Five key questions surrounding the day's big juvenile race

Sky Bet Lowther Stakes | 6f | G2 | ITV/RUK

Can Actress take centre stage?

Not many races in Britain or Ireland have escaped Aidan O'Brien's clutches, but the Lowther is one contest he is yet to claim.

In the last ten years, O'Brien has only had four runners in the race, with Roly Poly coming closest to winning for the yard when runner-up to Queen Kindly last season.

Actress takes on her own sex again after finishing third against the boys in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. That was her seventh start, making her the most experienced runner in the field.

O'Brien said: "She's been very consistent and is in good form. She ran very well when third in the Phoenix Stakes last time. We haven't done much with her since the Curragh race but we're happy with her. The better the ground, the more it will suit her."

Mamba Noire is the other Irish-trained runner in the lineup, representing Ken Condon. She will have headgear on for the first time, and drops back to six furlongs after finishing seventh in the Sweet Solera at Newmarket last time out.

Will Threading justify her supplementary entry?

Not many horses were able to pull clear on the testing ground at Goodwood earlier in the month, but Threading had no such problems when sluicing up by six lengths on debut.

That performance prompted connections to part with £15,000 to add her to the field, and she is a fascinating contender for the Mark Johnston team.

The heavy rain that hit the track on Wednesday should not be an inconvenience after her soft ground win, and son and assistant Charlie Johnston said: "Before Goodwood the one intangible was the ground but she handled it and we're in a position where we can be quite relaxed with what the weather does."

Entries in the Mill Reef, Rockfel and Cheveley Park indicate Threadless is considered a decent filly, and Johnston added: "Obviously this is a huge step up in class but she was well-regarded before Goodwood."

Has the ground gone against Fool?

All across the US on Monday, Americans were able to enjoy the solar eclipse, and Wesley Ward now has the chance to blot out the Lowther field with Queen Mary runner-up Happy Like A Fool.

However, soft ground prevented her from running at Goodwood in the Molecomb, so the heavy showers that hit the track on Wednesday morning were unlikely to have been welcomed by the Ward camp.

Can Madeline take another step forward?

Roger Varian's Madeline defeated Natural in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury last time out and the pair face off again.

Connections are keen to make the most of the daughter of Kodiac as a juvenile and she could run in the Cheveley Park next time out.

Varian said: "Madeline has improved significantly with each start and I was impressed with the way she put the race to bed at Newbury. She is versatile in terms of ground and a quick six furlongs looks ideal. This has always been the plan and she is in fine form."

Will Special Purpose remain unbeaten?

William Haggas has won the race twice since 2012, and tries to claim it for a third time with Special Purpose.

The filly has secured victories in a brace of novice contests at Lingfield and Beverley over five furlongs, and Haggas said: "She is up in class and trip but I think she's very well and has done everything we've asked of her so far."

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