The Ribblesdale Stakes is a Group 2 race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs. The event is named in honour of the 4th Baron Ribblesdale, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds from 1892 to 1895. It was established in 1919, and it was originally a 1-mile race open to three and four-year-olds of either gender. The race was abandoned throughout World War II, and after it returned its distance was extended to 1½ miles. It was restricted to three-year-old fillies in 1950.
The Ribblesdale Stakes sometimes feature fillies which ran previously in the Epsom Oaks. The leading participants often go on to compete in the following month’s Irish Oaks, and the last to win both was Bracelet in 2014. Let’s go through the runners ahead of the race and see which horses offer the best Royal Ascot odds on the market.
Al Asifah
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Has won her last two starts over ten furlongs with consummate ease most recently when beating Empress Wu by six-and-a-half lengths in a listed race at Goodwood. She looks open to plenty more improvement for a yard that knows the time of day with its fillies. Looks like the one they all have to beat.
Bluestocking
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Bluestocking was another who disappointed in her most recent start having just been touched off in a listed race at Newbury. The form has been given a slight boost by a subsequent win for the sixth-placed Lmay, but again you get the impression that further improvement is definitely required.
Climate Friendly
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Dylan McMonagle
Improved beyond all recognition to win a Class 2 Novice Stakes race at Newmarket racecourse last month beating Strong Impact and Divya. Needs to take a massive step forward again to trouble the best of these.
Crown Princesse
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Jockey: Ioritz Mendizabal
She was placed in a Group One race at Longchamp on her most recent start building on two previous wins at Saint-Cloud and Chantilly. She wouldn’t want the ground to be lightning fast, but if the rain were to fall it would certainly increase her chances.
Ferrari Queen
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: James Doyle
Beginning to look ultimately exposed now and there are rivals that will improve past her here. Unlikely to be troubling the judge now that she is back in Group company.
Ghara
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Got off the mark at the fourth attempt when winning at Yarmouth last time out. Very much likely here to set the pace for her stablemate in Al Asifah and likely to tire in the closing stages.
Infinite Cosmos
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Infinite Cosmos contested the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York last time and proved to be a disappointing favourite. She was swept aside all too readily by Soul Sister and Novakai. She looks vulnerable to further improvers here and will do well to get placed.
Lmay
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Was firmly put in her place in listed company at Newbury last month before taking advantage of a drop in grade to win over the same course and distance last time. This move back into Group company is disconcerting and she will likely struggle.
Luckin Brew
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Will Buick
Won a novices event a couple of starts ago at Kempton before being placed in the Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract next time. Stamina is not guaranteed to last out over these extra three furlongs and is likely to find life difficult here.
Lumiere Rock
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: James McDonald
Has yet to win a race this season but has improved on each start at Navan and Naas. She was placed in a Group Three Race on her latest start, but this will also need a career-best performance on the ground that she is unlikely to want. Readily passed over here.
Maman Joon
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Still a maiden and ran a fair enough race to finish fourth to Soul Sister in the Oaks at Epsom last time out. Hard to see that changing here today given that she was still beaten over ten lengths by her rivals last time. Others are preferred.
Midnight Mile
Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Oisin Orr
Won her first two career starts for Richard Fahey and returned with a pleasing enough run on her seasonal reappearance at York in the Musidora Stakes. She is fully entitled to run better than that here and could surprise a few. Oisin Orr knows her well and not impossible to imagine her running a big race.
Perfect Prophet
Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Has been consistently beaten in far lesser races than this and trailed in second last on her seasonal reappearance at Lingfield just last month. She has more on her plate here today and is likely to struggle.
Red Riding Hood
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Very much the stable second string here and needs to find dramatic improvement from somewhere having finished last in the Epsom Oaks last time out. A drop in grade and first-time blinkers will help but still hard to recommend based on her last showing.
Rocha de Leao
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Has only shown limited form in two previous runs and looks completely out of her depth here. Hollie Doyle is the only positive for her and the pair look to have a mountain to climb.
Sea of Roses
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Has become completely disappointing and seems to have underperformed in each of her last three starts. Hard to recommend on that basis despite the assistance of Oisin Murphy in the saddle. Best to look elsewhere.
Understated
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Has made the frame in each of her three starts to date including when winning at Windsor back in April. The form of the race has begun to work out with Prosper Legend winning since. Needs to improve significantly again but not an impossible suggestion given her trainer. Work to do but could still go well.
Village Voice
Trainer: Jessie Harrington
Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Village Voice represents last year’s winning trainer in Jessica Harrington. The filly has won two of her three starts including in listed company at Navan over a mile-and-a-quarter last time. She looks to be on the upgrade and could well hit the frame here at rewarding odds.
Warm Heart
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Comes here in search of a hat-trick of wins following successes at Newbury and Leopardstown. Ryan Moore has obviously chosen her as she is in better form and they could quite easily make the frame given the disappointing form of most of their rivals. A little more exposed than some but could still run well.
Ribblesdale Stakes Betting Tips
Al Asifah comes here in search of a hat-trick of wins and the three-year-old daughter of Frankel bids to add to her recent listed success at Goodwood. That was a six-and-a-half-length demolition job over Empress Wu and she could not have been any more impressive. This is a deserved step up in grade and she looks likely to take the natural next step.
Jessie Harrington has her yard in great shape and Village Voice could well be overpriced. A winner of two of her three starts, she is still on the upgrade and looks destined to go well.
Warm Heart may be more exposed than most be she is a talented filly. With Ryan Moore in the saddle and preferring her to Red Riding Hood the hint has to be followed.
1. Al Asifah @ 5/6 with Bet365 bonus code
2. Village Voice e/w @ 20/1 with Paddy Power promo code
3. Warm Heart @ 16/1 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
