A Maiden Fillies' Stakes over 6f on soft ground.
Fantacise ran well on debut at Windsor over 5f, chasing home Hairy Rocket who fairly left the others for dead. The form of that race has been franked. She looked set for a big run at Haydock, giving the impression a step up in distance would suit. However, this well-bred daughter of Pivotal disappointed with a rather indifferent performance. It was good to see a return to form when finishing a creditable third behind potentially smart newcomer, Chat, trained by John Gosden. Today, Meehan has opted for the blinkers, which suggests this half-sister to two Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) winners is not the most straightforward of juvenile. Whether the application of the headgear will bring further improvement time will tell. After showing signs of keenness in the early stages of her last two starts it is a slight concern this may ignite the fire. Not a bad looking chestnut filly although not the biggest. There is a nagging thought in my mind that she is a little bit of a tricky customer. On form, a fair each way selection.
Art Mistress showed good speed on debut before tiring behind today's non runner Mollyvator. Esterby's youngster was then stepped up in distance at Doncaster when finding trouble in running. That looked a decent contest and she beat a couple of fair form horses in the process. This drop in distance shouldn't be a negative as this trip will take some getting in these gruelling conditions. Not the easiest juvenile to assess but one of the main contenders.
Balinka made her debut in the Rous Selling Stakes at York, a tough race for any juvenile to compete when making their racecourse bow. Mel Brittain is a canny trainer and he obviously fancied this daughter of Bahamian Bounty to go well, and so she did. A good, strong filly, she was always up with the pace and held every chance until being brushed aside by the sturdy Fadeintoinfinity. On a form line with Ayr Missile and Curl, she looks held by Art missile. P J McDonald takes the ride and I can imagine he will set pretty brisk fractions. A couple of this field will take some beating, but if this bay improves a couple of lengths she could be in with a fighting chance. Perhaps, most likely, to sneak a place.
Mark Johnston's Tussie Mussie has the beating of Art Missile on their debut run at York. However, they ran very differing races with the above-mentioned filly racing prominantly while this daughter of Royal Applause ran on. An interesting contender who will appreciate this step up in distance after being outpaced at Beverley. That seemed a rather strange decision and probably makes her look quite disappointing. The testing conditions could be to her liking and I would expect to see her go well today.
An outsider with a glimmer of hope my be Lincolnrose. Alan McCabe has been quiet this season, particularly with his juveniles which haven't been firing. This daughter of Verglas is a bonny horse and showed some promise on debut at Leicester. That second start, when returning to course and distance, is probably best forgotten. She is better than that. A difficult horse to assess but may have a chance at speculative odds although I would probably take a watching brief before putting my hand in my pocket.
Skidby Mill is worth noting in the betting. Pontefract has been a familiar hunting ground for some of John Quinn's most talented juveniles. Worth noting if substantially backed.
Comment: Fantacise is a tricky juvenile to assess. At her best she could take a lot of beating and at fair odds. I can imagine punters being tempted by an each way bet and fancying their chances, too. The addition of the blinkers suggests she isn't straightforward and whether this will help or hinder time will tell. It would be a major concern if she was keen in the early stages. I would give this well-bred filly the benefit of the doubt but it may pay to keep bets to a minimum. Tussie Mussie is better than her last effort over the minimum trip. This step up in distance on soft ground could see her go well although it is difficult to measure her with Art Mistress, who she beat on debut. Art Mistress looked to run a stride too fast on debut and then found trouble in running at Doncaster. That was a fair race and she, like Tussie Mussie, hold fair each way claims. Balinka is a straightforward filly who will probably set the pace. That was a fair effort on debut and the Selling race tag shouldn't be viewed as a negative as the Rous features a hefty price. She could well hit the frame but form lines suggest she is held by a couple. Lincolnrose may have a chance at speculative odds.
