listed races at Salisbury and Gowran

two listed races today, in Salisbury this afternoon at 16.55 CET and this evening in Ireland at 19.30 at Gowran Park. In a typically absurd clash, they are almost identical races, being both for fillies and mares and over almost the same distance, 10 furlongs in England and 9 1/2 in Ireland. But the racecourses know very well that they can usually fill listed races for fillies in search of black type, and both these races have large fields and look very competitive.
In Salisbury, exactly half the 14 runners are 3yo´s and this age group has generally dominated here. This could happen again, as this group includes the unbeaten My Spirit (William Haggas/ Ryan Moore), as well as hat-trick-seeking Kleo (Luca Cumani/ Silvestre de Sousa). Both are up in grade here, but they all look to be on a steep upwards curve and should be well up to it. The two Godolphin four-year-olds Albasharah (Saeed bin Suroor/ Kieren Fallon) and the unbeaten Tearless (Charlie Aüpleby/ Adam Kirby) could be the best of the older fillies; the former has not run for a year - and blotted her copybook then by refusing to race- but has plenty of Talent and has been well backed today - so much so that she may well start favourite. Princess Loulou (Roger Varian/ James Doyle) has a chance at her best but needs softer going, while the very consistent Ribbons (James Fanshawe/ Hayley Turner) cannot be ignored; Top-rated 3yo is actually Lustrous (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), who ran in the top fillies races at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, but was well beaten. However her earlier form also gives her prospects in what looks to be a very open affair.
The situation is a bit different in Ireland, where 5 older fillies are opposed by 10 3y´s, 5 of whom are trained by Aidan O´Brien. His top-rated runner is Beyond Brilliance, ridden by his daughter Anastasia, but that rating is due to her fourth place in the Irish Oaks, which we feel has been over-estimated; she looks well held on the rest of her form, and she is also running for the 13th time this year, which we feel is a bit much. We expect Shell House (Seamus Heffernan) to prove best of the O´Brien quintet, but Dermot Weld´ s 2 runners are dangerous, especially Carla Bianca, the choice of stable jockey Pat Smullen, However the best 3yo in the field is surely Lahinch Classics (David Wachman/ Wayne Lordan), whoi has some very good form to her credit and was only just beaten last time by Mango Diva (last year´s Salisbury winner but much improved since) in a Group Two. That form makes her the clear form choice here. Alive Alive Oh (Tommy Stack/ Fran Berry) is best of the older runners, but would prefer much softer going.


Betting forecast:
1. Race: Desert Force - Harlequin Striker - Lysander The Greek
2. Race: Darshini - When Will It End - Grigolo
3. Race: Tercel - Potentate - Jailawi
4. Race: Albasharah - My Spirit - Ribbons
5. Race: Petticoat Lane - Sealed With A Kiss - Canova
6. Race: Just Isla - Go For Broke - Fair Ranger