'She's working really well and she's probably overpriced' - key Albany quotes

Friday: 2.30 Royal Ascot
Albany Stakes (Group 3) | 6f | 2yo fillies | ITV/Sky

The Albany Stakes is the last of five juvenile sprints at Royal Ascot this week and it feels like a good opportunity to take stock. What we have learned?

Riders have taken preference over the middle of the course and all four winners of the Coventry, Queen Mary, Windsor Castle and Norfolk have mounted their winning challenges from that part of the track.

The winners have come from stalls two (Coventry), 17 (Queen Mary), two again in the Windsor Castle and the ten-runner Norfolk. The placed horses threw up mixed outcomes and there has arguably been no massive draw bias despite the recurrence of winners from stall two.

The salient point to note revolves around Racing Post Ratings. Backing the horse with the best RPR on their debut has unearthed the winner of three of the four juvenile heats (Norfolk second Walbank was the exception) for a level-stakes profit of +£10.70 and substantially more at earlier prices.

Applying that system in the Albany points emphatically towards Mawj, who is the best by 7lb using that metric.

Mawj’s dam Modern Ideals has proved a revelation of a broodmare over the last couple of seasons with the track exploits of Listed winner Modern Games and French Classic hero Modern News.

Saeed bin Suroor’s emerging talent is sired by Exceed And Excel so has a speedier pedigree than the sons of Dubawi and Shamardal. Unsurprisingly, she recorded a vastly superior RPR on her debut (96) than that pair did and looked a star at Newmarket. She is drawn centrally in seven and could be tough to beat with improvement forthcoming.

Mawj is among nine unbeaten fillies in the field and there are clearly others to consider. Chief among them is Cathy Come Home. Few train juveniles better than Karl Burke and he saddled Dramatised to win the Queen Mary on Wednesday and Dandalla to win this race in 2020.

This Expert Eye filly impressed when making a winning debut over 5f at Musselburgh and is bred to appreciate an extra furlong as her dam won over 1m2f.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Biting the Bullet

Alice Haynes is back home as she seeks the victory that would cap a remarkable start to her training career.

She was born in Ascot and aims to strike with just her second runner at the royal meeting, less than 17 months after first taking out a licence.

Having started out with 12 horses at her Newmarket yard in February of last year, she sent out 20 winners in 2021.

Success breeds success and she is now responsible for a 40-strong team, winning 25 races this season.

Having won a Listed race last year, Haynes now hopes to make a Group 3 breakthrough in her home town as Lady Bullet bids for a hat-trick after scoring at Doncaster and Ripon under Kieran O'Neill.

The promising filly is among 25 two-year-olds at the yard and her trainer said: "It's exciting for me, for the team, for the owners and for Kieran.

"She won under a penalty last time and she's definitely got a live chance. We're not at the bottom of her, she'll keep on improving.

"She's laid back, she's got a great constitution and she'll take it all in her stride. I'm sure she won't get worked up. We're drawn three but we're next to the favourite and the second favourite is in seven so we're not far away from the action."

What they say

George Boughey, trainer of Believing
She was still green at Wolverhampton and has learned a lot since then. We've done a lot of work in the stalls and she's fine now. I hope fast ground will suit her and it's nice to have a filly with an each-way chance.

Karl Burke, trainer of Cathy Come Home
She's working really well and she's probably overpriced, which I can understand going from a Musselburgh maiden to a Royal Ascot race. She's a smart filly and on her home work she's not a million miles behind Dramatised.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Double O and Queen Olly
Double O has been consistent and we're rolling the dice. We think a lot about Queen Olly. She was impressive at York and we're hopeful.

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Elvenia
I think an extra furlong will bring about further improvement and she looks a nice prospect.

Thady Gosden, joint trainer of Fully Wet
She did well to win first time out at Goodwood when she was a little green and has come on well for the race at home. She's drawn 17 which may help and she has a chance in a typically competitive Albany.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Ibiza Love
She's in the deep end a little bit but she won a good-looking maiden easily last time so we're rolling the dice.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Mawj
Mawj won nicely over this distance at Newmarket and she is an improving filly. Her latest piece of work went well and we are looking for another good result.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Meditate
She's seems to be well. She's been professional in her two starts so far and everything has gone well in the lead up to the race. We're happy with her.
Reporting by David Carr

Friday at Royal Ascot:

3.05 Ascot: 'He's in the form of his life' - analysis and quotes for the Commonwealth Cup

3.40 Ascot: Why it could pay to look past two market leaders in the Duke of Edinburgh

4.20 Ascot: Thady Gosden: Inspiral is ready for a race but she will improve from it

5.00 Ascot: 'She's been laid out for this' - the Queen's runner primed for Sandringham

5.35 Ascot: Can punters trust the quick Derby turnaround time in the King Edward VII?

6.10 Ascot: Wesley Ward: We've just been messing but now we're planning to get serious

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