Ennistymon

Ennistymon ran a big race to finish second to Frankly Darling in the Ribblesdale Stakes. Dropped in early by James Doyle from her high draw, she started to make ground as they rounded the home turn. She had to go four horses wide around the bend and she was widest of all when they straightened up, but she stayed on strongly from the two-furlong marker, moving from seventh at the two-furlong pole to second at the furlong marker. It never really looked likely that she would catch the winner, but she came nicely clear of the rest of her rivals. The early pace was not fast, her finishing speed was 106% of her average speed according to official sectionals, so she did well to get as close as she did, coming from as far back as she did.

Aidan O'Brien's filly raced just once last season as a juvenile, she was well beaten in a maiden at The Curragh on Irish Derby weekend, when she didn't have a whole lot of luck in-running. But she was brave in winning a 10-furlong maiden at Leoparstown on her debut this season, battling back well after she had been headed to beat a well-regarded Sea The Stars filly of Dermot Weld's by a head. That was just a week before the Ribblesdale, it was a quick enough turn around, and she obviously had to travel, but she obviously coped with all of that well. This was just her third race, so there is every chance that she will progress again now. She stays a mile and a half well, and she could get further on this evidence if she needed to.

Ascot, 16^th June 2020

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