held up in touch and keen, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon chased leader, led well inside final furlong, held on well
led, ridden inside final furlong, soon headed, no extra
tracked leader until ridden approaching final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
A trappy race with negatives about all five of the contestants and ELUSIVE SUE is suggested to get the better of Zubova and Cheers For Thea. The Richard Fahey-trained pick has so far won just a Haydock maiden over 6f on good to firm, but she returned after a winter break to go close at Beverley in April. She was not far away in a decent fillies' handicap at Ripon last time and the return to this trip looks a positive, so from the same mark we will suggest her. Zubova has yet to break her maiden tag but she stays 7f and acts on most ground, though she has a bit to prove after her return run and is taken on. Cheers For Thea likes it here, having taken a handicap at the track in May, but she will do well to repeat that from a 12lbs higher mark. Celtic Lynn is not a certain stayer, while Battlemaiden has a bit to prove after her Newcastle flop, especially as the race she won there previously has not really worked out, and Elusive Sue appears to have the least serious negatives.
Celtic Lynn (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 6th of 9, 6l behind Summer Dancer (9-3) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Cheers For Thea (IRE) 13-8fav (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway on outer over 1f out, kept on, 5th of 7, 2l behind Light Dubai (9-1) at Ayr 1m fll hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.
Battlemaiden (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Close up in chasing group, ridden 3f out soon weakened, eased over 1f out, last of 6, well behind Tres Coronas (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Elusive Sue (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, not pace to challenge, 6th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Misplaced Fortune (9-7) at Ripon 6f flls hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Zubova 16-1 (9-6) Always behind, 10th of 13, 7l behind Al Khimiya (9-5) at Kempton 7f 3yo flls hcp 0-70 (5) pol.