Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes Guide 2023

Aiden O’Brien sends two runners to the Ribblesdale Stakes in the form of Warm Heart and Red Riding Hood.

The latter of those put two runner-up finishes behind her at Ascot and Naas to win nine-runner Dundalk maiden in April before finishing third in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas last month.

She then stepped into group one company for the Epsom Oaks, finishing last of nine leaving much to find now in Group Two company.

Difficult to make a case for in this sort of company. Wayne Lordan is booked to ride with Ryan Moore on Warm Heart.

Charlie Johnston sends one runner to the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot with Ferrari Queen.

The three-year-old won her first two starts in her career at class five level, at Doncaster and Kempton before a second-place finish in the Listed Denford Stakes at Newbury last August.

Was a disappointing last of eight in the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket but fared better when third in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield on her only outing of 2023 so far.

Looks likely to struggle here back in grouped company. James Doyle is the jockey booked to ride.

Joseph O’Brien sends one runner to the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in the form of Lumiere Rock.

The three-year-old has performed well in her early career, winning the Group Three Staffordstown Stud Stakes at Curragh in that time as well as a couple of maiden runner-up finishes and a second-place finish most recently in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas last month, half a length behind Caroline Street.

O’Brien now sends her up in trip and more improvement could be found as a result of that. James McDonald is booked to ride.

Aidan O’Brien sends two to this Royal Ascot event in the form of Red Riding Hood and Warm Heart.

The latter has begun her career nicely, finishing fourth on debut at Dundalk before stepping up at Leopardstown to finish second.

She then ran nicely to win at the same course next time out before landing a listed event at Newbury last month by a head to fellow runner here Bluestocking. The three-year-old Galileo filly should be open to more progress, and she is expected to go well here.

Ryan Moore is the jockey.

Ralph Beckett has three in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes in the form of Bluestocking, Understated and Luckin Brew.

The latter has opened her career well, finishing second and fifth at Newmarket on her first two starts before winning a Kempton class five novice by a neck to Miss Dolly Rocker.

She finished off 2022 with a second-place finish behind Local Dynasty in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract and now returns to the track here after 248 days off the track.

This Lope De Vega filly can continue to improve on her early career form but whether it’s enough to be in with a chance of winning here is another question. William Buick will do the steering.

Richard Hannon sends one runner to the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday with Maman Joon.

The Sea The Stars filly arrives at Royal Ascot with just two career runs to her name, finishing second on debut behind Gather Ye Rosebuds in a Newbury maiden before being sent to the Group One Oaks at Epsom earlier this month by trainer Hannon, finishing fourth in a strong race behind Caernarfon, Savethelastdance and winner Soul Sister.

There should be more improvement to come from her, with this being just her third start. One to consider. Kevin Stott is booked to ride.

Richard Fahey sends one runner to the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes in the form of Midnight Mile.

The three-year-old showed promise on her first two starts, winning a Doncaster class four by three-quarters-of-a-length to 15/8 fav Royal Dress before landing the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October when priced at 22/1.

She then went well in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Keeneland, finishing fourth and on her reappearance this term, she finished fourth in the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York.

The filly could go well here on the back of her form in her first four starts and is certainly considered. Oisin Orr will do the steering.

Ed Walker sends one runner to the Ribblesdale Stakes in the form of Perfect Prophet.

The three-year-old filly put a seventh-place finish at Newbury on debut behind her by winning 11-runner Kempton contest on her second start.

However, that’s about as good as it’s got so far as she finished third in the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and eighth of nine on reappearance this year in the Listed Oaks Trial won by Eternal Hope last month (Ferrari Queen in third).

Has to step up a lot more here after that listed outing if she has any chance of being competitive. Tom Marquand is booked to ride.

Jane Chapple-Hyam has two in this Royal Ascot event with Rocha Do Leao and Climate Friendly. Both are market outsiders, and the latter hasn’t impressed too much in her early career, finishing ninth on debut at Newmarket before back-to-back seventh place finishes at Newbury and Lingfield.

Improved to win six-runner Newmarket class two last time out but much like Rocha Do Leao, that is likely to fall short of the required standard here.Very unlikely to win this race.

Ralph Beckett sends three of his runners to the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot with Understated, Luckin Brew and the more-fancied Bluestocking.

The latter of those has made a good start to her career, winning well on debut when priced at 9/1 at Salisbury in a class four novice stakes before finishing runner-up in a listed event at Newbury last month, a head behind Aiden O’Brien’s Warm Heart.

