Racecards
14:40 York
Betfred Middleton Stakes (Fillies' Group 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 88y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £110,000 added
- Winner: £62,381
- 2nd: £23,650
- 3rd: £11,836
- 4th: £5,896
- Form 1/1061-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey Jim Crowley
held up in last pair on inside, pushed along 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten
- Form 13/1212-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey T P Queally
held up in 5th on inside, headway disputing 3rd 3f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on into outright 3rd final 100 yards and closed on 2nd but never going pace to threaten winner
- Form 2112-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey L Dettori
slowly into stride, took keen hold and held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, soon struggling and no progress, ridden and beaten over 2f out
- Form 12112-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
tracked leading pair, pushed along over 3f out, lost 3rd 3f out, soon one pace and beaten 2f out
- Form 629680-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer T Coyle & K Wood
- Jockey Barry McHugh
chased leading trio, pushed along and weakened over 3f out, soon behind
- Form 24232-7
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 108
took keen hold, held up in 6th, headway on outside over 3f out, disputing 3rd 3f out, ridden and hung left insde final furlong, one pace into 4th final 100 yards
- Form 9/21235-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
raced freely, made all and set decent pace, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly
Talmada (USA)
215- Form 9/31372-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 100
chased winner throughout, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner but held on well for 2nd
- Form 48211-6
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 102
Nonrunner
Verdict
It pays to follow the market here as last year's 9/2 winner was the biggest price in eight years. Bragging has improved out of handicaps and landed a Group 2 at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago when Belle D'Or was just over two lengths behind. She looks potentially top-class over middle-distances and is certain to take some beating. However, she looks to be facing better opposition this time with both Ribbons and Madame Chiang carrying penalties for Group 1 victories in softer conditions in France. The latter pair are both relatively lightly-raced and very progressive, though the ground could just have become too quick for them on their return to action. SECRET GESTURE was three lengths behind Ribbons in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville but is more likely to appreciate faster going and is taken to reverse the form and land this. Odeliz produced her best run when runner-up to Just The Judge in the Grade 1 A. P. Taylor Stakes on good going at Woodbine so can't be ignored.
Formwatch
Madame Chiang 12-1 (8-12) Reluctant loading in stalls, held up towards rear, good headway on inside over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders well over 1f out, stayed on to lead as leader veered badly left inside final furlong, eased close home, won at Ascot 1m 4f Group 1 fll stks (3yo+) (1) hvy in Oct beating Silk Sari (9-5) by 2l, 10 ran.
Ribbons 6-1 (9-2) 2nd of 11, nk behind We Are (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f flls Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Belle D'or (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Close up, tracked leaders 6f out, not clear run from over 1f out, stayed on, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Bragging (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f fll Grp 2 stks (1) gf.
Bragging (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leader 2f, close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, joined leader inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m 1f fll Grp 2 stks (1) gf beating Kleo (9-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Lily Rules (IRE) 7-1fav (9-0) Raced wide towards rear, ridden and struggling 3f out, never involved, last of 11, 22l behind Imshivalla (8-2) at York 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Odeliz (IRE) 10-3fav (9-11) Dwelt and towards rear early, mid-division in 9th halfway, some progress into 7th 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 12, 11l behind Ramone (9-11) at Curragh 1m flls Group 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar.
Secret Gesture 13-2 (8-12) 3wd into str,outkicked, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Dayatthespa (8-12) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f flls Grp 1 gd in Nov.
Talmada (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3f out, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on, not pace of winner final furlong, 2nd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Albasharah (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f fll lst stks (1) gd in Oct.
Lady Tiana 20-1 (8-8) 6th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Mayhem (8-10) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 2f Grp 3 gs in Apr.