THE ground was nowhere near as soft for Ascot’s two-day meeting as it ended up being at Chester. Indeed, it was some way from being as soft as given officially, as judged by times.

The opener on Friday was won by the two-year-old Final Song in 62.25s (and not the time reported officially), which translates to a 102 timefigure, one ahead of another Godolphin-owned filly in Chasing Shadows among two-year-old fillies so far.

Motafaawit ran a very healthy 110 timefigure in winning a seven-furlong handicap later on the card and would not be out of place in the Jersey Stakes back here next month.

EASY TASK

The Arc sixth Salouen ended up having an easy task in what was a slowly run four-runner listed race at Ascot on Saturday, posting a timefigure of just 75 but looking good value to repeat his 120 at some point all the same.

Cape Byron had more to beat in the Victoria Cup Handicap later on, and impressed on the clock with a 113 timefigure in edging out Kynren (107) and Kaeso (96). Fourth-placed Raising Sandgot close to his previous 110 best despite being left with a lot to do.

The ground also seemed to be not as testing as given at Lingfield (and at Nottingham and Thirsk) on Saturday, as spring finally began to put in an appearance.

FINISHING

Both the Oaks trial and the Derby trial were well-run judged by finishing speeds, and, in fact, they went a bit faster than ideal in the fillies’ race which helps to explain the wide margins at the finish.

That the winner Anapurna is a useful performer and her rivals were not helps to explain that, too, and I have a 107 timefigure (edged up to 109 on sectionals) on her after this.

That should not be good enough to win the Oaks, in which something like 115 is usually a minimum, but Anapurna is improving hand over fist and very much in the reckoning for Epsom.

Anthony Van Dyck ran 0.5s (about three lengths) quicker overall than did Anapurna but 1.25s quicker in the last half-mile in winning the Derby trial readily from Pablo Escobarr, running a 112 timefigure and sectional rating in the process.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt has already proved himself tough and dependable, as well as smart, but something in the 120s is likely to be required to win the Derby itself and some other contenders have impressed more.

Pretty Baby ran a 97 timefigure in winning the Group 3 Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes later on at Lingfield.

HAYDOCK

Safe Voyage graduated from handicaps to winning a listed race at Haydock on Saturday (his fifth win in his last seven runs), earning another 115 timefigure in the process, though time analysis was difficult on what was a mixed card.

Le Patriote looked to run to somewhere around 150 (jumps figures are on a higher level than the flat) in winning the Swinton Handicap Hurdle under top weight.