Royal Ascot 2015: Tercentenary Stakes preview (15.05)

Irish raider Bocca Baciata has some top class form to her name and can take advantage of a drop in class to land the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Jessica Harrington-trained filly showed useful and progressive form as a juvenile when winning once, but always looked the type who would make up into a better three-year-old.

That view was confirmed when Bocca Baciata beat Pleascach in good style in a Listed contest over 1m 2f at Naas on seasonal reappearance.

The daughter of Big Bad Bob made smooth headway from the rear to challenge two from home before staying on strongly to score by 1 1/2 lengths, and the form has a strong look as the third home Diamondandrubies went on to land the Cheshire Oaks at Chester.

Bocca Bociata then failed to confirm the form with Pleascach in the Irish 1000 Guineas when finishing fifth, but was only beaten three lengths in the Group 1 contest and didn’t seem ideally suited by the drop back to a mile.

The step back up to 1m 2f in this looks sure to suit, as does the drop down to Group 3 company, and with Fran Berry in the saddle Bocca Baciata can get back to winning ways.

Time Test is the main hope of the home team and looked well worth a crack at this level when easily landing a valuable handicap at Newbury on seasonal appearance.

The Roger Charlton-trained colt came from miles off the pace before showing a smart turn of foot to beat Dissolution by 1 1/4 lengths in the 13-runner London Gold Cup, and that race is traditionally a strong contest.

Time Test was value for much more than the winning margin, and the way he travelled and put the race to bed in a matter of strides suggested he had a huge engine.

This is much tougher, but the son of Dubawi has only had four starts and looks an exciting prospect who needs keeping firmly onside.