led early, held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, no extra inside last
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on well towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden to lead final furlong, edged left inside last, kept on
held up, ridden over 2f out, every chance final furlong, no extra inside last
held up behind, ridden over 2f out, kept on and no impression
held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
In the Lancashire Oaks, Playful Act gets the call ahead of Twyla Tharp and Puntilious. Although she has yet to be seen this season, the fact that stable jockey Jimmy Fortune is taking the ride on the selection as opposed to the talented Ribblesdale runner-up Twyla Tharp inclines us towards her in this Group 2 contest. Having won last year's May Hill Stakes and Fillies' Mile, she looked every inch a Classic contender this year but has been slow to come to hand. Hidden Hope was fourth in this race last year, but she has yet to be seen this year and her stable is going through a quiet time. Punctilious disappointed on her seasonal return, but last year's Oaks runner-up can be expected to fare better today. Seven Magicians, who followed up her third in the Lingfield Oaks Trial with an impressive maiden win, looks progressive but needs to improve at this higher level, a similar comment applying to Natalie Jane, who won a fillies' handicap last time, but Ruby Wine also looked progressive when scoring in Listed company at Newbury last time and there should be better to come. There will need to be, though, for Playful Act looked a class act last season and she is taken to score today.
Hidden Hope 9-2 (8-6) Tracked leader, not quicken and not much room over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Mazuna (8-6) at Ascot 1m 4f fll stk Grp 3 (A1) gf in Sept.
Punctilious 7-2 (8-12) Held up in last pair, effort on outside 2f out, soon driven and not quicken, kept on again inside final furlong, last of 5, 2 1/2l behind New Morning (8-7) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Shastye (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 5, nk behind Songlark (8-12) at Pontefract 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Natalie Jane (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Settled in 3rd, led 2f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Salisbury 1m 2f fll hcp (4) gf in Jun beating Mystery Lot (8-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Playful Act (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Made all, ridden clear 2f, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 1m 2yo fll Grp 1 (A1) gf in Sept beating Maids Causeway (8-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
Ruby Wine 20-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, chased leader over 3f out, ridden, looked held 1f out, ran on as leader faultered to lead last strides, won at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf in Jun beating Karliyna (8-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Seven Magicians (USA) 5-4fav (8-9) Raced wide in touch, chased leader 3f out, driven to lead over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun beating Cheerleader (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Twyla Tharp (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on just held, 2nd of 9, shd behind Thakafaat (8-11) at York 1m 4f 3yo fll Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
