Punters attracted to Gifted Girl in Pipalong Stakes

Gifted Girl looks set to taste Listed race success at Pontefract today in the Weatherbys VAT Services Pipalong Stakes. She progressed from handicap successes at Lingfield and Newbury to finish a close second to the useful Thistle Bird in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

Trainer Paul Cole has voiced his concern over the faster ground in Yorkshire today but he is hopeful that the filly can handle it. The going was on the fast side when she bounded clear at Newbury in May.

If all goes well today, Gifted Girl could find herself booked for a flight to American to contest the valuable Beverley D Stakes. Her main rival could be Ladys First who was just a length behind her at Epsom.

Richard Fahey’s admirably consistent filly has since chased home Duntle at Royal Ascot in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s Ultrasonic was back in fifth place at Epsom but did not handle the course and encountered all sorts of difficulty obtaining a run.

Ultrasonic performed better when fourth to Producer at Newmarket over seven furlongs last time but still needs to improve a few pounds to take this.

Luca Cumani’s Hippy Hippy Shake also has to be respected having won a decent handicap at Newmarket last year. She may not have been fully wound up for her seasonal reappearance at Goodwood in May and has the assistance of Kieran Fallon in the saddle.

Roger Varian’s Oojooba finished ahead of her in third place that day but proved no match for Albasharah at Doncaster. Richard Hannon’s Forgive put up a decent effort in a handicap last time out but has yet to show that she is capable of winning in this grade.

Clive Brittain’s Semayyel pulled off a 125-1 shock in a Listed event at Yarmouth last summer and followed up with a decent run in a Group 2 at Ascot. She should be more at home in this company but hasn’t shown much in her recent outings.

Sweetnessandlight and the David O’Meara-trained pair of Dutch Rose and Switcher look to be outclassed.