Tassel is warm order to take this after winning on debut at Newmarket. This daughter of Kyllachy cost £42,000 at the yearling sales and owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. It is intriguing that the Hannon stable are in bullish mood about this two-year-old with clear expectations of her going to Royal Ascot. I must admit that I wasn't struck by the form of the debut run although it never pays to knock a winner. The second had run a so so race at Redcar but it was no more than a moderate contest. Also, a few of those in behind were leggy sorts and the race just didn't remind me of a strong event. I would have to take a watching brief at odds on. However, I would imagine this filly will improve a good deal for her first run and go well.
Effie B is a small filly by Sixties Icon. She was unfancied on debut at Leicester what looked a decent race at the time. She ran on with true spirit - after being outpaced - to finish second. Channon's representative ran out on easy winner Nottingham, although it looked a race where none of the opposition turned up. I'm not sure what the form of that race amounts to and this will be tougher. A determined filly who likes these testing conditions.
Dreamy Ciara is a good-looking daughter of Multiplex. David Evans said that this was his best juvenile. She has a fair level of ability but doesn't hold any pretensions to be a class act. This bay filly was thumped by Bailey's Jubilee - who looks a very speedy two-year-old. It was no disgrace being beaten by Johnston's filly and Dreamy Ciara paid the price for trying to win that race and then dropped back rather tamely. I can't see her winning this race but odds of 33/1 may offer value for a place if not regressed.
Judge In Judy won in effortless style on debut and looks a strong daughter of Elusive City. That was a modest affair and once holding a selling race entry does indicate some limitation. It is always difficult to assess an easy winner and even though I would consider others more likely she is an interesting horse.
It was great to see Tobias Coles having a debuatnte two-year-old winner and All On Red is a good-looking daughter of Red Clubs. That was a moderate race. However, she wasn't pressed to secure an easy three-length victory and it isn't beyond the realms she could progress.
Edged Out is quite an interesting filly for Bryn Palling. It caught my eye that she was started in what is usually a hot maiden at Newbury. This daughter of Piccolo out of the fair stable mare Edge Of Light, was outpaced but ran on with some zeal in the closing stages to take sixth. The Newbury race could well be a source of many a winner and if a little wiser today this home bred may surprise a few people at speculative odds.
The only debutante in the field is Rio's Pearl, trained by Ralph Beckett. The owners, Pearly Bloodstock, are a superb outfit and should always be respected. This £50,000 purchase, by Caption Rio, should appreciate the round but has a tall order to beat experience, talented, juveniles. It would be a truly impressive performance and a watching brief.
Conclusion: There is always the chance of a surprise in stakes races. An unbeaten juvenile is a difficult horse to assess. The Hannon yard seem to have a bee in their bonnet about Tassel and that shouldn't be ignored. At big odds-on I would take a watching brief but I would imagine big improvement will be seen today. I would love to see All On Red go well for Tobias Coles. She isn't without a chance. Edged Out could go well at a price and Dreamy Ciara shouldn't be forgotten. A difficult race to consider and a watching brief for me.