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The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes has the potential to be the race of the day on Thursday at Royal Ascot.
Al Asifah has been supplemented for the contest after her impressive victory in the 1m2f Listed Agnes Keyser Stakes at Goodwood, where she easily kicked clear of opposition to win by six-and-a-half lengths. She hails from the family of Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad and is expected to improve on her third career start. The Gosden duo have already been successful at this week's Royal meeting and the yard has won four of the last six renewals of this race, including with the classy Star Catcher in 2019.
Ralph Beckett's Blue Stocking has attracted support and Frankie Dettori is booked to ride. The filly out-ran expectations on debut as a juvenile, winning a Salisbury novice stakes by one-and-a-quarter lengths despite showing signs of greenness three furlongs out. She returned after the winter break with a head second behind the re-opposing Warm Heart and is expected to enjoy the step up to 1m4f.
Based on the market strength behind Blue Stocking, Aidan O'Brien's Warm Heart looks a value bet at current odds of 14/1. She's a beautifully bred filly out of Group 1 Manikato Stakes winner Sea Siren and has progressed with each step up in distance. She seemed to find further improvement when encountering good ground for the first time in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury, sitting prominently under Ryan Moore and running on well to score by a head.
Infinite Cosmos returned after the winter break with an impressive four-and-a-half length success in a Newmarket maiden over ten furlongs and stepped into Group company for the first time when finishing third in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York behind subsequent Oaks winner Soul Sister. She started favourite for the race but was soundly beaten at the line and may have a bit to find with her leading market rivals.
Village Voice tries a sounder surface for the first time as she steps up in class for trainer Jessica Harrington, already a winner at Royal Ascot this week. She closed off her juvenile campaign with a good third in the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown and made a winning return to action in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan. The form of the race has been given a boost with second-placed filly Jackie Oh finishing fifth in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Maman Joon is potentially under-rated in the market again on her third career start. The Richard Hannon-trained filly was a good second behind Gather Ye Rosebuds in a Newbury maiden in late April and was thrown in at the deep end in the Epsom Oaks on her second start. She found herself outpaced at two furlongs out but plugged on well to finish fourth. Further improvement is anticipated, and she is better than the 25/1 would suggest.
WIN: WARM HEART
PLACE: MAMAN JOON
