Expressly has only had the one start and looked impressive there; she is a half-sister to Rio de la Plata and looks capable of further improvement. She wore a hood on her debut which seemed effective and that headgear remains in place on Saturday; in fact four of the ten runners will wear a hood in this Listed contest. She doesn't hold any fancy entries mind you, but is worthy of respect here.
Newmarket
At Newmarket the feature is the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs. The trip looks like it will bring a bit of improvement out in some of these, notably Wedding Ring (Charlie Appleby) and Baby Bush (Richard Hannon).
Amazing Maria is already proven at the trip and this lovely big filly has an entry in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. She is trained by Ed Dunlop who is a master with decent fillies and she warrants plenty of respect. Ihtimal is also in the Fillies' Mile and Saeed Bin Suroor's charge ran well to be third in the Chesham at Royal Ascot last time out and looks capable of improvement. I'm going with Amazing Maria who can continue her progression over this trip.
Deauville
On Sunday there is a top-class renewal of the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. With the likes of Dawn Approach, Intello, Declaration of War, Moonlight Cloud and Elusive Kate amongst the entries it should be an outstanding contest.
This one mile Group 1 is a real clash of the titans with Intello the likely market leader for French trainer Andre Fabre. His only defeat came in the French Guineas and he was unlucky not to win there, so he deserves to top the betting for this classy contest. He has won over a mile up to an extended mile-and-a-quarter in the French Derby and it's interesting to see him sticking to a mile rather than stepping up in trip with the Arc in mind later in the season. He isn't bred to stay a mile and a half so it seems the most sensible option.
Dawn Approach was only just beaten by Toronado in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and this race could come too quickly after that defeat. Mind you, Sheikh Mohammed wasn't scared of turning him out at Royal Ascot after his Derby defeat and that proved to be the right call. I couldn't go with him so soon after that though and won't be with him on Sunday.
Elusive Kate has won her last two starts for John Gosden including that controversial defeat of Sky Lantern at Newmarket and then a win in France over this course and distance last time out. Moonlight Cloud is another major player for French trainer Freddy Head. She was fourth behind Excelebration in this last year and could have been called an unlucky loser. She is a smashing mare with 10 wins to her name and comes here having won the seven furlong Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest earlier this month where she beat Lethal Force in impressive style taking the track record with her in the process.
Given the likely prices it may be worth taking a chance on her. I think Intello will be a tough opponent, but he is likely to be a pretty short price so it's the mare for me, she looks to be the best mare in training in Europe and will give the colts a good run for their money.
Selections
Telescope in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock
Expressly in the Dick Hern Fillies' Stakes at Haydock
Amazing Maria in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket
Moonlight Cloud in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday