14:25 Haydock

Saturday 9 August 2025

All14:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes (Fillies' & Mares' Listed)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 42.12s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(4)

Arolla^t⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: T E Whelan| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 100| D

15/2

Looked promising when winning first 2 starts last term and step back in the right direction when runner-up in a listed contest on return at Musselburgh (7f, good to firm). No show sent handicapping at Royal Ascot 11 days later, but probably found that race coming too soon. Worth another chance.

Form: 1186-20

(3)

Queen's Reign⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 100| D

16/1

Didn't do much wrong in 2024 and raised her game a notch when going close in listed company on return at Longchamp (7f, good) in April. However, well below par at Musselburgh next time (finished almost 8 lengths adrift of Arolla) and Never Let Go could be the pick of the Ed Walker-trained trio.

Form: 3272-27

(5)

Shuwari¹³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: Ollie Sangster| OR: 108

5/1

Made up into a smart 2-y-o a couple of seasons back, claiming the notable scalp of Fallen Angel in a 7f Sandown listed race prior to finishing second in the Rockfel and Fillies' Mile (both at Newmarket). Missed whole of last year, but shaped pretty well on return in March and she's the class angle.

Form: 1122/6

(2)

Vicario^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: E Walker| OR: 88| C

16/1

Cosy winner of a 6f handicap here last August before struggling in this grade on final 2 starts of 2024. More miss than hit so far this season and her yard saddles more appealing candidates in Never Let Go and Queen's Reign.

Form: 8-89350

(9)

Never Let Go⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 95| D

11/4

Progressive filly who was a close third upped to 1¼m in a Goodwood listed race in May. No problem with the drop back to a mile when landing the 25-runner Sandringham at Royal Ascot next time and, while things panned out favourably for her that day, it was a solid performance nonetheless.

Form: 61-3231

(8)

Protest¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 96| D

2/1

Made a winning start to her career on the AW last October and contested listed races next 3 starts, making the frame on 2 occasions. Recent handicap debut success at Goodwood (1m, good) represented a step forward and she certainly doesn't look out of place back in listed company here.

Form: 14-641

(6)

Suite Francaise³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 95| CD

15/2

Narrow winner of a Newcastle maiden on sole 2-y-o start and raised her game with a smooth reappearance success in a C&D novice in May. Further progress when upped to this grade at Sandown (1m, good to firm) next time and while she needs to pull out more in order to win this, she's not discounted.

Form: 1-13

Non-Runners

(7)

Rockymountainway⁵²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: C Fellowes J: R Kingscote

(1)

Sunfall⁶³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Protest (2/1), Never Let Go (11/4), Shuwari (5/1), Suite Francaise (15/2), Arolla (15/2), Sunfall (10/1), Queen's Reign (16/1), Vicario (16/1), Rockymountainway (33/1)

Roger Varian has saddled the winner of this race a couple of times in recent years and PROTEST is an appealing candidate for the yard this time round. She improved when landing a Glorious Goodwood handicap recently, demonstrating a good attitude in the process, and she may well have more to offer. The obvious caveat is that if Shuwari is able to reproduce something akin to her smart 2-y-o form she will prove very hard to beat, while Arolla, Never Let Go and Suite Francaise all have claims.