Racing Post Ratings: a difficult Derby to get a handle on, and one it's hard to be positive about too

With Ruling Court a non-runner and the market one-two both disappointing, this is not an easy Derby to get a handle on. It's probably the trickiest to rate since Serpentine made all to score five years ago.

Lambourn has clearly improved significantly from his Chester Vase win, extending superiority over runner-up Lazy Griff by three and three-quarter lengths to return a Racing Post Rating of 122. That falls 2lb below the preceding ten-year median, but it's hard to be much more positive about the form at this stage.

With the first five all returning improved figures, this looks like Derby form that will take time to settle. The well-positioned Lazy Griff will perhaps be the horse to determine the level in time with his improved RPR of 116, a figure that matches the previous low for a Derby runner-up bar Serpentine's unusual July Derby.