Will favourite Free Wind last home over demanding Park Hill trip?

Thursday: 3.15 Doncaster
Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) | 1m6½f | 3yo+ fillies & mares | ITV3/Sky

A lack of stamina over a sapping 1m6½f can quickly turn victory into defeat and backers of Free Wind may be clenching their tickets a little tighter when she enters the closing stages.

Winner of the Group 3 Prix Minerve last time, Free Wind is untried at trips in excess of 1m4½f and although she's by the brilliant Galileo, who has produced 132 individual winners over 1m6f or further, there's no guarantee Free Wind will relish the added yardage.

She wasn't required to come out of third gear at Deauville last month but she faltered close home when meeting the rising ground at Newmarket the time before (beaten by the reopposing Golden Pass) and needs to prove she stays.

There are similar concerns about Save A Forest, a daughter of Kingman whose progeny tend to be better at shorter trips. The Roger Varian-trained filly showcased commendable tenacity in the Listed Chalice Stakes last time in first-time cheekpieces, which are retained.

Although she's had just four runs, Yesyes has already proved her capabilities of handling this trip courtesy of her narrow Chester Stakes win last time. Trainer Ralph Beckett has won this race with Alyssa (2017) and Simple Verse (2016), so knows what it takes.

Bumper winners Urban Artist and Eileendover cannot be discounted, while Irish challenger Silence Please found only Arc hopeful Tarnawa too good on her penultimate start, form that looks good in the context of this race.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Free Wind
She's a progressive filly who won very nicely over an extended mile and a half at Deauville last time but we are going into the unknown going over the St Leger trip. She shapes as if she should get it but we'll find out here. She's been pleasing at home and this looks the right spot for her.

Roger Varian, trainer of Save A Forest
She's been progressive all year and has perhaps not reached her ceiling yet. She won very well in Listed company at Newmarket last time and deserves a crack at this. She's handled fast ground before but a bit of rain would not go amiss.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Silence Please
I think stepping up to 1m6f will suit her, she stays very well. As long as the ground stays good and quick, she likes really quick ground. There was some give when she ran at Leopardstown and Deauville.

Pam Sly, trainer of Eileendover
I might be flying a bit high. If I got in the first three, I'd be delighted. She's absolutely fine, in good order. It was a handicap she won but she was giving a lot of weight to the placed horses. We've met Yesyes before, she beat us at Haydock in May, but we were giving her 17lb weight-for-age on soft ground. One or two of the others haven't run this far before.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Golden Pass
We beat Free Wind the last time we met but then we were very disappointing in the Geoffrey Freer. Her blood picture wasn't quite right after that and it was perfect on Tuesday. I've been happy with her, she just wasn't quite right that day. I've always thought stepping up in trip would suit very well, she's always raced like the extra couple of furlongs would help. She loves top of the ground but she'll need a career-best. She's made the running when there's been an absence of pace but I think she's probably better with a target to aim at.
Reporting by Chris Cook

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