'This was always the plan' - who fancies their Listed filly at Lingfield?

Thursday: 3.25 Lingfield
Talksport EBF River Eden Fillies' Stakes (Listed)| 1m5f | 3yo+ | Sky

Oh, for a world of fillies' Listed races. That would seemingly solve the field-size issue at a stroke, although it would not always make the racing more competitive.

Many runners in these races are there in hope rather than expectation of picking up black type, which is obviously more valuable when it comes to fillies and mares.

Luckily, this race is not one of the more lopsided examples. On Racing Post Ratings, half the field are within 8lb of the top-rated Viola and those who are not include two Gosden-trained three-year-olds, either of whom might go off favourite.

One Evening is overnight favourite but on both form and pedigree she would be a narrow second choice to stablemate Darmoiselle. The latter is out of three-time Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi, whereas One Evening's dam Seta never got higher than Listed class.

Jockey bookings are likely having some say. Ryan Moore is on One Evening but note he has already ridden her, although he has not been on Darmoiselle. Neither is a known quantity over this 1m5f trip, but both their dams stayed 1m4f.

It's unlikely this race will be a thorough test of stamina - races at Lingfield rarely are. Instead, acceleration and professionalism are likely to be decisive.

Bartzella has that, as well as being progressive and unexposed, while Jewel In My Crown, Strawberri and Viola all have recent form over the sort of tracks (Goodwood, Epsom) which are said to compare well with Lingfield.

That might come in handy if a large number of these 12 fillies start getting in one another's way from the final turn.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Rae Guest, trainer of Jewel In My Crown
She’s trying a mile and five for the first time, but she seems to stay a mile and a half with no problems, so we should be fine. She’s in good form having won her last two and we’re expecting a big run.

William Knight, trainer of Pearl Beach
She ran a blinder the other day at Yarmouth. I think the step up in trip will suit her. This was always the plan to go to this race at Lingfield, but when they switched that Listed race from Bath to Yarmouth we decided to go there as well. She’s good on the all-weather, so I think she’ll run a big race.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Pennymoor, Darmoiselle and One Evening
One Evening lacks experience, but she ran well on her only start last year and won well on her reappearance. She's a filly that we've always liked. Darmoiselle beat our filly who won the Park Hill in her maiden last year and her run at Newmarket last time should bring her forward. Pennymoor was second in this race last year. We gave her a lot of time after that run and she should improve for her reappearance at Yarmouth.

Roger Varian, trainer of Strawberri
She's been largely consistent since she stepped up in trip. I think she will handle the all-weather surface and she's drawn quite nicely [five]. It will be lovely to get some black type – she nearly got it at Yarmouth last time – and she still seems to be in good form. Hopefully, she can go close.

James Fanshawe, trainer of Viola
She’s been very consistent and has a good chance on ratings. She was third in this last year behind a Group 1 winner. She seems in good form but we haven’t got a good draw [12].
Reporting by Harry Wilson

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