Nargys weighted to reverse Royal Ascot form in Coral Distaff

Nargys was noted finishing best of all in the blanket finish to the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot and the filly has a great chance to reverse the placings with the second and third on Saturday. She is 12lbs better off with Auction and 10lbs better off with Woodland Aria having gone down by just a neck and half a length.

The filly by Lawman looked a promising sort as a two-year-old and chased home Just The Judge at Newmarket in October. She ran badly on her seasonal appearance but looked to be right back to her best at Ascot and is going to be difficult to beat here.

They don’t come much tougher than Ed Dunlop’s Auction. The filly rattled off three successive victories before being upped in class for the Sandringham. She was always up in the front rank under Silvestre De Sousa and held off all bar Annecdote in a thrilling finish.

She was racing from out of the handicap that day and has now risen 23lbs in the official ratings since the start of the season. Even so, she looks to have an enormous task to confirm the form with Luca Cumani’s filly on these terms.

There didn’t seem to be any excuses for Woodland Aria last time although she may have hit the front a little too soon. William Buick will probably drop John Gosden’s filly in behind and arrive as late as possible.

If Nargys is the clear pick on Ascot form, she may still face a threat from Sir Michael Stoute’s once-raced Integral. The beautifully bred daughter of Dalakhani won impressively at Goodwood at the end of May and the form has since been boosted by the second and fourth.

Godolphin’s Lovely Pass won the UAE 1000 Guineas back in February but made no show at Newmarket behind Sky Lantern. She has been given plenty of time to recover and is not without a chance on her best form.