Waila ready to claim Listed prize at Newmarket

Waila is a beautifully bred daughter of Notnowcato out of multiple winner Crystal Cavern and will be having only her fourth career start at Newbury on Saturday. She only had one race as a two-year-old, finishing down the field at Nottingham before being put away for the winter.

The chestnut looked a very different proposition on her seasonal debut when she beat subsequent Ribblesdale winner Riposte by a length and a half at Sandown. Waila was then sent to Royal Ascot but Kieren Fallon could not get her to drop the bridle in the early stages of the race and she could not sustain her challenge at the finish.

Ryan Moore rides the filly who looks to have an excellent chance to give the form of the Ribblesdale a boost before Riposte goes for the Irish Oaks on Saturday evening. The chief threat may come from Warwick Oaks winner La Arenosa.

The four-year-old runs in the familiar blue colours of Godolphin and beat Sound Hearts by three-quarters of a length last month. The runner-up pulled hard that day and Frankie Dettori takes over for the ride on Roger Varian’s filly.

It could be close between the pair but La Arenosa is already a listed winner in France and could have more scope for improvement. The Warwick race was the first start since October for the daughter of Exceed And Excel.

Sir Mark Prescott runs Between Us, a four-year-old daughter of Galileo. She won handicaps at Brighton and Yarmouth last year and connections would probably be delighted if she could sneak into the frame here.

John Gosden’s Gertrude Versed cannot be discounted after finishing a close second in the Cheshire Oaks in May. She looks held by Waila on Ascot form but will probably give her supporters a good run for their money in a competitive event.

Whippy Cream comes here after finishing third in the Italian Oaks but was well beaten by Secret Gesture at Lingfield previously. Bolivia and Soho Dancer look to be out of their depth.