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2.30 - Albany Stakes (Fillies' Group 3, 6f)
The Albany is simply stacked with exciting fillies, all 15 being winners already. Lots of untapped potential on show and the market moves on race day will be watched with real interest.
Cases can of course be made for plenty of these. Hello You routed her rivals at Wolverhampton on debut for Ralph Beckett and makes sound appeal, while Flotus did likewise at Goodwood on soft ground last month for Simon & Ed Crisford. Any rain would be no concern for her and connections have secured Frankie Dettori to partner this well thought of daughter of Starspangledbanner.
That duo are understandably towards the front of the market and they are joined there by Ballydoyle's Prettiest - a debut winner at Naas recently and almost sure to be competitive now.
Other once-raced winners like Sows and Cachet need to be thought of as players, while easing of the ground would be a positive in favour of Eve Lodge at a decent price.
There are decent odds offered too on the hopes of SANDRINE for Andrew Balding and David Probert. The Bobby's Kitten filly won a 6f Kempton novice last month on her maiden start. The form itself isn't standout - though similar comments can be applied to the races won by Hello You and Flotus - but she recorded a fast time. The way she finished the race off bodes well now meeting this stiff 6f and she's perhaps got more chance than current odds around 16/1 imply in what is certainly a hot race.
3.05 - King Edward Vii Stakes (Group 2, 1m4f)
Seemingly hard to get away from ALENQUER no matter what direction you come at this race from.
William Haggas' colt won the Sandown Classic Trial (1m2f) in April on his seasonal bow despite being let off at odds of 25/1. He had no less the Epsom Derby winner Adayar behind in second, while today's rivals Yibir (third) and Belloccio (fifth) were also in his wake. On that day, Tom Marquand's mount wandered a bit in the closing stages, and he can be very hard to beat now with further improvement expected.
The Sandown form has depth to it with fourth home Lone Eagle leading home Yibir in a Listed Goodwood race next time and Sir Lucan (eighth) narrowly defeating subsequent Queen's Vase second Wordsworth over 1m5f at Navan on his next start. A soft-ground winner last season, easing of conditions won't hinder Alenquer now and his trainer remains in red-hot form. His is the clearest chance on form.
The Mediterranean built on his Leopardstown maiden win when narrowly settling for second-best behind Fernando Vichi in Listed company over 1m4f back there since. He can make more progress no doubt and he was supplemented to become Ballydoyle's only contender in this race.
Yibir should be in the mix again, though no real reason to suggest he turns around Sandown form with the favourite, while the likes of Title and Gloucestershire are rising sharply in class, albeit for good yards.
Gear Up couldn't sustain an effort having made most of the running in The Derby at Epsom but his reappearance in York's Dante Stakes was promising. Mark Johnston's colt was a Group 1 winner in France on heavy ground back in the autumn so any rainfall won't be a worry and he had some excellent 2YO form prior to that Saint-Cloud success. For now he does however need to prove himself at this distance.
3.40 - Commonwealth Cup (Group 1, 6f)
A real overseas feel to the Commonwealth Cup as French raider Suesa jostles with American contender Campanelle in a battle for favouritism.
Francois Rohaut's daughter of Night Of Thunder is a perfect 4-4 thus far, all those wins coming at Chantilly for two different yards since she debuted in October. She's won a pair of Group 3s this season for her new trainer and has done so impressively, with the form adding up. If there's a question for her to answer - aside from this being the deepest field she has faced - it's that she has not raced on ground quicker than good-to-soft (faster ground might even be a positive for her). She's a strong contender for France.
Campanelle of course won the Queen Mary here last summer and added the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville in August. She didn't quite get home over a mile at the Breeders' Cup (fourth) and has been prepared by Wesley Ward with this target in mind during the spring. The Kodiac filly is a leading player but it's been a nearly-week so far for Ward and, as has been pointed out elsewhere in recent days, all of the American's Royal Ascot winners so far have come at 5f. Campanelle is a big contender to alter that stat.
Plenty of the British and Irish runners have a chance at their best but come here with something to prove on recent efforts. Lipizzaner, Method, Happy Romance and Miss Amulet would all fit that box.
Archie Watson's Dragon Symbol is very much an improving sprinter and his close second at Haydock in the Sandy Lane (6f, heavy) was further evidence of that despite losing his unbeaten record. Champion jockey Oisin Murphy takes over here and the Cable Bay colt should be in the firing line when it matters.
SACRED was runner-up behind Campanelle at this meeting last summer and William Haggas' filly is worth an each-way play today. She looked as good as ever winning the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket on her seasonal bow in April and didn't see out the mile next time in the 1000 Guineas at Headquarters. This looks the right move for her going back sprinting on a track where that additional stamina showing in her prior 7f win will be an asset.
