15:40 Royal Ascot

Thursday 17 June 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:1517:0017:3518:10

Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 33.18s

(4)

Ad Infinitum^h²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock

20/1

Well-bred and shaped with promise when fourth at Kempton (11f) on sole 2-y-o start. Stepped up markedly on that effort 5 months on when winning listed event at Goodwood on return. Even better to come.

Form: 4-1

(13)

Annerville³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh

16/1

Fairly useful performer who confirmed debut promise when comfortably winning 13-runner maiden at Leopardstown (10f, good) 39 days ago. Should improve again but big step forward required to feature.

Form: 41

(5)

Aristia³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 92

25/1

Has a mixed pedigree but belied odds of 20/1 to make a winning start in a Newbury maiden. Took form up a notch when third to Eshaada in a listed event there next time and she remains with potential.

Form: 13

(6)

Divinely¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 97

7/1

Curragh Group 3 winner at 2 who was doing her best work late on and potentially a little better than the result (not clear run over 2f out) when a well-beaten third in the Oaks at Epsom 13 days ago.

Form: 2418-43

(10)

Dubai Fountain¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108

9/2

Smart effort when fourth in Fillies' Mile on final 2-y-o start and showed she's trained on well when winning Cheshire Oaks on return. Failed to handle the track at Epsom last time and can bounce back.

Form: 2424-10

(11)

Eshaada³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Varian| OR: 98

17/2

Opened account with a bit to spare in a back-end maiden (8.3f) at Nottingham last year and improved plenty to beat Gloria Mundi in listed race at Newbury on return. Better to come still. Big shout.

Form: 1-1

(2)

Gloria Mundi³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97

9/1

Deserved extra credit for making a winning debut in a 1¼m maiden at Newbury in April and progressed significantly when a neck second to Eshaada there last time. Yard has won 3 of last 4 renewals.

Form: 12

(7)

Gwenhwyvar⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Morrison| OR: 74| BF

150/1

Proved a different proposition from her 2 starts at 2 yrs when fourth at Newbury on reappearance but failed to land short odds on her handicap debut at this course last month. Difficult ask in this.

Form: 43-44

(12)

Loving Dream⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 94| BF

18/1

AW maiden winner in December. Stepped up on that form when second of 15 over 1¼m on Wetherby return but unable to confirm placings with the winner that day at Lingfield last time. More needed.

Form: 71-25

(1)

Nicest¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 94| BF

28/1

Useful filly who made a winning debut at Leopardstown last year and has taken her form to a new level this year, length fourth in listed race at the Curragh 15 days ago. Should improve, but needs to.

Form: 15-34

(8)

Noon Star³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 101| BF

2/1

Beautifully-bred filly who defied a penalty to win a hot race at Wetherby on her return in April. Unable to land the odds in Musidora (behind Oaks winner Snowfall) and arrives here fresh. Big player.

Form: 31-12

(9)

Taslima⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: J & T Gosden| BF

33/1

Still a maiden but she showed useful form on just her second start when finishing third in the Pretty Polly Stakes (1¼m) at Newmarket last time. Form has been boosted and this trip should suit.

Form: 2-3

(3)

Twisted Reality³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M Beckett| OR: 93

12/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Nottingham last season and wasn’t seen to best effect when fourth to Eshaada on her return. Step up in trip will suit and she remains unexposed.

Form: 1-4

Forecasts

Noon Star (2/1), Dubai Fountain (9/2), Divinely (7/1), Eshaada (17/2), Gloria Mundi (9/1), Twisted Reality (12/1), Annerville (16/1), Loving Dream (18/1), Ad Infinitum (20/1), Aristia (25/1), Nicest (28/1), Taslima (33/1), Gwenhwyvar (150/1)

There are plenty of progressive fillies in with a chance, not least Roger Varian's unbeaten ESHAADA, who improved in a big way when winning a listed contest at Newbury on reappearance and with the promise of better to come, can bring up an impressive hat-trick. The main threat could be Noon Star, who arrives fresh having missed the Oaks, ahead of Dubai Fountain.