Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes (Group 1) 

Seven line up, three English and four Irish, over the mile on the July course for the Falmouth Stakes. Five 3yo’s, a 4yo, and a 5yo.

The English

Blue Bolt is a 4yo trained by Andrew Balding for Juddmonte who’ll be ridden by Colin Keane. She didn’t race as a juvenile but was active in her 3-year-old career, running five times, the best was her last, going down 2¼L to Fallen Angel in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes. This year, two runs have yielded two wins; a nice comeback at Listed level was followed by a cosy G2 win at Royal Ascot in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

Karl Burke’s Evolutionist, the mount of Shane Foley, a 3yo has a record of two wins from seven runs. She looked good winning the Prix de la Grotte in April and then put in a cracking run when 1¾L second behind True Love in the 1000 Guineas. She was disappointing at Chantilly when upped in trip in the Prix de Diane, finishing a well-beaten eighth.

Charlie Johnston’s Venetian Lace will be ridden by William Buick, another 3yo, was a Maiden winner first time out last year in her juvenile career. She failed to add to that, but showed promise when chasing Precise home in third in the Fillies’ Mile last year. She improved on that when running third in the 1000 Guineas, 3¼L behind True Love, 1L in front of Evolutionist.

The Irish

Aidan O’Brien sends a pair of 3yo’s. Venosa will have Wayne Lordan in the plate and will act as a pacemaker for Precise who’ll be ridden by Ryan Moore. Precise has proven herself a very high-class filly, a Group 1 winner twice as a juvenile: the Moyglare and Fillies’ Mile. She’s equalled that as a 3-year-old, winning the Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes.

Precise is the winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas

Donnacha O’Brien sends 3yo Balantina under Oisin Murphy. A winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year, she made her comeback at Royal Ascot in the Coronation, finishing fifth.

Balantina winning at the Curragh

Willie McCreery sends the 5-year-old Jancis who’ll once again be partnered by Sean Levey. Age is proving very much to her liking. She was always a decent filly; however, her form this year is at a new level. She took the Dahlia Stakes in May and was fifth in the Lanwades Stud Stakes. She then ran second behind Blue Bolt in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

Jancis entering the ring at the Curragh

Conclusion

Precise sets the standard; her Coronation win was not as impressive as her win at the Curragh; having to come wide to win, she’d had more to do. Blue Bolt is tuning higher than last year with two good runs; she’s continuing to improve. Jancis needs things to go her way; a good break will help. Evolutionist will benefit from the return to a mile, as will Venetian Lace, neither stayed in their respective Oaks runs. Balantina is the dark horse; she ran well in the Coronation, tiring late, which she was entitled to do after a long layoff. The 3yo’s are in receipt of a 9lb age allowance and that a heafty advantage. Percise will be a tough nut to crack given the form she has shown. Balantina will come on from her Ascot run, she could give her a fright and chase her home.

Recommendation

Precise 5/6 win

Precise, Balantina Reverse Forecast