, so we know she likes York,” said Robinson on behalf of the owner.

“The ground should be fine and back in a Listed race, I think she will have a great chance. She’s been racing in Group One company and it makes a big difference, so hopefully she will be able to find her old form.”

A field of six contests the Group Three John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes over a mile and six furlongs.

William Haggas’ Hamish was a decisive winner of the Ormonde Stakes at Chester on his last outing.

Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan also holds an entry and will benefit from the forecast rain when returning to a track he has run well at several times.

Persian Dreamer downed the long odds-on favourite Star Of Mystery in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

Kevin Stott ensured it was a happy birthday for Amo Racing boss Kia Joorabchian in the fillies’ Group Two contest, which had looked at the mercy of Charlie Appleby’s Star Of Mystery once George Boughey’s Soprano was declared a non-runner due to a medication mix-up.

Two of the four runners were trained by Dominic French Davis, with his second string Thanksbutnothanks taking the field along early and the favourite close by.

But Persian Dreamer (5-1) – one place behind Soprano when fourth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot – quickened impressively when asked and went on to win by a length and three-quarters, giving Stott a swift double after victory aboard the Charlie Johnston-trained Killybegs Warrior in the opening handicap.

Star Of Mystery (1-6) was a second odds-on favourite of Appleby’s to be beaten at the meeting following Adayar’s defeat on Thursday.

Ffrench Davis, celebrating his first Group winner, said: “We hit the crossbar a few times. It is a relief to win a Group race at last. She’s a smashing filly and has done nothing wrong all year, but needs to get her toe in the ground.

“We were praying for the rain today and it has come. I hoped it would rain.

“She was the last horse off the bridle at Ascot, she just doesn’t let herself down when the ground is as fast as that.

“I think she will be a lovely filly going forward. When she won on the Rowley Mile, I always felt that she might go on to be a Guineas filly next year.

“She gives you that sort of a feel. She’s done her bit for the moment and we will wait for the ground to be right and make sure the race is right and hope she will be going for a little soft-ground Group One in the autumn.

“We have got some nice horses, but never would have had this sort of class of horse at all (before Amo’s backing).”

Of the beaten market leader, Appleby said: “As we know with these small-runner events, they can become quite messy.

“It was contested early and she was lit up for the first couple of furlongs. Will (Buick) said she hit the lids and the other horse was sat on our girths and keeping us lit up. They got a nice tow into it and they picked up and saw it out better than we did.

“It is tough out there on the front with a headwind and it just paid that last couple of hundred yards.

“Fair play to the winner, they have got a nice tow and got cover pulled her out and picked her up.

“Small fields are the annoying ones, they can be more messy than the bigger ones. Our filly didn’t lose too much in defeat, but I think she’ll be better when she gets a bit of cover.

“She is most definitely a sprinter. Whether we look down the Lowther route or something, we’ll see. She is a this-year filly, on the scope of her anyway.”

Former captain Padraig Harrington believes he has two chances to prove he is worthy of becoming the oldest ever Ryder Cup player, 13 years after the last of his six appearances in the biennial event.

Harrington has not won on the DP World Tour since 2016 but has claimed five victories on the Champions Tour in the last 13 months, including successfully defending his title in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open last month.

The 51-year-old also started this season with fourth place in Abu Dhabi and finished 27th in the US Open last month, sparking speculation that he could be in the frame for one of captain Luke Donald’s six wild cards.

Raymond Floyd was 51 when he played in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, but Harrington will celebrate his 52nd birthday a month before this year’s contest in Rome.

“I don’t think we should take the Seniors Tour into account, it’s different golf,” Harrington said after a second round of 66 left him high on the leaderboard in the £7million Genesis Scottish Open.

“I should be judged on how I play in DP World Tour and PGA Tour events. That’s it. I’ve seen some nice form and I’m gradually getting better and better.

“I played well in Abu Dhabi there but that was a good round with my back to the wall. This has been better in terms of being stress-free. I like what I see this week.

