July Festival 2012 - Cherry Hinton Stakes

2.25 Newmarket

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes (Fillies' Group 2) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £34,026

Advice: 1 pt each/way Premier Steps (9/1 Stan James)

City Image: Made plenty of ground late when winning nicely enough on Windsor debut and then C&D Empress Stakes when helped slightly by the errant late running style of second Sandreamer (reopposes here); Taking that day nonetheless and should be there or thereabouts.

Fantacise: Of the mark at the fourth time of asking on soft ground at Pontefract in good style but had been well beaten on other starts and much more needed if she’s going to take a hand here.

Jadanna: Won despite being very array at the start and throughought the race when clear cut winner at Pontefract and then gutsy in finish at Beverley on ground which might have been a touch too quick; Queen Mary fifth is more than adequate form but not sure that she’s the one for today despite 6f furlongs looking to suit.

Lovely Pass: Backed into odds on on AW debut and didn’t disappoint, winning easily despite hanging badly to the left; Nice improvement on that in the Chesham when staying on well late but drop back to 6f a possible worry given how she stayed on late.

Mandy Layla: Form of her debut fourth to Norfolk Stakes fourth and Listed winner Morawji now looks strong and she was quite impressive when winning at Hamilton when last seen; Not sure she had to do much and others make more appeal especially with the soft ground a possible unknown.

Masrah: Put in place in the Queen Mary and makes no appeal.

Maureen: One of the most impressive maiden winners seen all season when casting clear (well backed beforehand) on Newbury debut , the slow pace not being a hinderance to her; Should be well capable of making her mark in group company and connections opt to go for here instead of chasing big bucks in Super Sprint so has to be respected.

Premier Steps: Third first time out in Superb Newbury maiden and showed effect of that when making all in Ascot maiden (outstayed rivals); Raced too hard too early in the Albany when sent in chase of Newfangled, so fact she stayed at head of pack and was beaten only a short head by second in the end; Soft ground won’t be a problem and should go well here.

Sandreamer: Made very promising start to life when travelling strongly on outsider and then finding plenty when push came to shove in maiden on Rowley Mile; Good effort on this course when second to City Image but didn’t help herself by being very green late on and improvement needed on that if she’s to take a hand.

Sendmylovetorose: Looked to be very good when handing out good thrashing to her rivals at Navan and while she wasn’t able to show what she was capable of at Ascot (withdrawn at stalls) she was impressive when winning Irish Group 3 (heavy ground) at Curragh, always in command at finish; Has to be respected here with rain a godsend for her chances.

Threes Grand: Form of first three starts equates to a very solid level and might be called unlucky not to have beaten Queen Mary fifth Jadanna at Beverley before unplaced finish in Queen Mary; More needed.

VERDICT: An interesting renewal and a chance for the Royal Ascot fillies form to get a good test. The overnight rain looks sure to give a good hand to Sendmylovetorose, while the Richard Hannon pair of City Image and Maureen also deserve a good deal of respect, but PREMIER STEPS’S Albany third can be upgraded in hindsight given how early she started racing, and Richard Kingscote’s runner looks to be the each/way value in the race. Jadanna’s Queen Mary fifth is a creditable effort and sjhe goes on easy ground, while Sandreamer didn’t give her best last time out either.