THE “how many winners have you ridden?” response from those in the saddle when criticised is easily countered - my culinary skills do not extend much beyond beans on toast but I know a good meal when I eat one - though it becomes more forgivable when those on the sidelines who try to pass themselves off as experts have failed to acquaint themselves fully with the evidence.

The Investec-sponsored Derby and Oaks at Epsom last week saw more than a few armchair jockeys quick to castigate but slow to weigh up the facts.

Those facts included that both races were exceptionally strongly-run in the opening stages, with the result that the early leaders were living on borrowed time from a long way out.

Despite soft ground on Oaks day, and good to soft going on Derby day, the front-runners in both races completed the first half-mile or so quicker than had recent Derby winners Australia and Golden Horn on much firmer ground and in truly-run races.

It was impossible to sustain such a pace - as Somehow and Australian Queen in the Oaks and Port Douglas and Cloth Of Stars in the Derby most graphically illustrated - and Minding and US Army Ranger benefited more than many from not getting caught up in it.

The energy conserved early by Minding, plus her prodigious ability, enabled her to sweep through for a famous victory despite running into trouble approaching the straight. It was not quite enough for US Army Ranger to do the same, going round the outside once in line for home, for he came up against an even better foe in Harzand.

Harzand had raced in mid-division, though still some way back, and struck for home two furlongs out. US Army Ranger got to his girth but Harzand found more, crossing the line a length and a half to the good.

Those early exertions punished the overall times of both races, but more clearly that of the Derby, with Harzand posting a 111 timefigure, which is around 10lb shy of the race par: US Army Ranger recorded 109 and Idaho 107.

A one-two-three for Irish-trained horses blew a big hole in some home-team reputations, but in time terms left a few questions to be answered.

One of them is “how would Idaho have fared ridden a bit further away from the red-hot early pace?” Sectional analysis suggests he was anything but flattered, and clearly neither had he been when running Harzand closer in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

There will be plenty to play for in the Irish Derby at the Curragh in three weeks’ time.

Minding’s time in the Oaks the day before had been slower in absolute terms but quicker in relative terms, on account of not only that softer surface but rail movement in the middle section.

Minding’s timefigure of 119, despite less-than-auspicious circumstances, is one of the fastest of the year and the best in the race since Sariska posted a 121 in 2009.

Runner-up Architecture (116) ran into a good one here and should not be long in winning again.