'She could be hard to beat' - ten fillies chasing late-season black type

Friday: 2.40 Newmarket
Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Bosra Sham' Fillies' Stakes (Listed) | 6f | 2yo | RUK

Smart Irish filly Matilda Picotte makes the journey over to Britain for trainer Kieran Cotter in this Listed event and she is one of the more interesting contenders in a ten-strong line-up.

She finished third in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last time and that race has worked out reasonably, with the first and fourth finishing fourth and third in the Group 1 Cheveley Park next time. However, she returns to the track following 71 days off, which suggests she might have had issues in the interim, and she has never encountered soft ground before.

This will be a completely different experience for the early favourite from the widest draw in stall ten.

Diamond Vega catches the eye among those at a bigger overnight prices for trainer Ralph Beckett.

The prospect of testing ground could expose a few in this contest but Diamond Vega will have no worries over the conditions.

She cruised through the mud when a two-length novice winner on heavy ground at Haydock last time, following up a 20-1 second on the all-weather on her debut in September.

This twice-raced filly is open to more improvement than any in this field bar rank outsider Premiere Beauty and might be able to take the step up in class in her stride.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of Aunt Violet
She was impressive at Yarmouth and has done nothing wrong apart from fluffing her lines at Sandown. She's a bit of a hot head and the hood really helped, but she was still keen last time. Hopefully in a better race with a better pace she'll relax better and we think she's capable of being competitive at this level.

George Boughey, trainer of Believing
She's in good form and possibly didn't stay last time over seven furlongs when racing into a headwind. We're bringing her back and she's probably bred to be a six-furlong horse.

Kieran Cotter, trainer of Matilda Picotte
It was a real shame that she didn't get to run last time at Chantilly [due to a passport issue] but hopefully if she reproduces her Lowther run she could be hard to beat here. The concern would be that we're coming to the end of the season and this is probably her last roll of the dice. She's been campaigned in strong company all year and has taken it all in her stride.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Premiere Beauty
She's done well since the win at Yarmouth – it wasn't a surprise to us even though she was a big price. I'm throwing her in at the deep end but the owners are very sporting and want to give her a go. I'm sure she'll run well and I'm hopeful of a place.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Queen Olly
I think the drop back to six furlongs will suit, she's in good order and we're pleased with her. Hopefully we can see a better run than her last two, she's never really disappointed us. She got wiped out at Newmarket last time and this is a drop in grade.
Reporting by Owen Goulding

The world's number 1 horse racing app just got better! Download the brand new Racing Post app for free to experience our new game-changing odds comparison, exclusive daily big-name tipping and unrivalled app-only content. Click here to download the latest version.