'Staying at a mile would be the best route for Alcohol Free to thrive'

'I see no reason to go for the Juddmonte'

She looked a blatant non-stayer over a mile in the 1,000 Guineas earlier this season, but has finished her races a lot better since Andrew Balding fitted her with a pre-race red hood to keep her settled. She's a buzzy individual and her pedigree suggests a mile will be her limit (by Norfolk winner No Nay Never out of a 7f-winning mare), so I see no reason why she should take the considerable step up to 1m2½f for the Juddmonte International.

Soft ground is crucial to her at this level – both of her Group 1 victories have come on a testing underfoot surface – and she could dominate this division if she gets lucky with the weather. The Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September looks an interesting spot for her next start.
Tom Collins, tipster

'Her turn of foot is most effective at a mile'

All the pointers are indicating that staying at a mile would be the best route for Alcohol Free to thrive for the rest of the season.

While it has to be admired that connections are thinking of being brave and going up in trip, the filly’s pedigree, form and running style would suggest the shorter trip is where she should be.

Alcohol Free: impressive winner of Sussex StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

She is a quick-thinking, quick-moving filly who is unlikely to be suited by the slower pace of a 1m2f contest, while her turn of foot is most effective at a mile.

Perhaps the biggest pointer against it is her pedigree: it is a sprint/miler page with the only influence for stamina being damsire Hard Spun, which is not a lot to hang your hat on really.
Peter Scargill, reporter

'Downside in stepping up in trip is small'

Top-class three-year-old milers do not have a great record when upped in distance for the Juddmonte International in recent years.

Churchill and Kameko both dropped back in trip after being beaten at York in the last four seasons.

That said, the experience did not stop Kameko putting up the performance of his career by defying a penalty in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket next time and the downside for his former stablemate Alcohol Free is small.

If she fails to get home at York, a host of mile targets remain open to her. While it is no shorter than an even-money chance that she will get a mile and a quarter, owner Jeff Smith can take a punt as he is already well ahead of the game with a filly who has now earned more than £1 million – and running the best against the best and hoping for the best is surely a policy to be applauded.
David Carr, racing writer of the year

'Juddmonte looks a sporting move'

The issue for Andrew Balding and Jeff Smith is that Alcohol Free appears a much better filly around a bend, meaning the next domestic Group 1 over a mile, the QEII, may not hold much appeal. The Prix du Moulin at Longchamp or the fillies and mares-only Matron Stakes at Leopardstown solve that problem but arguably won't dramatically enhance her reputation.

With three career Group 1s in the bag and having already bucked one stat going back to Marling's win in the 1992 Sussex, rolling the dice in the Juddmonte International looks a sporting move with little downside if she proves not to see out the trip.
Scott Burton, reporter

Read more on day two at Goodwood . . .

'Better than Chief Singer' – Smith's high praise for star filly Alcohol Free

Oisin Murphy: we'd be looking at the 1,000 Guineas winner if she was healthy (Members' Club)

Prix Morny among top-level targets for Armor after commanding Molecomb win

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