Will the Hilary Needler at Beverley throw up Royal Ascot clues?

2.00 Beverley
Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies' Conditions Stakes (Class 2) | 5f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

Why is it interesting?

This race was inaugurated in 1965 and often throws up a filly capable of holding her own in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Top of the list is the 2003 winner Attraction, trained by Mark Johnston, who went on to impressive victories in the Queen Mary and the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket before triumphing in the 1,000 Guineas the following year.

The race was downgraded from Listed status in 2011 but trainers still regard it as an excellent trial for the showpiece fixture.

Four years ago the Michael Dods-trained Easton Angel landed the prize before going on to finish second in the Queen Mary Stakes.

What do the stats say?

It’s worth taking a look at the debutante Moon Of Love, carrying the colours of the Cool Silk Partnership.

The same owners, led by Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann, won the race two years ago with another newcomer, Chica La Habana, and landed the prize again 12 months ago with Kodyanna.

Moon Of Love cost £140,000 and is highly rated by her trainer Richard Fahey. She gets a valuable 3lb allowance because she is unraced.

Michael Dods is bidding to win the race for a second time and has a promising contender in Yarrow Gate, who is seeking her first win at the third attempt. She is owned by David Armstrong, who has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years with Mabs Cross, a filly who also took three races to break her duck.

What do the trainers say?

Archie Watson, trainer of Execlusive
She came out of her debut very well and this looks an obvious next step for her. We like her. She’s a nice filly and she’ll be okay running on whatever the ground is like – she’s a Kodiac and they tend to go on anything.

Gay Kelleway, trainer of Lady Quickstep
You can put a line through my filly’s form at York as she didn’t travel well to the course. She’s been left at the start in her last two races but she’s been great at home since and we hope that’s sorted. We were going to run at Brighton but they had some rain and we wouldn't want too much rain at Beverley as it’s a pretty stiff test as it is.

Charlie Johnston, assistant trainer of Rose Of Kildare
She would probably prefer six furlongs but there are no suitable races for her at present and this doesn't look the strongest renewal of this race.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Three Coins and Moon Of Love
I must think a bit of Moon Of Love to be pitching her into a race like this. It’s a big ask first time out but she has been doing really well at home. Obviously the owners are keen to win the race but I'm not just running her in this race because of that. The race comes at the right time and it’s a help that she gets a 3lb allowance. I've not looked as far ahead as Ascot but we'll think about that if she does well. We like Three Coins a lot and she did nothing wrong when winning on her debut. She should run well again. I can’t compare her with Moon Of Love as the pair have never worked together.

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