steadied at start, took keen hold, held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, no impression from 2f out, eased final furlong
towards rear, headway wide over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong nearest finish
close up on outer, ridden to lead just over 1f out, kept on well until headed close home
switched right start to inner, held up in rear, good headway over 1f out, squeezed through inside final furlong to lead close home
mid-division, ridden along over 2f out, no impression over 1f out
soon led, ridden and headed just over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, led just over 2f out, headed just over 1f out, rallying well inside final furlong when bumped, soon eased
held up, ridden over 2f out, chased leaders 1f out, stayed on not quite pace to challenge
held up in touch, raced on and off bridle, not much room when outpaced over 2f out, stayed on and squeezed through well inside final furlong, led narrowly, edged right, headed close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, still in touch, weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong
towards rear, stayed on steadily final 2f, not troubled leaders
Novellara can put Henry Cecil back on the big stage, with Quenched, Sindirana, Scottish Stage and Reunite just a few lively dangers. It has been four years since Warren Place sent out a Royal Ascot winner, but the trainer still holds the record for successes at the prestigious meeting with a total of 70, including no less than five Ribblesdale heroines. With that in mind it would be very apt if Novellara, who like the stable's last winner of today's event Yashmak, is owned by Khalid Abdullah, were to land the prize. The daughter of Sadler's Wells, a half-sister to Reams Of Verse, looked every inch the part when making a winning debut at Salisbury and has worked extremely well since, so hopes are high that she can carry it off. There are abundant dangers, not least of which is Quenched, with Richard Hughes preferring her to Cecil's filly. She likes fast ground and will relish the trip as well, so has to be on the short-list. Sir Michael Stoute has saddled three Ribbledale winners in the past and is double-handed with Scottish Stage and Sindirana. The latter gained a narrow success in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, while Scottish Stage is related to Oaks and St Leger winner Sun Princess, so will come into her own over today's trip. Reunite bounced back from an absence to gain her second victory at Nottingham, and what better place than Royal Ascot for Godolphin to rescue what has been a dreadful season so far. All in all, we feel that it is worth taking a chance with Novellara.
Alessandria 13-8 (8-12) Held up 4th, quickened to lead 2f out, clear over 1f out, eased well inside final furlong, readily, won at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo fll (2) pol in May beating Park Esteem (8-12) by 2l, 5 ran.
High Heel Sneakers 8-1 (8-9) Held up, headway on outside over 2f out, soon driven, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Princess Nada (8-9) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf.
Maroussies Wings (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, led well over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Short Skirt (8-12) at York 1m 2f 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Mont Etoile (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway well over 1f out, ran on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Time On (8-12) at Chester 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gf in May.
Novellara 9-2 (8-9) Prominent, headway and chased leader over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Salisbury 1m 2f mdn stk (4) gs in May beating Dayrose (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Park Esteem (IRE) 10-11fav (8-12) Pulled hard, tracked leader, led briefly just over 2f out, soon headed, no chance with winner from over 1f out, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Alessandria (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo fll (2) pol in May.
Quenched 10-3 (8-9) Tracked leader, led 7f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn fll (5) gf beating Green Room (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Reunite (IRE) 10-11fav (9-5) Soon chasing leader, led 4f out, pushed clear over 1f out, eased towards finish, won at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf beating Solva (9-3) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Scottish Stage (IRE) 4-6fav (8-9) Held up last, steady headway from 3f out, chased leader from 2f out, led 1f out, held on well, won at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gd in May beating Guilia (8-9) by a hd, 10 ran.
Sindirana (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (8-10) Close up, steady headway to track leading pair inside final 3f, chased leader 2f out, hard driven to lead inside final furlong, held on near finish, won at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gd in May beating Fusili (8-10) by a nk, 10 r.
Suzy Bliss 25-1 (8-8) Held up, 8th straight, stayed on one pace final 2f, 7th of 10, 3l behind Echelon (9-9) at Epsom 1m 1f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gd.