This Camelot filly now steps into grouped company for the first time and looks a top prospect for Beckett, so has to be considered. Frankie Dettori is booked to ride at his final Royal Ascot.

Jessica Harrington sends one to the Ribblesdale Stakes in the form of Village Voice. The three-year-old has shown early promise on her first three career starts, winning a 1m Thurles maiden in October before finishing third in the Group Three Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown.

She then returned this term to win the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan a couple of months ago by just under a length to Jackie Oh before heading here for group two glory.

She needs to step up again here, but she is respected up in class. Ronan Whelan is booked to ride the Zarak filly.

Andrew Balding boasts one runner in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday with Sea Of Roses.

The three-year-old has had an indifferent start to her career, beginning well when finishing second on debut at Ffos Las, winning her second start at Doncaster and then finishing second in the Group Three Penelope Stakes at Saint-Cloud.

She then entered group three company in England, finishing fifth in the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York before an eighth-place finish in the Oaks at Epsom earlier this month.

The filly looks set for another struggle in this one with others making more appeal on recent outings. Oisin Murphy will do the steering.

Ralph Beckett sends three runners to this Royal Ascot contest with Bluestocking, Luckin Brew and Understated.

The latter seems to be the third-string from Beckett’s stable but arrives here in good form, finishing second at Kempton on debut before landing five-runner Windsor novice in April by over a length to Roger Varian’s Shadow Dance.

She then went well again to finish runner-up in the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood last month and she could do better again.

Obviously this is a big step up from Listed company but she can continue to improve on her first three career starts. Not completely dismissed but an unlikely winner in this company.

Sir Michael Stoute boasts one in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday with Infinite Cosmos.

The three-year-old has begun her career well, following up a second-place finish on debut at Doncaster with a four-length win in a Newmarket maiden last month.

That was before a promising third-place finish in the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York 36 days ago, behind only Novakai and Soul Sister before heading up in class again.The Sea The Stars filly can go well again here and more progress is expected.

Richard Kingscote will do the steering.

Fabrice Chappet has one in this Royal Ascot race on Thursday with his daughter of Zarak, Crown Princesse.

The three-year-old has made a good start to her career, following up a second-place finish at Chantilly on debut with two wins in a row at the same course (Talweg Maiden) and at Saint-Cloud (Group Three Cleopatre Stakes).

She then followed that with a third-place finish in the Group One Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp last month before her UK debut here.

She looks ready for a shot at group one level in England on the back of her French form and is one to consider strongly up in trip. Worth an each-way bet at 25s.

John and Thady Gosden boast three runners in the form of favourite Al Asifah, Lmay and Ghara.

The latter has had an indifferent start so far, finishing sixth on debut at Kempton before a disappointing second run at Newbury, finishing last of 16.

She followed that with a fourth-place finish at Lingfield in the Listed Oaks Trial before finally getting off the mark last time out in a class four Yarmouth maiden by a head to King Of The Plains.

Despite that victory last time out, she looks to be the least fancied of the Gosden trio and would be an unlikely winner of this.

Jane Chapple-Hyam sends two runners to the Ribblesdale Stakes in the form of Climate Friendly and Rocha Do Leao.

The latter has only raced twice in her career so far, finishing fifth on debut at Newmarket and third at Ascot next time out, both at class four level.

That form is a fair way off the required level for this despite improvement last time out.She remains with potential and can get better but she is set for a minor role in this and her price in the market reflects that.

Hollie Doyle has been booked to ride.

John and Thady Gosden sends three to this Royal Ascot contest in the form of Ghara, favourite Al Asifah and Lmay.

The latter of those has had an indifferent start to her career, finishing second on debut at Haydock in a class four novice before finishing sixth in a Listed Newbury event last month.

She then won a class four maiden at the same course earlier this month before being sent to this contest by the Gosden’s on the back of her first career victory.

This is much harder than that class four contest and she needs a big performance if she is going to challenge the market leaders here, which looks a tough ask. Kieran Shoemark will do the steering.

John and Thady Gosden send three runners to the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in the form of Ghara, Lmay and Al Asifah.

The latter of those, Al Asifah, is the 8/13 market favourite with two wins from her first two runs under her belt so far, winning a class four Haydock maiden by over four lengths and a listed event at Goodwood by an impressive six-and-a-half-lengths earlier this month.

The three-year-old, rated 111, is a very exciting prospect for the Gosden’s and arrives a leading player on group debut. Jim Crowley is booked to ride.