Ruling Court still needs to improve to win a Derby - but nobody will head to Epsom with better form claims

With the two form horses finishing clear with an unexposed winner, there is every reason to be positive about the form of  the 2,000 Guineas, even if Ruling Court's up-to-scratch success raised questions as to which of the trio might rate highest by the end of the year.

An improved Racing Post Rating of 122 for Ruling Court rates right up to race standard, bettered only by stablemate Notable Speech last year and Charlie Appleby's first 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus in 2022. That pair both ran to an RPR of 123 and set the recent Guineas-winning standard.

But, while Ruling Court rates a good Guineas winner, there's a case to be made that favourite Field Of Gold should have won. A strong-finishing second to the better-placed winner, he may well have won ridden handier and clearly has the potential to improve further on this RPR of 121+.