Can the three-year-olds stop Alcazan from following up last season's surprise success?

An eight-strong field lines up for this competitive fillies' handicap, with a couple of three-year-olds taking on their elders over six furlongs.

The Classic generation has yet to strike in the two runnings to date, despite fielding the majority of the runners, but both three-year-olds this year, Apeeling and Rosy Affair, arrive in good form.

Last season's 40-1 heroine Alcazan has also been running well recently and returns off a mark 5lb higher than 12 months ago. She was below her best last time, but came into the race last year after finishing last on her previous start, so could bounce back.

Last-time-out winner Summer Of Love will be popular, having achieved a third win in her last five starts with a cosy success at Epsom last month.

She was a bit worked up that day, so should be value for more than her half-length winning margin, but has never run over shorter than seven furlongs. Will she have the speed for six?

Princess Shabnam has operated at a higher level for most of her career and today's rating of 79 is the joint-lowest of her career. She still shows plenty of zip, though, and would be dangerous if allowed her own way out in front.

That looks unlikely, however, as there are others such as Alcazan and Kitai, who also like to be on the speed. A decent pace therefore looks assured.
Analysis by Gary Savage

Ground and weather

It's good, good to soft in places for day one of the three-day Eastern festival where the GoingStick reading is 6.1. The forecast is for dry and bright conditions through to racing and temperatures rising to 19C with a north-easterly breeze.

What they say

Oisin Murphy, rider of Summer Of Love
She won well over seven furlongs at Epsom and we expect her to be suited by a drop to six without the hood this time.

Charlie McBride, trainer of Zouky
She was disappointing last time after which she scoped a bit dirty. We’re dropping her back in trip to try something different and to see if she is in good enough form to step into Listed company next time.

Roger Varian, trainer of Azure Angel
She ran a great race from a wide draw at Kempton last time when she wasn’t beaten very far. We feel she is building up to a strong performance and I’m excited to be running her.

George Boughey, trainer of Rosy Affair
She’s been doing everything right at this level and is a very consistent filly. This looks the right race for her and I’m sure she’ll be bang there again.

Sean Woods, trainer of Princess Shabnam
She’s a very consistent filly who ran particularly well in a first-time visor last time, so we’re keeping them on. It’s tight but it looks the right race for her.
Reporting by David Milnes

The Racing Post is now available to follow on WhatsApp channels! Follow Racing Post Insider on WhatsApp and you can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest news, tips, insights, live reactions and much more. Click the group link and get Racing Post notifications straight to your phone via WhatsApp.