'We want to try for black type on the Flat' - Grade 1-winning hurdler Marie's Rock set for Listed assignment

As much as 7lb separates the four highest-rated fillies from the rest of the field in this Listed prize. However, deep ground might not be ideal for that quartet, while there are a few progressive types further down who will relish it.

Top-rated is Lmay. She made the frame in a Group 2 at Baden-Baden last time, while she was third on soft going over this 1m6½f in last season’s Park Hill Stakes.

Lmay also comes from a yard in good form. John and Thady Gosden have not had the best of seasons, but they’re finishing it off well with a strike-rate of 22 per cent this month, while they had a one-two in Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera. They had the first and third in this event 12 months ago and Lmay is a solid candidate.

Lmay: highest-rated filly in Bath's Listed contestCredit: Mark Cranham

Next in the ratings is Fairy Glen, one of four three-year-olds in the line-up. She’s two from three on the all-weather and was narrowly denied in a Listed race at Longchamp last month. However, whether she really wants ground as soft as this is another matter.

Two fillies who will like conditions are Loughville and Entrancement. Loughville was raised 7lb for an easy win in Class 4 company at Newbury last time. She was also a winner at this track on heavy ground earlier in the year and could improve again for a bit further.

Entrancement went up 5lb for a Class 3 win in heavy ground at Goodwood. She’ll enjoy this stamina test and has David Menuisier and Oisin Murphy in her corner.
Analysis by James Hill

Going update

The going on Wednesday was heavy after the track was hit with a deluge on Tuesday. Wednesday is set to stay largely dry but rain estimated at 2-6mm is forecast to move in from 9pm. Conditions should clear by 8am and remain dry throughout racing, with predicted temperatures of 14C.

At around 2.30pm on Wednesday, clerk of the course Ben Hicks said: "We had 23mm yesterday, it was a very showery day and they came down quite heavy, but the track has handled it well and we changed the going to heavy as of this morning. There are no areas of concern.

"It's going to remain heavy ground but it will be good to welcome horses such as Marie's Rock and we're looking forward to the day."

What they say

David Menuisier, trainer of Entrancement
She's a nice filly. She definitely showed improvement on her first attempt at this trip at Goodwood. On ratings she's still short of winning a Listed race, but she's an absolute mudlark so we feel justified trying at this level.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Marie's Rock
She's doing well and she doesn't want fast ground, but I don't know how heavy she wants it, we'll have to see. She ran a very good race on her first run on the Flat at York. She missed the break a bit but ran well and hopefully she can build on that. She'll go jumping sooner or later, but it will probably be her last season and we want to try to get some black type on the Flat.

Nicky Henderson: runs Marie's Rock at Bath on ThursdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Alan King, trainer of Loughville
She's been very progressive and she did it well at Newbury. This is a big step up in class but she's now 90-rated so we'll roll the dice and the plan will be to try to get a bit of black type. This is the furthest she's been but she wasn't stopping last time and loves soft ground.

Jamie Osborne, trainer of Drawn To Dream
She ran very well first time for us and then had a bit of a first-season lull, but her last run was encouraging. We have to deal with very soft ground, but I think that'll be in her favour. On ratings she has a chance and I'd like to think she's ready. I think she's in better order now than earlier in the summer.

Harry Davies, rider of Fairy Glen
She's got a little bit of a wider draw in eight but hopefully the slower ground should be in her favour. She's coming back off a good run in France and she should go well.

David Simcock, trainer of Sinology
It looks like the trip and ground will be up her street with her racing style. I'm pretty confident she'll handle the ground. She didn't stop at Newmarket last time; she just wasn't quick enough. We'd be very hopeful she can run well.
Reporting by Maddy Playle

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