Epsom Derby report: The BBC commentator Jim McGrath didn't get it quite as wrong as he thought when he looked at the re-run of Saturday's Epsom Derby and proclaimed: "Meath has got the Derby - I beg your pardon, North Light."

At the line, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt with the royal name was well out the back after leading North Light to the straight. But in a corner of Dunboyne, McGrath's brief slip-up fitted just about perfectly.

The Ballymacoll Stud would always have had a place in racing history as the birthplace of Arkle, arguably the greatest steeplechaser of the lot. But the little piece of magic that must have been present when he was around has clearly been a Dunboyne resident ever since.

North Light and Snow Ridge, the 7 to 2 joint favourites for Saturday's blue riband, were born within a month of each other, in the same box, at Ballymacoll.

The stud's manager, Peter Reynolds, afterwards revealed that North Light was always the boss when the young foals were out in their paddock.

"Very much the show off, always the first one up for his grub," he said.

Those who say that character is formed just out of the womb will no doubt be congratulating themselves. As no doubt will all those at Ballymacoll.

Snow Ridge was exchanged for a large cheque last winter, no bad deal if you suspected, as the Lord Weinstock team must have, that there was an even better Derby prospect waiting in the wings.

Snow Ridge struggled from early in the straight as Kieren Fallon propelled North Light to the line ahead of the Godolphin second string Rule Or Law, with Let The Lion Roar a slightly unlucky third.

It was Derby number three from just eight rides for Fallon and a fourth for the trainer Michael Stoute. But 25 years after Troy won it, this was a second Derby for Ballymacoll and a remarkable 24th individual Group One winner since the farm was bought by Lord Weinstock in 1960.

"For a stud like that, with just 25 mares, to have had two horses start joint favourites for the Derby, and for one to win, is quite remarkable," acknowledged Stoute. He added drolly: "This may have done them no harm to their prospects of continuing a little longer."

In the meantime, though, there is the prospect of finding out how far up the Ballymacoll roll of honour North Light can ultimately climb. With the likes of Troy, Pilsudski and Golan already there it will be some hike, but North Light gives every impression the best is yet to come.

"We just wanted to let him flow and be positive today," said Stoute, and Fallon picked up on that. Never worse than second, he kicked early in the straight and never looked in serious danger thereafter.

"He's always been one of my favourite horses," said the 39-year-old rider from Crusheen, Co Clare. "We were sailing all the way. He is a real high-class horse and he will get better."

Let The Lion Roar's trainer, John Dunlop, believed his colt was unlucky and said: "We will think about the Irish Derby. On a flatter track we'll see if he can turn it around with the other two."

It was significant, however, that John Gosden, the trainer of the fourth-placed Percussionist, pointed to the first half-furlong as where North Light won on Saturday.

"He had the class to take up the perfect position, and he did it easily," Gosden said.

That's the sort of class that can translate to any track.