13:10 Haydock

Saturday 7 July 2018

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

bet365 Lancashire Oaks (Fillies' Group 2)

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 2m 28.56s

(2)

Euro Nightmare²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 99

33/1

Matched her career-best when landing the Listed Rothesay Stakes at Ayr (1m2f, good to firm) in May and repeated that effort here in the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes last time. This is tougher and she will need to raise the bar again to win it.

Form: 69-0214

(1)

God Given²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: L M Cumani| OR: 105| CD

9/4

Dual Group 3 winner, including in last month's Pinnacle Stakes over C&D when she proved she handles fast ground in a race that was not run to suit. Can be marked up for that and has decent claims again here.

Form: 1116-41

(5)

Horseplay⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 108

11/4

Without a win since taking the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket's Guineas meeting last year. Returned in good form this term, finishing a 1½L second to Coronet in the Group 2 Middleton at York. Stays this far. Short-listed.

Form: 1/1448-2

(4)

Precious Ramotswe^t1⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100

4/1

Boasts a very impressive 80% strike rate with just one defeat to her name. Won the Group 3 Bronte Cup (1m6f, good) at York last time out. Won't mind this drop in trip and if she handles fast ground then she looks a serious player.

Form: 1/10-11

(6)

Snowy Winter^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 99| D

66/1

5-21, but without a win since November and behind Euro Nightmare in Listed company at Ayr in May. Not disgraced in a Newcastle Group 3 last time, but this looks beyond her.

Form: 839294

(7)

Flattering²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| D

11/2

Arrives on the back of a Group 3 Cork success last time (1m4f, good to firm), which was a good effort on just her fourth start. Still improving and should not be taken on lightly.

Form: 0-1351

(3)

Mrs. Sippy²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: D M Simcock| OR: 98

5/1

Won a Doncaster maiden (1m, good to soft) in October and bettered that on her return at Newbury when a 2L second in Listed company. If she can progress again at a similar rate to that, then she wouldn't be without hope, despite this rise in class.

Form: 41-2

Forecasts

God Given (9/4), Horseplay (11/4), Precious Ramotswe (4/1), Mrs. Sippy (5/1), Flattering (11/2), Euro Nightmare (33/1), Snowy Winter (66/1)

John Gosden has farmed this race for several seasons, winning four of the last seven renewals and PRECIOUS RAMOTSWE can become a fifth in eight. The daughter of Nathaniel has plenty going for her, should not be inconvenienced by this shorter trip and her trainer has a good line on Horseplay in opposition, through his own Coronet. God Given looks a serious player, while both Mrs Sippy and Flattering may live up to that billing when the gates go back.