Performance metrics: Lingfield comparison reveals how good English King could be

Anyone who wants to compare the winning performance of Anthony Van Dyck in last year's Lingfield Derby Trial, which foreshadowed his win in the Derby itself, with English King this year would soon hit a snag. Anthony Van Dyck won on soft, English King on good to firm.

If you have only two sets of data, you can compare like with like only if all other variables are isolated. If you have lots of data, you can be much more adaptable.

It is possible to build per-furlong sectional standards that allow for ground conditions, as Total Performance Data has done. Considering how this year's Lingfield Derby Trial winner compares with last year's is much more satisfactory once you have filtered through these pars.

Credit: Racing Post Graphics

The story is still a hugely heartening one for English King's supporters. Even allowing for the ground, he ran the race roughly 30 lengths quicker than last year's Derby winner.

The bulk of the difference was made up in the first half-mile, as can be seen on the graph above. That is still significant, as it shows English King can go hard early and still see out the trip. From stall one he may well need to repeat the trick in the Derby.

What is most impressive is how, after a mid-race easing in the pace, English King could pick up again and gain another five lengths in the last two furlongs.

Anthony Van Dyck's showing last year at Lingfield was that of a high-quality grinder, which one could well argue has proved an accurate prediction.

English King's performance was all class, showing a horse with the gears to get out of trouble. Moreover, his run mirrored what might be the ideal Derby profile. Go hard, fill up before Tattenham Corner and then put everything that is left into the final effort.

All data courtesy of Total Performance Data, whose tracking covers more than 20 courses in the UK and North America

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