'We'll go again' - Inspiral camp react to filly's shock 1-7 defeat

The combination of a quick return and faster than ideal ground were given as excuses for Inspiral's first shock defeat of her career after she was turned over as 1-7 favourite in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes on Friday.

Inspiral became the joint shortest-priced runner to be beaten in a Group race in Britain or Ireland since the Racing Post database started in 1988, matching the odds of Order Of St George when second in the 2016 Irish St Leger.

Her defeat to Prosperous Voyage – a filly she had beaten in last year's May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, Fillies' Mile at Newmarket and on her return in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month – stunned the 6,500 crowd.

Frankie Dettori's mount came under sustained pressure two furlongs out and could not fend off the persistent challenge of the Ralph Beckett-trained winner, despite battling on bravely to the line.

Inspiral's second start came exactly three weeks on from the royal meeting – the shortest time between runs in her six-race career – and that was felt to be a key factor by joint-trainer John Gosden and Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson.

Gosden, who sportingly applauded Prosperous Voyage into the winner's enclosure, said: "She hadn't run all year before Ascot and she's run a little flat here, but that can happen when you go from Royal Ascot to the July meeting, particularly when she hadn't run before Ascot since the previous October.

"Having run only the once this season it made sense to come here. The ground was probably quick enough for her but we'll freshen her up and go again. She seems happy enough afterwards."

Inspiral chases home Prosperous Voyage in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Prix Jacques le Marois – a race the stable has won for the last two years with Palace Pier – had been mooted as a potential next target at Deauville on August 14 for Inspiral prior to the Falmouth, but future plans will be determined in the coming weeks.

Richardson said: "Frankie felt it came a bit quick after Ascot and the ground was a little too quick for her – it seemed a combination of the two. She ran a great race and you can't take anything away from Prosperous Voyage, who was very impressive.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we still know she is highly talented and we'll just have to give her a bit of a break. The way she did it at Ascot was so impressive and I'm sure that has unfortunately taken its toll on coming back so quickly. She's an exciting prospect for the rest of the season and possibly next year.

"We were thinking about the Prix Jacques le Marois as a next option coming here but we need to regroup, discuss it and see how she comes out of it."

Inspiral also has entries in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 28, the Juddmonte International at York on August 17 and the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 10.

Other hotpots beaten at short odds

The shortest-priced loser in any Group/Grade 1 race was Golden Sixty, second at odds of 1-100 in the Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin on January 23 this year.

Long before the Pattern existed:

• 1-20 Bayardo, second in 1910 Goodwood Cup
• 1-10 Ardan, Coaraze, Micipsa (coupled) in 1945 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
• 1-7 Caesar, second in 1839 2,000 Guineas – shortest-priced loser in a British Classic

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