THE best recent two-year-old action in Europe came in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte last Sunday, when the Karl Burke-trained Unfortunately improved significantly to get the better of fellow Britains Frozen Angel and Heartache.

The last-named possibly did not give her running, (reported to have pulled a muscle) but the time looks useful and Unfortunately can be credited with a 109 timefigure (107 for Frozen Angel, 104 for Heartache). It has been a low-key season for that age group to date.

September (112) still leads the way, from Masar (111), Rajasinghe and Headway (both 110), though The Pentagon (109) is arguably the most interesting of all. He ran at Thursday’s Leopardstown meeting in the JRA Tyros Stakes, having been promoted to joint-favourite for next year’s Derby after his wide-margin Curragh success. It was less spectacular, but the time was easily the fastest of three at seven furlongs on the evening and looks worth a figure of around 105 compared to 109 at the Curragh. Longer distances will surely help him

The best two-year-old timefigures in Ireland and Britain in the last week came at Newbury from the Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Bengali Boys (105) and the listed winner Madeline (103), the latter franking the form of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot (fifth).

The maiden won by US Navy Flag at the Curragh at the beginning of the month looks one of the strongest, with the winner second in the July Stakes at Newmarket and runner-up Dawn Delivers winning at the Curragh.

Fourth-placed Battle Of Jericho did his bit for the form by winning at Leopardstown last week in a decent time, worth a timefigure of 90, the joint-sixth-fastest achieved in a two-year-old maiden this year.