Ascot and Makfi don't mix. The Newmarket Guineas winner, conqueror of Goldikova and Paco Boy in the Marois - the best perforamnce bar Harbinger's King George anywhere in the world this year - has been twice to the country of his origin and the country where he will eventually stand at stud - and twice flopped. Mikel Delzangles had a plausible excuse for defeat in the St James's Palace at the Royal meeting - Makfi scoped badly afterwards with a throat infection; a similar affliction ruled Canford Cliffs out of the rematch in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, billed as decider between the two colts for mile championship of Europe.

In the parade ring Makfi sweated over his loins and Christophe Soumillon confirmed the horse just hadn't been himself. "I think he has bad memory of this place". He'd even tried to get under the gates. The result of the Queen Elizabeth muddied the waters. Poet's Voice is coming back to himself and looked magnificent in the parade ring; Frankie Dettori rides Ascot like it his fiefdom and the Godolphin three-year-old (like Makfi, by Dubawi) responded to his urgings. But Rip Van Winkle also sweated badly and the proximity of outsider Red Jazz (four lengths behind Makfi in the Guineas, two and a half lengths ahead here) doesn't give the form firm foundations. The Breeders' Cup Mile is on the agenda for Poet's Voice; whether Makfi's fragile temperament will allow him to seek redemption in the same race has yet to be decided. Whatever, it's back to the drawing board, or the psychiatrist's couch, for Makfi.

What will be Champions Day next year at Ascot was crowned by Henry Cecil's Frankel. It was a day for great men. Bobby Frankel was a Hall of Fame trainer in America who suffered an early death last year. In the ten-length winner of the Royal Lodge Stakes Frankel has a horse worthy of perpetuating his name - the imposing bay colt is the best juvenile around.

Henry Cecil describes Frankel as the best two-year-old he has trained in the 35 years since Wollow. In the meantime Cecil has trained Derby winners galore. His fortunes have been restored in recent years after ill-health and lifestyle changes brought him to brink of extinction.

Frankel's half-brother Bullet Train (by Sadler's Wells) is a morning glory but the class of this son of Galileo shines brightly every time he steps on the racecourse. He is ante-post favourite for next year's Newmarket Guineas and Derby.

One still questions the wisdom of the fixtures compromise in 2011 when the Royal Lodge and Dewhurst Stakes will "sandwich" the Lagardere. One of these races is bound to come off worst in terms of attracting the best juveniles. It was never intended that Frankel come over to Paris for the Lagardere of this Arc weekend. It is to be hoped that he has a ticket for next year to confirm what many are anticipating will be the title of the "Champion of Europe" in the 2011 Arc.

When we Brits use the word 'coup' it is almost exclusively to denote a notable achievement whereas the accurate translation, I'm led to believe, is "death-blow".

Well, little-known Tweenhills Stud, estab 18 years ago in Gloucestershire, UK, who have recently suffered body blows with the deaths of their stallions Ishiguru and Lucky Story, have achieved a real coup. They have whisked Mikel Delzangles' Newmarket Two Thousand Guineas winner Makfi from under the noses of the heavy hitters of Coolmore and Darley. Makfi is the most desirable of all young stallions on offer being by the ultra-fashionable Dubawi to add to his racecourse achievements. Makfi alone, in defeating Goldikova and Paco Boy in the Marois, recorded a victory this season as everlasting as Harbinger's King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.Though Tweenhills currently house Sleeping Indian and Trade Fair, their only Group One winner has been a Cheltenham (also in Gloucestershire) hurdle heroine, Lady Rebecca. The enormous sum Makfi cost (speculation is that the price approached £10m) has been paid by businessmen from Qatar not necessarily associated with the sponsors from that Gulf country of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It was expected the tryst for Makfi would involve wooing from Coolmore, Darley or Japan. But the Japanese plumped for Harbinger. Had the Maktoums felt obliged to buy back for many millions a horse they had sold for 25,000gns, such a deal would have involved an awful loss of face - izzat - the worst indignity Arabs can suffer.

What actually happened was that a British company, Quintessentially, who introduce select clients to juicy opportunities for gratification, were fortunate enough to have an employee related to Tweenhills when the Qataris landed in London. Call it luck, serendipity, heureux but Tweenhills should certainly be in the money with Makfi.

Goldikova and Paco Boy ran to the ounce of form in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

But neither of these exceptional milers is a Classic winner and they were beaten by one, Makfi.

What an insult to the Newmarket Two Thousand Guineas winner - the Marois billing, a head-to-head, Goldikova v Paco Boy, with left Makfi out of calculations.

At Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace, Mikel Delzangles’ colt, a Hamdan Al Maktoum throwaway, started joint-favourite with Canford Cliffs who Richard Hannon insists is the best horse he has trained in forty years on the job.

Makfi, 33-1, had beaten Canford Cliffs into third in the Guineas.

Makfi’s supporters couldn’t raise a shout at Ascot and the French colt went home with a sore throat – inflamed by infection and with his reputation shot.

At Deauville he proved himself the outstanding miler of the year – at least when conditions are testing.

My neighbours the Hannons had been confident they could reverse placings with Goldikova who held a 2-0 advantage over their Paco Boy aided by her 3lb mares' allowance. But the ground proved too holding for him and blunted Goldikova’s kick.

Makfi had their measure: on Deauville evidence the son of Dubawi is superior to all. We were privileged to see him at Newmarket. His future may lie in France and America.

Paco Boy will go to Highclere Stud in Berkshire next season. Before then connections must decide whether to bang their heads against Goldikova again in the Moulin or the Foret.

The Hannons’ other big decision is whether to go for the decider – top of the bill is now Makfi v Canford Cliffs.