Betfred Middleton Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 2m 8.01s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Chain Of Daisies²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 107| CD

3/1

A Group 3 winner and three-time winner in Listed company including when last seen at Newmarket in October. Perhaps flying a shade too high here though and has needed her seasonal reappearance run in seasons gone by.

Form: 11/6231-

(1)

Coronet²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 113| D

2/1

Impressive Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot last year and ran well behind Enable on next couple of starts. Fair effort in the St Leger and placed in another Group 1 on Champions' Day. Will appreciate conditions here and the one to beat on form.

Form: 514253-

(4)

Horseplay²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 100| D

10/1

Listed winner at Newmarket before a fair fourth in the Oaks. Ran to a similar level in a French Group 2 prior to finishing well beaten on Champions' Day at Ascot. More needed here but yard won this last year and return to quicker ground is a plus.

Form: 41/1448-

(5)

Indian Blessing¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: E Walker| OR: 102

33/1

Struggling to land a blow in Listed company in the UK before winning a French Listed race at Deauville in the autumn. Finished a well beaten third in a Fillies' Group 2 at Newmarket on return, merely passing beaten rivals and needs to improve.

Form: 44991-3

(3)

Mori²³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 106| DWS

7/2

Just touched off by Coronet at Royal Ascot last year, though struggled despite a drop in class on next two runs. Needs to bounce back on first start of the season (has had a wind op in the interim), but she's well-bred and may do better this term.

Form: 511276-

(2)

Smart Call⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 108| BF| D

8/1

Two-time Group 1 winner in South Africa in 2016 but has failed to win since in seven starts for her new yard. Showed she retains ability in a French Group 1 when a good fourth of 10 and not out of this if she comes on for her Kempton reappearance.

Form: 47467-7

(7)

Turret Rocks¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 106| BF| D

7/1

Group 3 winner at the Curragh in 2017 and ran well in Group 1 company back at that course later in the year, though no match for the front two. Hasn't built on that in two runs since, including when well beaten on reappearance and others preferred.

Form: 13634-6

Forecasts

Coronet (2/1), Chain Of Daisies (3/1), Mori (7/2), Turret Rocks (7/1), Smart Call (8/1), Horseplay (10/1), Indian Blessing (33/1)

CORONET brings the best form in to this race after a fine campaign at Group 1 level last year and she's taken to get her head in front back on faster ground. Sir Michael Stoute knows what it takes to win this race having won it with the likes of Promising Lead, and more recently Crystal Capella so Smart Call and Mori could be the main dangers to the selection with narrow preference for the latter in the hope she was in need of her reappearance effort at Kempton when last seen.