DONCASTER last weekend could not boast Meydan’s prize money or equine talent, but the ground there dried out rapidly and was nearly as fast by the end of proceedings.

Three races at a straight mile last Saturday made for meaningful comparisons, with there being precious little between the time merit of Auxerre’s win in the Lincoln Handicap (111 timefigure) and Sharja Bridge’s in the Listed Doncaster Mile (109), with both comfortably quicker than the Spring Mile Handicap winner Petrus (102).