“With regards to the Ryder Cup, I’ve got these two events. I’ll see at the end of the Open. I’ll talk to Luke and see where I stand and, if necessary, I’ll change my schedule and come and play over here.

“I’m meant to be playing a few Senior events in the middle of the summer. But I will change that and play European Tour events if I have a genuine chance. If it’s real.”

Asked if he had already been in contact with Donald, Harrington said: “Luke rang me a couple of weeks ago. He was actually on to congratulate me for my win, but he also said that it would be remiss of him to say he wasn’t watching.

“He asked about my schedule. I said how I play in Scotland and at the Open will determine everything. If I don’t have good weeks it won’t be enough.

“The team looks good. I have to say that. The good players are playing well. The young guys are coming through. And older guys like Justin (Rose) have come back into form.

“I don’t think they are scrambling to need me in the team. They are very solid. Every week in the States we see a European winning or contending. It’s turned a nice corner for Europe.

“It’s nice to have experience, but they are not crying out for it. Although I don’t want to talk myself out if it. But they’re not desperate to have me in the team.”

England’s Tyrrell Hatton surged into contention for a first victory in two and a half years with a “stressful” second round of 62 in the Genesis Scottish Open.

Hatton, who began the day eight shots off the lead, carded nine birdies and a solitary bogey at the Renaissance Club to set an early clubhouse target of nine under par which was matched by South Korea’s Tom Kim.

World number one Scottie Scheffler and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington were two strokes off the pace following rounds of 65 and 66 respectively as the field battled changeable conditions in East Lothian.

Asked if his round was as easy as he made it look, Hatton said: “No, it was stressful at times, as most of my rounds are.

“But very happy with the chances I gave myself. I feel I hit a lot of good iron shots today, especially compared to Thursday. Very happy with how that was and nice to see some putts drop, too.

“I had three weeks off after the US Open and you probably saw a little bit on Thursday I was fatting a few shots.

“I was hitting balls off mats last week and, even though I got here Monday night I still had not managed to get the ball first. We managed to do that today and hopefully that continues this weekend.”

In contrast to Hatton, Harrington felt driving the ball well led to a stress-free 66, despite facing the worst of the wet and windy conditions in the first group out at 7.15am.

“I hit a great drive off my first hole of the day, 80 yards short of where I hit it yesterday,” the 51-year-old said.

“The marshals were a full 50 yards away from where they should have been for the first three, four holes because they had no idea how short the ball was going.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever been out first and I was hoping that I might turn up and get a break with the weather, but we kind of got the opposite. Then it lightened up obviously after six or seven holes. The ball started going a bit and it got a little easier then.”

Harrington has not won on the DP World Tour since 2016, but has won five times on the Champions Tour in the last 13 months, including successfully defending his title in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open last month.

“I feel I can challenge anybody on a links golf course without a doubt,” Harrington said. “From years of playing it comes natural to me.

“And I don’t have a problem coming back and playing with the young guys on any golf course, but obviously links makes it a little easier for me.”

There is room at the top for a champion sprinter this season and should Julie Camacho’s three-year-old Shaquille land the Pertemps Network July Cup, the odds are he would go a long way to claiming the title.

Winner of six of his seven races to date, he came from a hugely unpromising position to win the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, beating last year’s star juvenile Little Big Bear, despite losing plenty of ground at the start.

That is not the first time he has shown a quirk or two, although it certainly does not slow him down, but he will need to be on his best behaviour when taking on older horses for the first time as he attempts to emulate Muhaarar in winning the Commonwealth and July Cups back to back.

“Shaquille seems to be in great form and has come out of Royal Ascot well. We turned him out for three or four days and he started to get a bit fresh. He cantered on the Wednesday after Royal Ascot and he did a nice piece of work last Saturday and everything seems to be good,” said Camacho, who celebrated her first Group One win at Ascot.

