Upavon Fillies’ Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

A field of ten go to post for this exciting Listed contest over 1m 2f. Our Upavon Fillies’ Stakes tips and betting preview is below.

IN SUMMARY: William Haggas’s COCONUT CREME is an attractive price in this. She ran a fine race in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but more eye-catching was her second place effort behind Mori at Goodwood previously. She’s been given some time since her last run and she can come out on top. Uele River is of interest at a bigger price, although she needs to do more on her third start of the season to be competitive.

1 HIGH HOPES – Hasn’t taken her form to the next level as a four-year-old, winning just a Class 3 handicap at Beverley before being well-beaten in a Listed event at Newmarket last time out. She steps back up slightly in trip today to 1m 2f on ground that should suit, although connections will be hoping for more rain. Jim Crowley gets back on board today and others make a little more appeal on these terms.

2 PLAYFUL SOUND – Ran a fine race last time out at York in a Listed event to finish third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by some useful sorts. Ryan Moore returns to the saddle today and she looks as if she should improve again having run a clear career best last time out. She’s versatile in terms of ground and the yard are going well at present, with a 19% strike rate in the past fortnight.

3 ROSENTAL – Finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Playful Sound when the pair met at York last time out. It’s tricky to envisage a reversal of that form given both horses ran their respective races and they race off the same terms again. Luca Cumani’s runner is also more exposed and she still seeks her first win in the UK having achieved all three of her career victories in France.

4 SKIFFLE – Charlie Appleby’s filly was once thought good enough to run in the Epsom Oaks and whilst she wasn’t quite up to that standard, she’s also failed to win since. She’s raced just seven times to date but she isn’t improving as quickly as some of her rivals and she was disappointing last time out in first-time cheekpieces. The ground may have found her out that day and she will appreciate this quicker surface today. She needs to prove that she’s going the right way and not regressing.

5 SOMETHINGTHRILLING – David Elsworth’s mare has something to find with her rivals on these terms. Her last career success came on the All Weather at Lingfield and she’s not been seen since January. Her long absence is something of a concern given that she lacks a fitness edge off a 200 day break and she will be better suited by weaker assignments than this.

6 UELE RIVER – Lowest rated runner in today’s field and she missed the 2016 season through injury. She improved a dramatic amount for her first run off that long absence to finish fourth of nine over C&D last time out, beaten just 3 lengths. She needs to do more today to win a Listed event, however she may not be done improving and she wasn’t that far behind Billesdon Bess when the pair met last time out. Interesting.

7 BILLESDON BESS – Finished ahead of Uele River at Salisbury last time out when second of nine in a Class 3 handicap. She went one better at Goodwood to win a Class 2 handicap off a mark of 86 on Soft ground and she’s stepped up into Listed company today. This looks like the right level for Richard Hannon’s filly and Hollie Doyle has kept the ride. She’s ground versatile and should go well.

8 COCONUT CREME – Lightly raced three-year-old filly who finished 1 3/4 lengths behind the well regarded Mori at Goodwood two starts ago. That form could turn out to be excellent and proved her to be a Listed class filly. This represents a step down in grade having raced in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes and she’s been given a bit of time off the track since then, having run with credit. She should be one of the leading contenders in the betting market.

9 INDIAN BLESSING – Ed Walker’s filly was a neck behind Coconut Creme when the pair met at Goodwood. She’s subsequently failed to take advantage in two Listed events and it was a shade disappointing not to see her get her head in front at Vichy last time out. The yard’s form is a cause for serious concern (no winners from their last 20 runners) and she lacks the scope of a couple of her rivals in this.

10 SERENADA – Roger Varian’s filly has been highly tried since breaking her maiden tag at the second attempt. She was only beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Shutter Speed at York on Soft ground and she wasn’t that far behind Coconut Creme in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. She ran a less than impressive race at Newmarket last time out, but the drop back in trip could inspire improvement and she should have more to come on these favourable terms.