John Musker Fillies’ Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

A field of twelve go to post for this Listed contest at Yarmouth on Wednesday afternoon, raced over the 1m 2f distance. Our 2017 John Musker Fillies’ Stakes tips and betting preview can be found below.

IN SUMMARY: Beautiful Morning sets the standard on ratings, but ready preference is for VINTAGE FOLLY who was second in the Musidora on only her second start. The step up in trip on her latest start in Group 2 company backfired and she’ll be much happier at this distance, remaining completely unexposed for Hugo Palmer. She has Josie Gordon on board and can gain her first pattern success at the expense of Titi Makfi who arrives here in excellent form from handicaps and is a live danger now upped into pattern class.

1 BEAUTIFUL MORNING – Irish raider for Jessie Harrington who produced her best effort for her new connections when second in a Group 2 at the Curragh ten days ago. That was a good effort in similar conditions to today, with useful horses in behind. A repeat of that performance will see her go very close under Colm O’Donohgue who is over for the ride and she has to be respected as she does set the form standard.

2 FLORENZA – Useful handicapper for Chris Fairhurst, winning three starts ago at Thirsk. However, she’s untried at any distances beyond the mile and takes a big step up in grade for this assignment. She was well beaten at Ripon on her latest start when weakening tamely and she’ll need to bounce back with a clear career best to be taking this contest under Ted Durcan. Conditions are fine as she goes on soft, but she is unlikely to be good enough to win this.

3 HIGH HOPES – Has been on an upward curve this season for David Simcock, continuing to progress with a great second at Salisbury in a Listed race on her latest start. She’s been given five weeks rest since then and she has the softer ground she likes on this occasion, with Jamie Spencer taking over the ride. She is a place contender with another step forward and, if a few of these underperform, she’s likely to be bang there for win purposes.

4 INDULGED – Four-year-old for James Fanshawe who is going the right way, hitting the frame on all her starts this season, including a win at Class 3 level in a handicap. She loves a slog in the mud and she gets those conditions today, with Ryan Moore taking the ride which is very interesting. She does need to reverse placings with Titi Makfi, but she should give it a good go and is a live each way contender.

5 JELLY MONGER – Only flat win came on debut way back in September 2014 and she’s been well held on her runs of late in lower classes than this. She could only manage fifth in a Class 2 event on her latest start, beaten by seven lengths and she looks hugely vulnerable at this level, with softer ground far from ideal. The in-form Pat Cosgrave gets the leg up, but it’s not hard to look elsewhere.

6 SAGELY – Ground has gone against this four-year-old who has the form that could see her placed in this race, if the ground were better that is. She was third at Salisbury on firmer ground in July and a repeat of that performance would see her in the hunt for a place. That said, her latest run at Chelmsford was poor and she needs to bounce back with a career best. Best watched if the ground continues to have ‘soft’ in the description.

7 SOMETHINGTHRILLING – Useful sort on the all weather for David Elsworth but she’s nowhere near as good on the turf, returning from a break when only seventh at Ascot two weeks ago. She is entitled to have needed the run, however her previous turf form would suggest that she’ll be outclassed in this field under Silvestre De Sousa. Others are readily preferred on this occasion.

8 AL MAYDA – Lightly raced filly for Hugo Palmer who has only had four runs, winning on her third start at Windsor when upped to this distance. She went backwards, however, on handicap debut when only fifth, well behind Indulged on that occasion and she needs the hood to help her settle better if she’s to have any chance here. She is very much unexposed, but has too much to find on the bare figures to be of interest here.

9 FLOOD WARNING – Improved massively in the spring for Clive Cox, making her debut in December in very mediocre fashion. Since that introduction she has won three times, with the latest of those coming two starts ago at Sandown over today’s trip, winning comfortably that day. Despite running over the mile, she was far from disgraced to finish second in a competitive race at Newbury on her latest start and she’ll benefit from being back at this distance today. She’s only had six starts so remains unexposed and she goes on softer ground, which gives her a big chance here as she doesn’t have much to find. Luke Morris is up for an in-form yard and she has to be considered.

10 OUJA – Broke her maiden at the fourth attempt when taking a very weak affair at Kempton in August, although she bettered that effort by some margin when fourth in a Listed race at York on her latest start. None of her previous form backs up that display, which is somewhat concerning, and she’s not sure to be helped by going down two furlongs in trip as she was staying on at the 1m 4f trip on her latest start. A strongly run race would see her having each way claims, but others are preferred for win purposes.

11 TITI MAKFI – Has been thriving in 2017 for Mark Johnston, winning five times from eight starts and her latest second in a very competitive race at York last month was a career best. She continues to be highly progressive and is worth her place at this level, with her attitude second to none in terms of really grinding out races. She goes on softer ground and she’s going to be a very tough horse to pass when striking the front, so has to be considered.

12 VINTAGE FOLLY – Hugely unexposed daughter of Makfi who won on debut at Newcastle in November before a brilliant effort to finish second to Shutter Speed in the Musidora at York. She was well held on her latest start in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret at Saint-Cloud in July, but she shaped as though something was amiss that day and a better display is expected here. She’s completely unexposed and will be much happier back down to this distance, with softer ground a big plus. She has to be respected under Josie Gordon for a very in-form yard.