IT wasn’t quite Cheltenham Festival style, but 12 winners from the 35 races was a fine return for Irish-trained runners at Royal Ascot.

You had Aidan O’Brien becoming the meeting’s winning-most trainer with his four winners. You had Willie Mullins with his ninth winner and a Melbourne Cup favourite in Vauban now. You had two more winners for Joseph O’Brien. You had important firsts for Colin Keane and Donnacha O’Brien, and you had a remarkable 150/1 winner for Adrian Murray, a trainer who used to be far more accustomed to winners in Kilbeggan on a Friday evening.

And then you had Gavin Cromwell with his second Royal Ascot success from his second Royal Ascot runner and this is an incredible feat.

Snellen’s victory in the Chesham Stakes under Gary Carroll, added to Quick Suzy’s win in the Queen Mary for a trainer that will be much better known to the man on the street for his exploits at Cheltenham with the likes of Flooring Porter and Espoir D’Allen.

Exceptional

Like lots of jumps trainers, the Meath man has taken more of an interest on the flat in recent seasons. It’s an exceptional feat that from only a handful of two-year-olds in two different seasons, he has emerged with a winner at Royal Ascot, perhaps the most competitive set of juvenile races anywhere in the racing world.

It’s all the more significant when taken into account that Cromwell isn’t backed by a massive owner, and so isn’t dealing with stock from the major stallions. Quick Suzy cost €20,000 as a yearling. Snellen is by Expert Eye, a stallion still trying to find his way in the market with a modest covering fee of €7,500.

Luck plays a part of course, and Cromwell has found himself with two real diamonds, but he is maxed out that opportunity afforded to him. He should find himself with more two-year-olds next season and that is yet another progressive step from a stable that just keeps evolving.

His story is well told - he worked as a farrier for other trainers, most notably Gordon Elliott, and kept a small number of horses himself. Jer’s Girl was his first big name, and after her Grade 1-winning exploits, his string has grown and his facilities have developed.

He is a relatively quiet man in front of the cameras at the races so the pure talent is the driver for all of his success and he now has multiple winners at Royal Ascot and at Cheltenham. It’s long odds there will be more to come.