Can Charlie Clover gain a first Group success with Royal Ascot runner-up in his first year with a licence?

The Princess Margaret is often a meeting point for fillies who ran in the Queen Mary and Albany at Royal Ascot. With both formlines still relatively fresh, this will give us further evidence of which race was the stronger.

Flowerhead and Staya represent the Queen Mary form and were separated by only half a length, having raced in the same far side group. They may have bumped into a world beater in True Love, who has since bossed the boys in the Railway Stakes.

This extra furlong represents new territory for Staya, a subsequent Dragon Stakes winner at Sandown, and Flowerhead. Considering the way Flowerhead hit the line at Ascot, improvement for 6f seems a certainty.

Albany fourth Fitzella is proven over course and distance and raced away from the others who made the frame in that fiercely run race. Stamina is the daughter of Too Darn Hot’s strong suit and her days in sprints may be numbered. Expect this Moyglare entry to stretch out in distance later in the season.

There is another salient formline to consider. The time of last month’s Empress Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket was solid for the grade and Midnight Tango, Amberia and Bella Lyra contested a blanket finish to that with daylight back to Super Sprint winner Anthelia in fifth.

Midnight Tango shaped particularly well in second for Ed Walker. It can be difficult to make up ground from off the speed at the July course and Midnight Tango was set a bit to do behind the more prominently ridden fillies ahead of her. 

She is improving quickly, in the way her yard's juveniles tend to, and is expected to uphold that form with this stiffer track expected to suit. That may be good enough.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Flowerhead in full bloom 

Charlie Clover is out to register a breakthrough first Group win in his first full season with a licence with Flowerhead, who finished a fine second when 100-1 for last month's Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The master of Albert House Stables in Newmarket, where he has around a dozen horses, had toyed with the idea of running Amo Racing's filly at the July festival at Newmarket but decided to play the long game.

The juvenile chased home the Aidan O’Brien-trained True Love at the royal meeting and she has since boosted the form by winning the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

Rather than an outsider, the daughter of Starman is near the head of the market for her return to Ascot after the defection of ante-post favourite Dance To The Music.

Clover said: “We just felt it made sense to go back to a track that she had run so well at when second at Royal Ascot. It’s given us a bit more time rather rushing off to the July festival, and she’s down in grade from the Queen Mary.

"It’s her first time over six furlongs but she shaped as if she should get it last time and we’ve been pleased with her since.”

What they say 

James Tate, trainer of Daneh Of Dandy
We’re trying to repeat history as we won a restricted novice a few years ago with Under The Stars and she went on to win this. Our two-year-olds improve a lot for their first run, so the fact she could win first time at Ripon is a plus.

Jane Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Eskimo Pie
She'll appreciate the step up in trip to six furlongs and has strengthened up well since Royal Ascot.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Fitzella
She’s a lovely filly who ran very well in less than ideal circumstances to be fourth in the Albany. She was drawn on the wrong side and sat too close to a strong pace, but did best of her group and this looks the right race for her.

George Scott, trainer of Staya
This seems the logical next step after she won the Dragon Stakes at Sandown. She hit the line strongly that day and, although it’s not guaranteed, we think she’ll be fine over six furlongs. She’s totally uncomplicated and it’s lovely to have James Doyle booked as Callum Shepherd is at York, and we go way back.  

Jack Channon, trainer of Sukanya
She’s a lovely filly and won very well at Newbury on her debut. She’s come on bundles for that run and fully deserves her place. I think she’s good.

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