Greatwood British EBF Stakes (Registered As The Abingdon Stakes) (Fillies' Listed)

Off time: 15:14 | Winning time: 2m 7.96s

(6)

Ching Shih^h²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: D M Simcock| OR: 96| C

18/1

Lope De Vega filly who confirmed debut promise when easy winner of 9-runner novice at this track (1m, heavy) last October. Shaped with some encouragement in a first-time hood when 7½ lengths third of 5 to Emily Upjohn in Musidora on return at York last month and she remains with potential.

Form: 31-3

(4)

Elegant Verse²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| D

9/2

Green when runner-up on debut and didn't need to improve to get off the mark cosily at Redcar last month, edging ahead over 1f out. Well-bred filly and in top hands so further improvement a distinct possibility.

Form: 21

(5)

Golden Lyra²²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas

5/4

Lope De Vega filly who made a winning start in a Newmarket novice on her sole start as a 2-y-o last October. In top hands and significantly upped in trip for her reappearance, she's impossible to discount.

Form: 1-

(1)

Luna Dorada²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92

16/1

Golden Horn filly who beat a couple of subsequent winners when making a winning debut in novice at York (1m) last autumn. Ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade when 10 lengths last of 5 to Emily Upjohn in Musidora at York last month and she may yet do better.

Form: 1-5

(2)

Stay Alert²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Morrison| OR: 102

11/4

Sister to smart 1¼m-1½m winner Star Rock and opened her account at the second attempt in a 7-runner novice at Wolverhampton. Showed much improved form on turf debut when 1¾ lengths second of 7 to Nashwa over C&D last month and that is comfortably the best form on offer. Capable of better again.

Form: 412

(3)

Yummylicious²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 80| D

11/1

Narrowly denied in Beverley minor event last month but made amends when off the mark in just her second handicap at Nottingham (10.2f, good to firm) 23 days ago. There could well be more to come but likely to come up short on this occasion.

Form: 632-421

Forecasts

Golden Lyra (5/4), Stay Alert (11/4), Elegant Verse (9/2), Yummylicious (11/1), Luna Dorada (16/1), Ching Shih (18/1)

STAY ALERT's second to subsequent Oaks third Nashwa in a similar event over C&D last month is comfortably the best piece of form on offer so she gets the verdict to regain the winning thread with the prospect of even better to come. Golden Lyra looks sure to prove at least useful having made a winning debut at Newmarket last year so she heads up the opposition on reappearance, ahead of Ching Shih in what looks a deep listed race.