If a below-par reappearance effort can be put down to lack of race sharpness, last year's Royal Ascot Group 2 winner RUNNING LION could be a cut above the rest in this field. Diamond Rain is a lightly raced Listed winner who could easily have more to offer as a 4yo, so she's second choice ahead of Francophone, who represents last year's winning owner, trainer and jockey. [Andrew Sheret]
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Her form has improved a notch this season, building on reappearance second in a warm handicap at Kempton (1m3f, AW) with a half-length win in Listed race at Nottingham (1m2f, good to firm; Francophone fourth); couldn't live with See The Fire in a York Group 2 last week but should find this a bit easier.
Won her first two starts last May, latterly a 1m2f Newbury Listed race on good; disappointed in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) the following month but got her career back on track when fourth in 1m2f Doncaster Listed event (soft) in November; returns as a lightly raced filly from a top yard, who probably has more to offer.
Listed winner at Goodwood (1m2f, good) last May; respectable fourth of six to Ambiente Amigo on 1m2f Nottingham reappearance (good to firm) 25 days ago and she's 3lb better off at the weights with James Owen's filly; thereabouts for last year's winning connections.
Placed at Listed/Group 3 level last year; disappointed in Newmarket Group 3 on final outing but has had only five starts and could resume her progress for her top stable in 2025.
Won Group 2 Duke of Cambridge at 2024 Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) and ended her 4yo campaign with second to stablemate Friendly Soul in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft); shaped as if needing the run when well-held fifth (Secret Satire fourth) in Newmarket Group 2 on reappearance and a potential class act here if back to anywhere near her best.
Maiden (1m2f) and novice (1m4f) winner for William Haggas last year but well held at Listed level for a third time when eighth on 1m4f Goodwood return for new yard 22 days ago; needs to have come on a lot in a short time.
Headstrong sort but success in the 2024 Musidora at York shows she's very useful; led until around 1f out when fourth in 1m1f Newmarket Group 2 on reappearance, with the reopposing Running Lion in fifth; likely to be in the shake-up.
Third in the 2023 Prix de Diane and ended her time in France with a clearcut win in 1m2f Listed race on soft at Compiegne in October of that year; well-held sixth in Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh (1m2f, yielding to soft) last June on her first run for Sir Mark Prescott and not seen since; the betting should provide more clues as to what's expected from her this afternoon.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
