Royal Ascot duo lock horns again

3.10 Pontefract
Weatherbys General Stud Book Online Pipalong Stakes 1m | Listed | 4yo+ | fillies and mares

Dawn Of Hope and Pirouette, the seventh and eighth from Royal Ascot's Duke of Cambridge Stakes, drop to Listed company for a contest that looks rather more winnable than some similar races.

At Ascot, two and a quarter lengths separated the pair, but eased down from the heights of Group 2 competition they face no rivals anything like as talented as the royal meeting winner Qemah.

Will the ground ease?

Although Dawn Of Hope's respectable Ascot run came on good to firm ground, rain would not hamper her chances, given she ran well to post a Listed third on good to soft at Doncaster in April. For the James Fanshawe-trained Permission, an easing of the racing surface would represent an even bigger positive.

Pirouette was one place behind Dawn Of Hope at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

The big two clear on ratings

It is a measure of the relative weakness of the prize that such a yawning gap exists between the top two runners on BHA figures and the rest. While Dawn Of Hope and Pirouette are rated 108 and 105, the next highest-rated is Summer Icon, who after holding a mark of 95 for seven consecutive starts is now down to 94.

What they say

David O'Meara, trainer of Coillte Cailin and Lincoln Rocks
We're pitching for black type with both horses, although there are better fillies in the race. Coillte Cailin normally runs on the all-weather and over slightly further. Lincoln Rocks has been quite consistent and won a nice race at Musselburgh before running fourth at Haydock. The faster the ground the better for her.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Home Cummins
She's in good form but a few in there have better ratings than she does. It would be great to get her placed.

Julia Scott, part-owner of Permission
We want to run but she has won on good to soft and does need rain. Pontefract's stiff finish will help her, as she ran well over a mile and a quarter last time, and she isn't wearing a hood this time as she takes a bit of time to wind up and has hit a flat spot on her last couple of outings.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Pirouette
She has been a bit of a bridesmaid and definitely deserves to win a Listed race. She ran well at Royal Ascot, albeit finishing behind a higher-rated horse she meets again, but it's also the case you never have anything other than a hard race at Ascot. This is the right race for her but on the book she should come second.