Improving Implicit stepping up in class in bid for a rapid four-timer

James Tate believes in striking while the iron is hot and sends Implicit in search of a fourth successive win in the St Hugh's Stakes, just seven days after she easily defied a penalty in a nursery at Chelmsford.

The Newbury Listed contest, run this year as the Byerley Stud Stakes (3.30), lacks a stand-out contender, and having won off 86 at Chelmsford Implicit has been raised to a mark of 93, which is a level of form suggesting she ought to be very competitive.

Tate said: "They say you should always beware a filly in form and Implicit is a happy filly who is improving rapidly.

"She was too keen at the start of her career but she's getting the trip well now, and that's also because she's matured a lot physically and mentally.

"I thought she was very impressive at Chelmsford. Although the straight five furlongs at Newbury is a different test, I think her form is probably about as good as any in the race."

James Tate believes Implicit has progressed mentally and physicallyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Archie Watson is double-handed and said: "Shumookhi ran very well at Royal Ascot and has been placed since in Group and Listed company in France. She definitely has the ability to win a race of this nature if everything falls right.

"So Brave has something to find but she has shown plenty of speed in her two wins and we feel the drop back to five furlongs will help. Her work is good and she deserves her chance."

Clive Cox saddles the unexposed Heartwarming after a highly promising novice second at Sandown and a long-odds-on maiden win at the same course, where she still looked green.

The filly carries the colours borne successfully by Heartache in last year's Queen Mary and could have plenty more to offer.

Lingfield winner Swiss Air bids to follow in the footsteps of her dam Swiss Lake, who won the St Hugh's Stakes for Gerard Butler and Kevin Darley in 2001.

Her trainer William Haggas won this six years ago with Rosdhu Queen, who was victorious in York's Group 2 Lowther Stakes the following week and ended her two-year-old campaign unbeaten in four starts.

Terrific prize-money

Chelmsford yet again offers outstanding prize-money, with more than £131,000 available on a seven-race evening card which includes two £35,000 handicaps and another for £25,000.

Chelmsford: more than £131,000 in prize-money on offer on Friday's cardCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Salateen, back to his very best with a fine second to Big Country in a Pontefract Listed race last time, heads the weights for the Bet totequadpot At totesport.com Handicap (6.50) and his trainer David O'Meara has good prospects too with the vastly improved Alsvinder, who faces his recent conqueror Queen In Waiting on 8lb better terms in the Bet totetrifecta At Totesport.com Handicap (7.20).

The latter race looks particularly strong, with class acts Tropics and Corinthia Knight at the head of the weights. Archie Watson's three-year-old gelding boasts an impressive record of seven wins from nine starts on artificial surfaces.

He said: "Corinthia Knight was back to his old self at Chester last time and getting him back on the all-weather will be good for him. It's competitive but this is his forte and I hope he can run a good race."

Stable pet Slunovrat up for the Cup

Another £35,000 handicap, the myracing.com Colwick Cup, is the feature at Nottingham at 4.10, and in-form trainer David Menuisier will be hoping that Slunovrat, who has become something of a stable pet, can gain a third course and distance win.

Slunovrat was the trainer's first ever winner, at Newcastle in 2014, and was scoring for a sixth time when winning by the minimum margin at Nottingham in the spring.

Menuisier said: "He's done great at Nottingham over the mile and six furlongs, which I think is his best trip, and you can forget York last time as he needed the race after getting an abscess and didn't quite stay.

"I can't say that he's well handicapped, but he seems in good form and he'll do his best."

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