The Group 1 Falmouth Stakes has attracted three French, two Irish and six home fillies and mares to Newmarket in search of summer glory. Sizzling it won’t be. Again we’re let down by the weather and once more the word soft dictates the going description.

The Andre Fabre trained Golden Lilac is a shade of odds on at 10/11 in an attempt to win her seventh race from eight starts. She come here off the back of a Prix D’Ispahan (G1) win over Cirrus Des Ailges and Planteur, her first outing this year. Last year she won the Poule d´Essai des Pouliches ( G1) and Prix de Diane (G1) and you would expect her to improve from the D’Ispahan run. She’s a worthy favourite.

Giofra is the French backup. She bypassed an engagement in the Eclipse at the weekend in favour of this opportunity to take on her own sex. She won first time out this year and then on her second start was 8 L in arrears of Cirrus Des Ailges in the Prix Ganay (G1) (ground near bottomless). Again you’d expect her to come on for the run. Siyouma completes the Gallic raiding party on the back of her proximity to Solemia and Shareta in the Prix Corrida (G2) over 10 f at Lonchamp.

Improvement is something we’ll have to get if Maybe is to trouble the judge. She’s been disappointing this year after a flawless juvenile career. Although she travelled in the 1000 Guineas (G1) she didn’t pick up and in the Oaks (G1) she didn’t quite get home. Aidan O’Brien has given her some time in skipping the Coronation Stakes and this step back in trip was always on the cards after the Oaks.

The John Oxx team got a boost going into the race with the performance of Marvada who took the Brownstown Stakes(G3) at Naas last night. Alanza had got the better of her in the Ballycorus (G3) on her last start. The trainer never travels unless he’s confident of being in the mix.

The home are made up of the John Gosden pair Joviality and Elusive Kate, the Henry Cecil trained Chachamaidee, Barefoot Lady from the Richard Fahey yard, Lay Time for Andrew Balding and from the Mahmood Al Zarooni yard Irish History. William Buick has opted for Joviality having won the Windsor Forest (G2) at Royal Ascot where she had the Cecil, Balding and Fahey fillies in behind. He may have well have had a difficult choice as Elusive Kate was a very progressive two year old only finding the trip to Churchill Downs beyond her for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2). She’d previously won the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) beating the July Cup bound Fire Lily.You’d imagine John will have the measure of the Godolphin filly Irish History (third in the Coronation to two of his).

Golden Lilac sets the standard but she’s had one blip on her career, at Deauville where she went down to Galikova on good to soft. That hole in her form gives hope to the others and the one with some from on the soft,well maybe just Maybe, a winner on the ground at Royal Ascot last year.

In the Cherry Hinton Sendmylovetorose should be supported (see the post on Day 4 of Royal Ascot). She was withdrawn having become upset in the stalls and then next time out won a Group 3 at the Curragh. She’ll love the ground.

Recommendations

Cherry Hinton Stakes – Sendmylovetorose 5/2 win

Falmouth Stakes – Maybe 8/1