We study Ramseys theorem for pairs and two colours in the context of the theory of $alpha$-large sets introduced by Ketonen and Solovay. We prove that any $2$-colouring of pairs from an $omega^{300n}$-large set admits an $omega^n$-large homogeneous set. We explain how a formalized version of this bound gives a more direct proof, and a strengthening, of the recent result of Patey and Yokoyama [Adv. Math. 330 (2018), 1034--1070] stating that Ramseys theorem for pairs and two colours is $forallSigma^0_2$-conservative over the axiomatic theory $mathsf{RCA}_0$ (recursive comprehension).