Balding hopeful Horseplay will benefit from extra week

Prix de Malleret (Group 2) 3yo fillies | 1m4f Turf | ATR/RUK

Andrew Balding will be hoping that skipping Royal Ascot will prove beneficial to Horseplay, who finished a running on fourth in the Oaks when not appearing entirely at ease at Epsom.

"She came out of the Oaks well and hopefully the more conventional track will be to her advantage," said Balding. "Ground conditions aren't a concern. She was in the Ribblesdale, but the extra week was important to her and so we waited."

Vintage Folly produced a big effort when chasing home Shutter Speed on only her second career start in the Musidora and Hugo Palmer's decision to miss Epsom and Ascot has been rewarded with ground described officially as good to soft.

Fellow Newmarket raider Elas Ruby stayed on strongly to land the Lord Weisntock Memorial Stakes at Newbury and tackles a mile and a half for the first time.

John Gosden said: "On the ratings she looks up against it, but she's very genuine, and so long as the ground doesn't go too soft she'll put up a bold show. I saw they put 10mm on the other day, which I found fascinating."

The best of the French form belongs to Pia Brandt's recent Compiegne Listed winner Normandel.