The Nassau Stakes (G1)

Deirdre took this at a big price last year and the pride of Japan is back to defend her crown.

She hasn’t won since but nearly got there in Riyadh in February when denied a head by Port Loins and she was unlucky also at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes last year, travelling sweetly she got caught in a pocket and couldn’t get out, when she did she flew but it all too late, fourth didn’t do her run justice.

In front of her that day was Magic Wand in second.

Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotter has already been to America this year and like Deirdre, she also went to Saudi Arabia, she contesting the big prize, the Saudi Cup, ninth that day she’s since proved she still retains her enthusiasm for the track when winning over a mile at the Curragh and running fourth to Ghaiyyath in the Eclipse, a place in front of Deirdre.

Nazeef is six from seven so far, improving all the time she took the G2 Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot stepping up to G1 company to take the Falmouth last time out where she had Queen Power a 2¾L back in third.

Lavender Blue is a G3 winner and makes up the older contingent.

Two three-year olds make up the field, both travel from Ireland, Fancy Blue represents Donnacha O’Brien and Jessica Harringtion sends One Voice.

Fancy Blue’s eye-catching performance in the Irish Guineas over a mile when she came from a long way back to run second indicated the high regard her young trainer held her in was not misplaced. Her sent her to France for the Prix Diane where she went one better to beat Jessica’s Alpine Star,

One Voice is a G3 winner, she took the Blue Wind Stakes at Leopardstown. She then went to the Curragh for the G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes where Shane Foley went the brave man’s route, up the inner he was full of horse but the gap never came, had it, she may well have won.

In an open race, the one we like, the one the money has come for is Magic Wand, backed from 5/1 last night she’s now trading at 7/2, her strike rate four from twenty-six doesn’t look great, but the prize money she has collected, £3.7m speaks volumes to her class and quality, not a bad pilot on her either, the oul fella, Frankie.

One Voice for the forecast.

Recommendation: Magic Wand 7/2 win, Magic Wand & One Voice RFC