HAVING the Ribblesdale Stakes and the King Edward VII Stakes – the so-called Royal Ascot Oaks and Derby – run as consecutive races made for some very handy comparisons, though neither contest was well-run, with the finishing speed for the fillies’ race coming in at 105% and for the colts’ at 104.5%, where just under 100% is par.

Pyledriver, a surprise winner of the King Edward VII, got to two furlongs out 1.28s (over seven lengths) ahead of Frankly Darling, whereafter the latter reduced the deficit a fraction by the line. This results in basic timefigures of 104 and 98 respectively, but with upgrades on top of 6lb and 7lb.