QIPCO British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes 2011

3.00 Ascot

QIPCO British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes (Group 2)

Advice: 1 pt win Ferdoos (17/5 Coral enhanced win only), 0.5 pt each/way Meezenah (10/1 Totesport)

Brushing: Beaten on all starts since 20-1 surprise in Listed race at York last summer.

Cill Rialaig: Got better of hot favourite imposing in Duke Of Edinburgh at the royal meeting and placed all three Listed starts this season, but none good enough to say she wins this and passed over.

Crystal Capella: A Group 1 filly in all but name, with 7 wins from & 12 proved as good as ever when slamming her field in Group 2 at Newmarket over 1m4f;  Only fourth in Nassau Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks but had things go against her both times and dangerous to discount.

Ferdoos: Rapidly progressive filly who was given too much to do in hat – trick bid when just a nose behind Polly’s Mark in Ascot Listed race; Came back in great style when beating ta Nova, Meeznah and Crystal Capella in rock solid Listed race at Haydock and while she’s not been seen since, connections pulled of similar trick with Nahrain in Prix D’Lopera only 2 weeks ago; Should go well.

Gertude Bell: Very game and quite progressive filly who made up into a Group class filly last year with Oaks fourth (not in right shape for Ribblesdale disappointment); Two from two this season but lucky to beat Vita Nova when her saddle slipped; Something says she shouldn’t be as big as 14’s.

Meezenah: Found some of her best form this year, namely when coming home well clear (course record) in Goodwood Group 3 so disappointing she failed to back that up when well beaten at Newbury; Back to form big style when romping away with Doncaster Group 2 and while possible holes in form, does look big in betting.

Vita Nova: Progressive and created deep impression when making a mockery of 87 in well contested Newmarket handicap on seasonal reappearance, and confirmed that when going down to similarly progressive type in strong event; Should have won Lancashire Oaks but for tack slipping and Yorkshire Oaks second (Banimpire and Crystal Capella well behind) gives her a solid chance. 

Banimpire: One of most improved fillies this season, landing no less than 5 Group races including Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, and was desperately unlucky to get chinned by 1,000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting in Irish Oaks; Royal Whip Stakes win just another on the board, but then ran a flat race in Yorkshire Oaks; Had 45 day break since so L’Opera third a good effort and evidently not done for the season based on that; Interesting.

Bible Belt: One of most progressive fillies in Ireland this season, completing a handicap-Listed-Group 3 hat-trick at the Curragh in late August; Below out these latest and this much harder so passed over.

Dancing Rain: Made an impressive reappearance in Newbury maiden and while she bettered that with second in Listed race there (ravelled well); Still had to improve massively on that to win Oaks at Epsom but did so under one of the fine front running rides from Johnny Murtagh, getting first run on everything; Seemed exposed when fifth in Irish version before once again running rivals ragged from front in German Oaks; Dangerous if getting that lead but hard to imagine she will which dents confidence in her chances despite 10 week break.

VERDICT: Several hold decent claims in a cracking event. The fact that FERDOOS has been put away just for this since her Listed win over Vita Nova, Meeznah and Crystal Capella (which is one of the best pieces of form this season) augurs very well and she should go close if running to that level again. The best value at the prices might well be Meezenah, who’s two wins this season command respect despite an inconsistent profile since.