Sacred Bridge out to atone for Royal Ascot flop in strong Listed contest

Wednesday: 6.30 Naas
Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes (Listed) | 6f | 3yo+ fillies and mares | RTV

We didn't see the best of Sacred Bridge when she finished down the field in last month's Commonwealth Cup, but this could be a nice opportunity for the classy filly to get back on track – provided there are no ill-effects from her Royal Ascot blip.

Her mark of 104 is the only three-digit rating in this 12-runner Listed event, although she does carry a 5lb penalty for bolting up in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes last August.

Sacred Bridge (right): had Group 2 winners Ladies Church (second right) and Brostaigh (centre) behind when winning the Listed Goffs EBF Polonia Stakes in MayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It could arguably be viewed as a shade off-putting that connections are now reaching for blinkers, but she looked perfectly effective two starts ago when defying a penalty in Listed company at Cork.

That form has been well boosted since, with runner-up Ladies Church and fourth-placed Brostaigh landing Group 2s at the Curragh and Chantilly.

There are clear dangers, though. Contarelli Chapel doesn't seem to have had a clear run of things since making an excellent impression when winning a course-and-distance maiden last April.

Representing an in-form Ballydoyle team, she isn't short of ability.

Ano Syra tries Listed company for the first time after landing the Rockingham Handicap off 91 last month – her fourth win in five starts. Having progressed from a mark of 73 to 97, she's entitled to have a crack at this.

Ano Syra (14): capped excellent run of form with victory in last month's Rockingham HandicapCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Sablonne is also upped in class after winning a handicap off 90 here last time, while the Willie McCreery-trained Funchal emerged with massive credit from her third behind battle-hardened sprinters last time and is open to further improvement.

What they say

Barry Mahon, Ireland and European racing manager for Juddmonte, owners of Sacred Bridge
Perhaps the step up in grade was a little too much for her in the Commonwealth Cup. Ger [Lyons] thinks she's starting to come to herself – she seems to be improving every week. She's a genuine filly but sometimes sprinters can sharpen up for the fitting of blinkers, so we're just trying that here as it was felt she might have gone a bit relaxed in herself.

Willie McCreery, trainer of Amirat Alward and Funchal
Amirat Alward will like the trip and ground. We'll see whether she's up to getting some black type. Funchal is an inexperienced filly who has plenty of gears. It'll be interesting to see how she gets on over this trip after winning over five furlongs. There aren't many Listed opportunities at this point over five furlongs but we'd love to get black type and the ground will suit.

John Feane, trainer of Ano Syra
She's in good order and will love the ground. She's a progressive three-year-old so it'll be interesting to see how she goes. She's been giving us the right signs all along that she can be a filly to be competitive at this sort of level. We just wanted to take it step by step and she’s done it well winning four of her last five.

Kate Harrington, assistant to Jessica Harrington, trainer of Sablonne
Her two wins have come at Naas. She was very good last time when winning over this trip and has come out of that well. Hopefully she can make the step from handicaps to Listed company.

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