The Windsor Castle Stakes was first run in 1839 and was originally a mile contest for three-year-olds, often attracting those who had run in the Guineas. In 2004, it was reduced to the minimum distance of five furlongs and run as a Listed contest for two-year-olds, in which guise it has never failed to attract a full field, with many inexpensively bought and raced by syndicates. This year, it is being run under new conditions: extended to six furlongs, it is restricted to the offspring of stallions who have won over at least seven furlongs as juveniles, or over a mile or more from three and up. The new conditions may well result in classier sorts rising to the top.

As a son of the Champion miler Palace Pier and a multiple G1-winning South African-bred mare, the Richard and Peter Fahey-trained Charted Course exactly fits the required profile. He comes into the race on the back of a second-place finish on soft ground going six furlongs on debut in May. He’s sure to improve – but he will need to.