4.20 - Coronation Stakes (Fillies' Group 1, 1m)
A strong renewal of this Fillies' Group 1 with the English, Irish and German 1000 Guineas scorers all in attendance.
Mother Earth is an improved model this season, winning that Newmarket Classic on her comeback under Frankie Dettori and then narrowly missing out on the French version in testing ground at Longchamp. Ryan Moore takes over here and she is the form pick.
Her stablemate Empress Josephine took a big step forward herself when landing the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh under Seamie Heffernan. She had Pretty Gorgeous back in sixth there, though it's probable Joseph O'Brien's Lawman filly will be much sharper today and she gets the 'Frankie treatment' for the first time.
Novemba made every yard to win her German Classic last month and did so in good style. That was a much-improved showing and she's interesting turning up here, albeit this is a far tougher assignment.
Alcohol Free has ground to make up on Mother Earth from the Guineas but she could be a place player. Richard Hanon's Snow Lantern Sir Michael Stoute's Potapova (2-2 so far) have more to give but one that's under the radar is SHALE.
She won the Group 1 Moyglare in Ireland last season and her rivalry with Pretty Gorgeous was one of the enduring tales of the 2YO campaign. April's comeback at Leopardstown was underwhelming in a Group 3 event but it was a similar tale last season on first start over the same track and trip before going on to better things. If she recaptures her best form, Donnacha O'Brien's Galileo filly can be a player and it's much too early to be writing her chances off. She's a big price and is given a chance to find her best.
5.00 - Sandringham Stakes (Fillies' Handicap, 1m)
At the time of writing its 10/1 the field for the Sandringham, the first of three concluding handicaps on Friday's card. Loads of potential in this field and not hard to find reasons to like many of them.
Beheld, Belief, She Do, Glesga Girl and POMELO are all worthy of shortlisting.
Glesga Girl looked quite promising in scoring at Wolverhampton on seasonal return last month, with She Do well held in second spot. Hugo Palmer's filly is 10lb higher here, though Mark Crehan can claim 3lb of that back, but may go well again. She Do also has a quality claimer to assist and should have a say.
Pomelo easily won a Newbury novice last July on debut before finding it tougher next time in a Goodwood Group 3 on soft ground (sent off 5/4fav). She made no mistake however when last spotted at Wolverhampton herself in November. An opening handicap mark of 89 is within range for her and this big-field scenario should be something she relishes.
5.35 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap, 1m4f)
Quickthorn could not have been more impressive when he returned to action at Haydock recently with a facile win over this trip (good to soft). Hughie Morrison's charge will be popular now but that form is questionable and the handicapper has clobbered him (up 13lb) so he looks short enough in the betting as a consequence. He's far from written off, however.
Tritonic enjoyed a fine season hurdling and may have found 1m2f on the all-weather too sharp in his most recent start. Ryan Moore's been booked for this and Alan King's charge was a runner-up over shorter at this meeting in 2020.
Aaddeey has figures of 213-21 in his five-race career and had lots in hand in his Newmarket success last month over this trip (good). Like Quickthorn, he's had the bar raised plenty by the handicapper.
Sam Cooke has course form and joins Tyson Fury in threatening to be suited if conditions edge towards soft ground, while Zabeel Champion has won his last three for Mark Johnston and might not be done with improving just yet, comments that also apply to Valyrian Steel.
Johnny Murtagh's MIRANN is given the nod for a big effort under Ben Coen. The Motivator gelding stays further than this and should be doing well late on as such. His three runs this season in Ireland have come at 1m/1m2f and he looked to be an unlucky second at the Curragh last month after finding his share of traffic problems in a close defeat. This trip should be ideal and he'll handle the ground however it's presented to him.
6.10 - Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap, 5f)
A dash for the finishing line on day four as this field of 25 runners encounter the flying five furlongs.
Mo Celita is on quite the roll after winning her five most recent starts and she represents new owners now. There could be another big run in her. Equality is a handicap debutant of note for Charlie Hills, while recently gelded Popmaster joins the likes of Significantly, Boomshalaa for Roger Varian and potentially 'well-in' Warrior Brave for Mick Appleby on the extended short-list.
Given how the draws were favouring early in the week, in-form DREAM COMPOSER is well-housed for this hat-trick bid. The French import is on the up for these connections after wins at Carlisle and Kempton and his late flourishing run-style should go well here. This is easily his toughest assignment but Laura Pearson showed she's got what it takes to ride Royal Ascot winners on Wednesday and her 5lb claim could be more than useful in this frantic Friday finale.
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