Adored has been overlooked by Johnny Murtagh but she could be overpriced here as a result and receives a tentative selection. Ice Queen is probably the one to beat with Michita and Passage Of Time other leading players. The Galileo filly was the choice of the stable jockey at Epsom but only beat one home which happened to be Ice Queen. Clearly neither filly gave their running on the Downs but both are capable of better as they showed in the Irish Oaks where they finished second and sixth. Ice Queen was an unconsidered 66-1 shot and partnered by O'Donoghue on that occasion but only missed out by a short-head. She's a smart filly but has a good bit to prove on testing ground unlike the selection. Last year's beaten Oaks favourite Passage Of Time has been brought back to her best by Henry Cecil and she won twice on soft ground as a juvenile but her best recent form has been on top of the ground and it remains to be seen how effective she will prove under these conditions. Michita is preferred by Jimmy Fortune to Dar Re Mi and it's easy to see why as she was most impressive when landing the Ribblesdale. She won her maiden on soft ground but is another that may prefer better ground in this better company. Dar Re Mi won easily at Deauville last week but she still has to prove that she can cut it at the top and it's a big ask to be turned out again so quickly at this level. We're predicting that Ballydoyle will complete their hat-trick in this contest but that it will be the outsider Adored rather than their Ice Queen.
Allegretto (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Settled in rear, headway over 2f out, still plenty to do, stayed on to take 4th inside final furlong, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 11l behind Yeats (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f Gold Cup (1) gf in Jun.
Passage of Time 8-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden to chase leading pair 2f out, stayed on final furlong, finished well, 3rd of 9, nk behind Halfway To Heaven (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) gf.
Adored (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to lead 3f out, headed 2f out, soon no extra, 6th of 14, 5l behind Moonstone (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f fll stks Grp 1 gs in Jul.
Cape Amber (IRE) 7-2 (8-5) Took keen hold, led after 2f, ridden and headed 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Lady Deauville (8-5) at Salisbury 1m 2f lst fll stk (1) gs.
Dar Re Mi (8-9) Tracked leader, led 1f out, comfortably, won at Deauville 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) hvy beating Shemima (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Honoria (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, 6th 4f out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 16, 7l behind Unsung Heroine (8-10) at Cork 1m 4f fll stk Grp 3 gs.
Ice Queen (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, drifted left and swished tail final furlong, headed on line, 2nd of 14, shd behind Moonstone (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f fll stks Grp 1 gs in Jul.
Michita (USA) 10-3fav (8-12) Held up in touch, good headway on outside over 2f out, soon tracking lead, led inside final 2f, pushed out, ran on strongly final furlong, easily, won at Ascot 1m 4f fll stk Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun beating Arthur's Girl (8-12) by 3 1/2l, 9.
