ALICE Springs’ position as fastest three-year-old filly in Britain and Ireland lasted only 24 hours and was surpassed from an unlikely source.

A change in the official going from “good to firm” to “good (good to soft in places”) at York led to numerous withdrawals, but times show that the rain had little effect. In particular, the Listed City Wall Stakes was run in a time of 56.35s that was only 0.19s outside the course record set by 137-rated Dayjur in 1990!

Winner and second, Marsha and Easton Angel, both get 122 timefigures, with third-placed Muthmir on 121. This is much stronger form than might be imagined.

Easton Angel showed pace to burn – trading at long odds-on in running – and could be best suited of all to the even more speed-favouring King George Stakes at Goodwood on July 29th. I have had a few quid on her at a double-figure price for that.

There had been another impressively quick time at the course the previous day, when the five-year-old mare Ridge Ranger had landed a six-furlong Group 3 readily from the smart Besharah. A time of 70.01s translates into a timefigure of 119. There are certainly some good female sprinters around at present.

Ascot managed to squeeze the Group 2 Summer Mile into last Saturday’s outrageously busy schedule, and it proved worth the effort. In time terms, however, Mutakayyef’s win was merely so-so due to a steady early pace.

Mutakayyef had already shown he can run quicker than the 107 timefigure he posted here (managed 118 once in 2015), while runner-up Dutch Connection was even quicker from the home turn, despite his effort petering out a bit late on, and should not be given up on at this trip or back at 7f.