Hayley and Hoyam Favourites for Cecil Frail Stakes

There is likely to be plenty of pace on here with Hoyam and Hayley Turner favourite to make amends for a narrow defeat at Nottingham last time out. She had previously finished in midfield in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket but she was up against the likes of Sole Power and Kingsgate Native on that occasion.

Trainer Ralph Beckett is still on cloud nine after saddling the first and second in the Epsom Oaks last weekend. His excellent form could continue with City Girl.

The filly was a respectable fourth in the Lowther Stakes at York last season behind Rosdhu Queen and holds Sandreamer on that form. She also put up a promising seasonal debut at Newbury recently.

Although no match for Andrew Balding’s Zanetto, she finished ahead of the highly-regarded Ninjago and that form could see her go close here. She is from a very speedy family by Lochridge out of Lochsong and a victory in this contest would do no harm to her paddock value.

German raider Gracia Directa made the trip over last season to pick up a Group 3 at York. The going was on the soft side that day but her victims included Sentaril and Margot Did. There does not look to be anything of that class in this race and she showed her well-being with a good run behind Arnold Lane at Munich last month.

Angels Will Fall has been flying high recently and drops down in grade after being outclassed behind Society Rock. Artistic Jewel and Ladies Are Forever filled the places in this race last year and the latter was not disgraced in the Duke Of York last time.

Richard Hannon saddles Whimsical who was not beaten far when fifth in a decent race at Goodwood last time. Pleine Forme is difficult to assess and drops back in trip after failing to get home over seven furlongs at Lingfield.

I’m So Glad completes the line up for Mick Channon. She won twice at Newmarket last summer but has shown nothing in her recent outings.