Royal Ascot - Ribblesdale Stakes

Royal Ascot (Day 3, Race 2)

Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo) Winner £56,770

Pick: Banimpire (win)

Arizona Jewel: Shaped as if all the ability was there on only run at two and already far better on reappearance, taking route 4/5 wide but still convincingly on top at finish in decent maiden for sure at Sandown; Disappointing (reportedly in season) when fourth at York and might not be one to give up on yet.

Banimpire: One of most improved fillies this season, landing pattern hat trick which included defeat of Derby contender Recital with fairly confortable beating of Spin under a penalty in listed race; Irish 1,000 Guineas fifth is form as good as any and easy Group 3 win underlined her wellbeing; The one to beat if ready to run again in such quick succession.

Crème Anglaise: Made her debut in excellent Newbury maiden and backed that up when ready and convincing winner of solid yardstick at least in Rainbow Springs latest; This another step up but can go well and no surprise if she is up to this class.

Dorcas Lane: Ran out a ready winner of Listed race latest under excellent ride and likely that more improvement is coming; Second is a decent sort and third has since improved upwards to 10lbs, so comes into the equation here with step up in trip to help.

Field Of Dreams: Looked like she could go onto better things when fourth on debut last year (broke her maiden with customary ease) & yard has good record in this; Thrashed by Zain Al Boldan in Lingfield Oaks Trial last time out.

Highest: Good second to Dancing Rain on seasonal debut and has improved since (although she didn’t need to improve to land maiden on next start); Once again second behind Oaks sixth Beatrice Aurore and that form entitles her to respect & chance here.

Look At Me: Won despite inexperience on debut but that factor too costly in Group 3 next, pulling hard early before making eye-catching late headway (awkward when asked for); Dissapointing on comeback but that seasonal return (and was reported in season after race) nut no excuse for lame show in Irish Guineas and others make more appeal after that despite booking of Ryan Moore.

Make My Heart Sing: Fourth foal of Lyrical; Sister to useful stayer Wells Lyrical (1m3f-14.6f winner) and 2m hurdle winner Sword Fish, so always bred to stay and no surprise to see a chunk of improvement tackling a trip when landing Cork maiden last month; That said, it looked a poor race and surely second string / this too hard.

Musharakaat: Created good impression when winning 13 runner AW maiden easily; Put in place when fifth in Newmarket Group 3 but third in May Hill an improvement; Looked exposed when well beaten in sales race last time and showed nothing on two runs this year, so percentage call to swerve.

Rumh: Unflattering form as a 2yo but excuses for those defeats (too raw and green on first two runs) and minor revelation since then, bolting up in Listed race latest (form reads very well for level) and bold bid expected for stable aiming for hat – trick in this; Would be better for easy lead.

Sunday Bess: Japanese filly by Deep Impact; Promise when touched off in fair 7f AW backend maiden at Lingfield on debut and still when fourth at Newbury on seasonal reappearance, but subsequent efforts not upto that standard.

Zain Al Boldan: Unbeaten in three and biggest achievement by far when absolutely blitzing opposition in Lingfield Oaks Trial (well ahead of Field Of Miracles); Far better than her ninth in the Oaks suggests, as she was compromised by a slow pace(held up out back); Can go well here.

VERDICT: Goldolphin have won the last two runnings of this and Rumh is greatly respected but a chance is taken on BANIMPIRE being well enough after an impressive Group 3 win against her elders. She’s the only filly to have beaten older fillies and colts in this field and wouldn’t be here if she couldn’t run to form. Next best could be Zain Al Boldan and Dorcas Lane.