THE going was considerably faster at Ascot’s May Meeting than at Chester and Leopardstown, at least on the quick-draining straight course.

Therein lies the main problem at the course for time analysts: the round course is nearly always slower, but by how much, and what proportion of a race that started on the round course was affected?

It is possible to ascertain that French Dressing’s overall time in winning a 10-furlong maiden on the Friday on her debut was heavily punished by a slow early pace, for she ran the last three furlongs in a swift 34.35s. Her timefigure was poor but she could well prove useful faced with a truer test.

At least as impressive on the evening was Besharah, winner of a five-furlong maiden on the straight course on her debut with an even quicker sectional of 33.85s.

Besharah’s timefigure of 88 is pretty good for a juvenile filly at this stage, and she can be expected to improve plenty on that, probably enough to rate into the 100s. As such, she may well prove to be a serious Royal Ascot contender.

Log Out Island - acquired by Godolphin since his win at this track in April – remains easily the fastest two-year-old on overall times seen so far with a figure of 104.