The starting point when assessing this Group 2 contest for fillies is the Oaks, run at Epsom earlier in the month, as six of the first seven home that day are all entered and dominate the ante-post lists.

Anapurna ran out a game winner at the Surrey venue and would be the automatic favourite to follow up should she be allowed to take her chance. However, she is reported to be taking a mid-season break and is an unlikely runner.

The fourth home, Manuela De Vega would be of significant interest if she faces the starter based on the fact she was slightly unlucky at Epsom from a poor draw and even more so on her seasonal reappearance in the Cheshire Oaks. On each occasion, Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old hasn’t enjoyed the rub of the green at crucial stages and she remains a filly of infinite promise and one that should be capable of landing a decent prize against her own sex before the season ends.

Away from those who contested the Oaks, QUEEN POWER (best price 5-1) rates the most intriguing of the main participants as her profile suggests she could easily find the necessary improvement to be competitive at Group 1 level.

A smooth winner of a decent Newmarket maiden on her only start at two, Sir Michael Stoute’s filly narrowly failed to keep her unbeaten record in tact when she was just undone for a little bit of tactical speed by the more aggressively ridden Muchly at Ascot. Stepped up in trip to contest pattern company for the first time at Newbury on her latest outing, the daughter of Shamardal once again proved very strong in the latter stages. In what turned out to be a slowly-run tactical affair, she was left with a good deal to do at the three-furlong pole, but in finding plenty for pressure, she managed to overhaul her more prominently-placed market rivals to score in ready fashion. Taken out of the Coronation Stakes at the last forfeit stage, it is apparent connections see her as more of a middle-distance prospect than a pure miler and, hailing from connections that are having a terrific time of things in all departments; it would come as little surprise if this classy chestnut gave them another notable payday.

CONCLUSION

With so many doubts about the participation of the leading contenders in the betting, it makes sense to take the available prices about likely runner QUEEN POWER who makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Queen Power - 1pt e/w @ 5/1