The Albany Stakes (G3) is a tough start with 18 inexperienced fillies to sort out. With the ground already on the soft side and more showers forecast then one’s who have some form on the soft will be the best option. Narrowing it down is difficult but those with soft ground experience include Newfangled, Tassel, Equitania, Premier Steps, Judy In Disguise and the Irish filly Sendmylovetorose.

Newfangled won a maiden at Newmarket by 4 1/2 L over 6 f and will go off favourite as a result. Tassel won over 5 f first time out and then was last over the same distance. She pulled up lame in that last race, won by Judy In Disguise, and is a player stepping up in trip who should turn around the form. Premier Steps beat Equitania here over 5 f but Richard Hannon’s filly is expected to turn the tables also. Andrew Oliver expressed surprise the way his filly Sendmylovetorose won a Navan maiden saying he thought she needed the run. She beat Strapless 5 1/2 L over 6 f on the soft and the trainers confidence in her will have grown when Strapless then went on to be third to two his in a Sligo maiden. The second horse had also gone in the Navan race running fourth which will further encourage the trainers belief that there is more to come from Sendmylovetorose .

Recommendation – Sendmylovetorose 16/1 e/w

There is a small field for the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) affectionately known as the Ascot Derby. Astrology heads the market after a fine third at Epsom behind Camelot. It could well have been second had he not tired close home having set a strong pace for his stablemate. He previously had shown he could handle give when winning the Dee Stakes at the Chester May meeting. He well deserves his position at the top of the market and he’s the one to beat.

Noble Mission doesn’t have the ability of his full brother Frankel, no horse does, however he is a good colt capable of carving out his own career. Rather than rush things going to the Derby a patient build up has been planned and we see him here after a second beaten a neck by Trust Worthy in a listed event at headquarters in May. Trust Worthy went on to Epsom to take fourth 11 L behind Camelot and 6 L behind Astrology.

Shantaram is an interesting runner, beaten a nose in both his first two runs he then went on to be second again going down 3/4 L to Main Sequence ( 2Nd in the Derby) before finally winning his maiden. John Gosden won this last year with Nathaniel so knows what it takes to win this. This isn’t such a step up considering the second to Main Sequence. Thomas Chippendale is obviously highly regarded stepping from handicap company to this level. Sir Henry Cecil hasn’t sent him here as a pacemaker though it’s more likely his learning curve will continue without troubling the judge. Farhaan hasn’t lived up to the expectations that led to him being sent off favourite for last years Royal Lodge although his comeback run will have pleased where he was a 1 1/4 L off Trust Worthy in the Newmarket Race.

Astrology is the classiest horse here but the Derby was a hard run for him. This might just then fall to the fresher Gosden horse who hasn’t much to make up on a line through Main Sequence.

Recommendation – Shantaram 8/1 win