long group1 today, surely the group 3 at ascot last week was better

Some rules about them having to be established for a certain number of years I believe.

Prix Royal Oak is around in different guises for 150 years and won by some of the greatest stayers the Ascot race around a wet week in fairness

BTW it is their St. Leger

Used to be. Been open to older horses for some decades.

So is the Irish St Leger

Ok. Used to be their equivalent of the St Leger,now a staying race for all ages. A bit complicated in France as they never called the races by the same name and by the existence of The Grand Prix de Paris,which used to be their most or 2nd most valuable race and was run over much the same distance in the summer.