Fillies & Mares Stakes Tips: Back this outsider to claim Ascot win on Saturday
One of the most competitive betting heats on British Champions Day will be the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at 14:25 and it looks a real headscratcher for punters trying to work out who will reign in the coveted contest. Our man Steve Chambers previews the event and has a value selection for a wide open renewal...
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John & Thady Gosden saddled Emily Upjohn to victory in the Fillies & Mares Stakes 12 months ago and the pair will unleash a leading fancy in the 2023 renewal in the shape of Free Wind, who will be the mount of Frankie Dettori, who will be having his final day of riding on British soil and the Italian will be looking to bow out on a winning note on Saturday.
Free Wind will be one of Dettori's best rides of the day and the five-year-old Galileo mare will be looking to bounce back from a no-show in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Unable to land a blow in that event, Free Wind hasn't got her head in front since winning the Middleton Stakes back at York in May and while she will improve for stepping back in with her own sex the soft conditions are likely to hinder her chances. Unable to deal with testing conditions in the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood earlier in the season, she may find it hard again and is one to avoid.
Jackie Oh will be the primary shot fired by Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle raider has been knocking on the door this season and has to be a huge contender here. Second in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh two starts ago, she then finished runner-up in the Prix de l'Opera in France, so heads to Ascot in fine fettle. Still open to improvement, the Galileo filly should have enough class to get the better of market rival Free Wind and of the two favourites she is the one to back.
Harry & Roger Charlton's Time Lock is one of the form runners taking their chance in this contest as having won a Listed event at Craon back in September she then went and landed a Group 3 event at Newmarket in fine fashion. Beating Sweet Memories by over four lengths that day, the Frankel filly will be looking to continue her progression up the ladder and she's more than welcome to be considered a huge player here, if she can continue to blossom.
Ralph Beckett saddled Simple Verse to victory in 2015 renewal of this event and he could well have a leading contender in the 2023 renewal in the shape of BLUESTOCKING, who looks over-priced to land the prize. Not out the first four in her career, the daughter of Camelot was third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and then was a gallant runner-up in the Irish Oaks. Beaten that by a stronger stayer in Savethelastdance, Bluestocking could get similar conditions on Saturday and that could see her at her best. Beaten at odds-on in Listed company last time out, she will need to improve on that effort, but the slower ground can see her blossom and she can land this prize with aplomb.
Of the others, Joseph O'Brien's Above The Curve failed to land a blow in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille in France last time out and may find this tough, while the likes of French raider Rue Boissonade and Karl Burke's Poptronic add more depth to the race, but will find it hard to get the better of Bluestocking, who looks the real value play.