15:40 Royal Ascot

Thursday 22 June 2017

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 2m 32.06s

(4)

Alluringly²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

5/2

Well beaten in the Oaks but stuck to her task well, staying on for third place. Clearly still progressing and that effort probably just about sets the standard for the rest to aim at here.

Form: 75-123

(9)

Apphia²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 81

66/1

High Chaparral filly, cost 100,000 gns as a yearling. Dead-heated in a Goodwood maiden last time out having already made a promising debut at Sandown in April. Needs a lot more if she is to be in the shake-up here though and yard have gone a little quiet of late.

Form: 21

(2)

Astronomy's Choice⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95| BF

16/1

One of four in the race for her trainer. Created a good impression on debut when overcoming a bad start to win at Newmarket but form of that contest is yet to work out and she was slowly away again at that course last time when she finished a disappointing third after going off an odds-on favourite. Needs to get away on terms if she is to have any chance here.

Form: 1-3

(3)

Coconut Creme²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: W J Haggas| OR: 88

20/1

Well backed and justified favouritism on second start at Beverley. Not disgraced in a Goodwood Listed contest subsequently, sticking to her task well once headed and should continue to progress, but a few others have shown more and she needs a fair chunk of improvement to figure.

Form: 5-12

(1)

Coronet²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: O Peslier| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 103

9/1

Listed winner as a juvenile and comeback run in France was a promising effort but finished well beaten in the Oaks last time and has to reverse the form with Alluringly who finished 5L in front of her. One of four in the race for her trainer.

Form: 11-35

(6)

Gracious Diana^t1³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 88| BF

20/1

Won a nice looking Newbury maiden and the form of that run has been franked several times since. May have found the soft ground had gone against her when a disappointing favourite last time, and while she looks down the order on jockey bookings, she may be able to outrun her likely big odds. First-time tongue-tie applied.

Form: 0-14

(8)

Hertford Dancer⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 99| D

16/1

Winner of the Oaks Trial at Lingfield when last seen but that doesn't look the strongest contest and the form has taken a couple of knocks since. Needs another sizable step forward if she is going to win this contest.

Form: 641-321

(10)

Mori²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 93| C

2/1

Finished fifth of 14, 7¾L off the re-opposing Gracious Diana on debut. Has gone from strength to strength since that run, winning a C&D maiden here last month before going on to score at in a Listed contest at Goodwood. Leading player with more progression likely.

Form: 511

(7)

Naughty Or Nice^b1³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J M Oxx

7/1

Winner of both of her starts to date, most recently a Listed contest at Navan and the runner-up from that race has gained a Black Type win of his own since. Leading player back against her own sex in first-time blinkers.

Form: 11

(12)

Rich Legacy⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M Beckett| OR: 103

40/1

Group 2 winner at Doncaster last year but that contest looks a little weak for the grade. Long way behind Enable at Chester last time and while she's entitled to come on for that run, she looks vulnerable with regards to win purposes and yard have been a bit quiet of late.

Form: 14140-4

(11)

Serenada³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 100

16/1

Not disgraced at York in Group company last time and will have learnt plenty from that. Return to faster ground probably in her favour and the step up in trip may seen her in an even better light. Wide draw not ideal though.

Form: 3-13

(5)

The Sky Is Blazing^p1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Haggas| OR: 86| BF

20/1

Unplaced beaten favourite on her last couple of starts and no real excuses last time at York when fourth of 10. First-time cheekpieces need to see her in a better light and she needs around a stone of improvement if she's to even challenge for a place.

Form: 134

Forecasts

Mori (2/1), Alluringly (5/2), Naughty Or Nice (7/1), Coronet (9/1), Hertford Dancer (16/1), Serenada (16/1), Astronomy's Choice (16/1), Coconut Creme (20/1), The Sky Is Blazing (20/1), Gracious Diana (20/1), Rich Legacy (40/1), Apphia (66/1)

Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien won this contest last year with Even Song and they have a solid chance again with Oaks third Alluringly. Mori is another with solid claims after winning back-to-back races since a promising debut effort but it's GRACIOUS DIANA who makes most appeal. Soft ground wouldn't have suited her last time in a Listed contest at Newbury and she should resume progress here.