“He’s lovely at home. Everybody sees him at the races and they think he’s this big, ignorant, horrible animal but he’s not! Paige Harrison, who looks after him at home and rides him at home, says he’d be quite happy to just walk up the six-furlong gallop, he just lobs along.”

Steve Brown, Camacho’s husband and assistant, said: “He is a horse who prefers to lead in his work. If you ask him to join a decent horse, he might not get there. He is relaxed and laid back.

“Each time he has raced, he’s got better. We were concerned how he would handle Royal Ascot, but when he first stepped on the track he hadn’t put a foot wrong and he hadn’t broken sweat which I was really pleased about to the point that when Oisin (Murphy) hacked away, I was actually worried he was too quiet but that didn’t reflect in his performance.

“We just hope he is maturing as we are going along. It has been a steady progression in the right direction with him and hopefully that will continue on Saturday.”

Murphy is suspended on Saturday while James Doyle, who rode him to two victories earlier in the season, is at Ascot, so Rossa Ryan comes in for the ride.

“Ascot was the first time he has started slowly in his life. He was first to load and had been sitting there a long time, so got a little bit impatient,” said Brown.

Ryan Moore was briefly in the frame for the ride after Aidan O’Brien raised some doubt about Little Big Bear’s participation. However, the rematch was confirmed on Thursday morning at declaration time.

O’Brien stated at the time everything would have to continue to go in the right direction after he suffered a stone bruise last week, causing him to miss six days of exercise.

Speaking early on Friday afternoon O’Brien said: “At the moment everything is going well with him.

“It hasn’t been ideal, obviously, but we’re happy enough.

“He just missed five or six days last week and we won’t know until he runs how much it has affected him.”

The July Cup was the one Group One in the UK that Frankie Dettori was missing on his CV and in his final year, Ralph Beckett’s Kinross had been identified as his last chance to win it.

Unfortunately for him, the suspension picked up at Royal Ascot means he is unable to retire with a full set of top-level races and he has been replaced by William Buick.

Owner Marc Chan’s racing manager Jamie McAlmont said: “William (Buick) is a more than capable substitute, but it was something we were really looking forward to (with Dettori) and sadly it just wasn’t meant to be.

“If we can get some rain that would increase his chance for sure, it would make a bit of a difference, I think.

“It’s a solid race, there’s three-year-olds racing against six-year-olds and there are a number Group One winners in the race. It’s a solid field.”

Michael Van Gerwen is ready to carry on breaking the pain barrier in his pursuit of back-to-back World Matchplay titles.

The Dutchman has recently had intensive dental surgery, with more to come, but that has not affected him too much as he won the Poland Masters at the weekend.

He heads to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool aiming to follow up last year’s success and will again give it his all.

“It has been a really tough period, but the most important thing is you have to stand up and you have to battle,” said Van Gerwen ahead of his first-round match with Brendan Dolan on Sunday.

“It costs a lot of energy, but I always say if I am competing in something, I want to win it, and this tournament will be no different.

“I’m looking forward to the World Matchplay already. It’s one of the biggest tournaments we have, I want to play well and I want to defend my title.

“I always have pressure on my shoulders but I don’t mind that. I’m winning tournaments again and that gives you confidence.”

The tournament on the west coast is widely recognised as the second biggest event on the calendar behind the World Championships, which means that world number one Michael Smith is keen to add this title to his collection.

Smith, who plays Steve Beaton, won at Alexandra Palace in January and now wants to taste success at another famous venue.

“It’s an iconic venue. The crowd are right on top of you. It’s special for us as players,” the 2019 runner-up said.

“I’m feeling confident. I’m feeling good. I’ve had a few disappointments in this tournament, especially losing the final to Rob (Cross).

“This year feels different though. I’m going in as the world number one, and I’ve got to prove why I’m in that position.

“I’m feeling comfortable and I’ve got to continue that winning run this year, hopefully starting with the World Matchplay.”