It's back to the drawing board at Castle Stables for Let The Lion Roar following his failure in the Budweiser Irish Derby.

After being perfectly placed, three or four lengths behind the leaders two furlongs from home and, for a few strides, going better than North Light, John Dunlop's colt failed to quicken and finished fifth, beaten just under five lengths by Grey Swallow.

After a damp week, amazingly the going was good to firm and Dunlop said: "My jockey Mick Kinane said the horse was finding the going too firm and did not stride out when the pressure was on.

"But it is significant that, for the third time this year, he finished just behind North Light and Rule Of Law, so he has confirmed the York and Epsom form."

Although the race card described Let The Lion Roar as wearing blinkers, he was declared with and wore a visor, although in the end this made no difference.

The colt's enthusiasm for a struggle is open to question but, knowing the trainer, it will be surprising if a Group race does not come his way before the year is out.

After a break, Let The Lion Roar will be trained for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August and probably the St Leger afterwards, which his half-brother Millenary won four years ago.

In any case, hope for the future of the line lies with Let The Lion Roar's half-sister by Rainbow Quest, Dancing In The Clouds.

Dunlop said: "She is a full sister to Millenary out of the Dancing Brave mare Ballerina. She is backward, being an April foal, but will probably have just the one run before the season ends."

Tomorrow's Coral Eclipse stakes sees Michael Jarvis's super five-year-old Rakti go for the second leg of the £1 million summer bonus offered by the British Horseracing Board.

Having won the Prince of Wales' stakes at Royal Ascot surprisingly easily, Rakti has progressed as a result of the race and is, at best, an even money chance to win.

Last year's Guineas' winner Refused To Bend, who came back to form in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Coronation Cup winner Warrsan are the obvious dangers, but trainer David Elsworth is very keen on Salford City, who failed to stay the Derby distance and should be suited by one and a quarter miles at Sandown.

I will be very disappointed if Rakti is beaten now - he has my claim to be the "best horse in Europe" to uphold!