TACTICAL races, resulting in slow overall times, were plentiful in the last week. That is neither good nor bad but is just the way things are. Indeed, the degree to which tactics matter in horseracing, and become clearer when scrutinised, is part of the sport’s appeal and should arguably be emphasised more.

Nonetheless, the form in tactical races usually requires more interpretation than in well-run ones and overall times definitely do. That is where an understanding of sectionals helps greatly.

Enable’s win in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh was visually spectacular but underwhelming in terms of overall time. It was the fastest of three races at 12 furlongs on the card, but resulted in a timefigure of just 103, compared to the 121 figure she achieved in winning the Oaks at Epsom.

That was down to pace or rather the lack of it. When it came to the crunch, Enable ran the last three furlongs in a red-hot 33.35s and left her rivals toiling in her wake.

Stiffer tasks await Enable than beating the honest if slightly limited Rain Goddess, as here, but she looks up to them. She has roughly halved in price for the Arc from the 12/1 recommended after Epsom.

The other main races at the Curragh over the weekend were also tactical to greater or lesser degrees. Elizabeth Browning’s unexpected Kilboy Estate Stakes win on Sunday came in a respectable timefigure of 103 for what was a weak Group 2. But Spirit of Valor’s Minstrel Stakes win later on the card came with a pedestrian 64 timefigure and an eye-wateringly fast last three furlongs of 32.45s.

FASTER TIMES

That sectional would have been the fastest at the course this year – and certainly identifies Spirit of Valor as having bags of speed – were it not that a few behind him ran even quicker and the majority in the previous day’s Sapphire Stakes had run faster still.

The Sapphire went to Caspian Prince with a modest timefigure of 106 and a closing sectional of 32.25s. But short-head runner-up Marsha ran 32.06s – the fastest at the course in recent history – and third-placed Ardhoomey ran 32.13s. Even five-furlong races can be tactical in relative terms, despite what you sometimes read to the contrary.

Actress’ 100 timefigure in winning the Anglesey Stakes is a healthier one compared to her ability but still leaves her some way behind the fastest juveniles seen so far. Odds-on Brother Bear was only third and is one of a few to have called the form of Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes into some question.