14th-May-2021

You can understand why Snow Lantern is favourite here, she is a daughter of Sky Lantern, and she was impressive in winning her maiden at Newbury last month, after which she was well talked up for the 1000 Guineas.  She may well win here, but, on form, she is far shorter than she should be and, consequently, a few of her rivals are over-priced in my book.

I am backing Creative Flair and Primo Bacio against her.  Creative Flair was impressive in winning a conditions race at Ascot on her debut this season.  Prominent from early, she hit the front at the two-furlong marker, and she kept on well to hold off Auria, whom we had on side for the Musidora Stakes on Wednesday before she was withdrawn.

That was just Creative Flair’s third run, and it was her seasonal debut, and she clocked a good time.  She should progress from that, and she is a well-bred filly who has a really good attitude, which should see her progress with racing.

An impressive winner of a novice stakes at Lingfield in December, Primo Bacio was only beaten two and a half lengths by Alcohol Free and Statement in the Fred Darling Stakes on her debut this season, and she ran far better than that.  Racing in rear, she was squeezed out of it at the two-furlong marker when Hollie Doyle wanted to go forward.  She did well to finish off her race as well as she did on the far side, just missing out by a head on third place.

The first two home both raced more prominently than Primo Bacio did that day, so she did well to make progress through the final furlong, just getting up to beat Ville De Grace by a nose for fourth.  On that run, she should finish in front of Sir Michael Stoute’s filly today.

Ed Walker’s filly will have to improve if she is going to win this, but she has lots of scope for progression, and that was a fine start to her season from which she should be able to build.

PRIMO BACIO WON (SP 14/1)

CREATIVE FLAIR 2ND (SP 5/1)