Falmouth Stakes Guide 2021

Andrew Balding is yet to win the Falmouth stakes, although holds strong claims to this years Group 1 title in the form of last time outs Coronation Stakes winner (8f, G1), Alcohol Free.

The daughter of No Nay Never was a Cheveley Park stakes (6f, G1) winner as a 3yo at Newmarket, proving her natural speed before subsequently stepping up to 7f on her seasonal return to land the Fred Darling (G3).

The 4yo filly went off as favourite for the 1000 Guineas (8f, G1) over today's C&D, however quick ground looked to get the better of her and she managed only a close up 5th that day.

She proved herself a Group 1 horse on heavy ground last time out at Ascot and will appreciate the forecasted give in the ground come race day.

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy retains the ride and her most recent form gives her leading claims in this.

Richard Hannon was a man left wondering what might have been on the back of the Ascot Coronation Stakes (8f, G1).

Snow Lantern was denied a clear run from a furlong out before running on impressively to finish 2nd behind Alcohol Free on heavy ground that day and has strong claims at reversing that form here on ground not expected to be quite as testing.

The daughter of Frankel remains lightly raced and in typical Hannon fashion, snuck in under the radar after only previously finishing 3rd in a listed contest before being thrown into the Group 1 contest last time out.

Sean Levey retains the ride and should she improve once more here, over conditions forecast to seem ideal, she holds a good chance in this field.

The Aidan O'Brien / Ryan Moore combination won the Falmouth back to back in 2016 & 2017 and the pairing are represented once more in the race via entrant, Mother Earth.

Mother Earth was this years 1000 Guineas winner (8f, G1) over C&D upon faster conditions and that form puts her well in the mix for this affair.

She was also, however, the 3rd placed horse home in the Coronation Stakes (8f, G1) upon heavy ground and despite running well, she did look to weaken in the final furlong and was no match for Alcohol Free that day.

The key to the daughter of Zoffany's win capabilities in this race look to lie within the ground and although versatile over softer conditions, she does look to have a job reversing the form on Snow Lantern and Alcohol Free with rain in the forecast.

Primo Bacio has really stepped up as a 3yo for trainer Ed Walker, signified by her Listed win last time out at York (8f) upon good ground, finishing 5 lengths ahead of re-opposing rival Snow Lantern who stepped up last time out to finish 2nd in Group 1 company.

That form line puts the daughter of Awtaad high on the shortlist for this race, especially given Awtaad's progeny have a 41.7% win rate at Newmarket with 5 wins in 12 runs.

She looks to have swerved the heavy ground at Ascot to run here in Falmouth and is entitled to take a step forward here and improve for the jump into Group 1 company, especially given the aforementioned exploits of Snow Lantern.

Andrea Atzeni's mount does remain of an unknown quality on ground softer than good and too much rain could pose a problem, however she remains of definite interest in this.

Lady Bowthorpe was well fancied to take the Duke of Cambridge stakes (8f, G2) last time out at Ascot on the back of her hugely impressive run in the Lockinge (8f, G1) on her penultimate start in which she finished a mere 1 1/2 lengths behind world class miler,Palace Pier, 5 clear of the rest of the field upon good to soft ground.

The faster ground may have got the better of her next time out at the Royal Meeting, finishing 2nd behind Indie Angel, however she has strong claims at setting things straight for the return to the forecasted, softer side of good, ground.

The daughter of Nathaniel is a past course winner thanks to her Dahlia Stakes win over 9f (G2) and she looks a great proposition heading into this race if as effective over 8f at the track.

Frankie Dettori retains the ride on John and Thady Gosden's Duke of Cambridge stakes (8f, G2) winner Indie Angel who got the better of re-opposing rival, Lady Bowthorpe, last time out at Ascot.

Both trainer and jockey are in fantastic form currently and Indie Angel improved vastly for the drop back to 8f after finishing 4th in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket (9f, G2) on her penultimate start.

The daughter of Dark Angel's best form however has come over faster ground and the forecasted rain does look to pose question marks over her chances in this one.

Pretty Gorgeous has an impressive form line at Newmarket thanks to her win on her final run as 2yo in the Group 1 fillies' mile upon soft ground, finishing ahead of re-opposing rival Mother Earth.

The daughter of Lawman's form this season however has been sub-par, although both her 7th placed finish in the Irish 1000 Guineas (8f, G1) and her 5th placed finish in the Coronation Stakes (8f, G1) have both come upon heavy ground.

The return to better, less testing ground looks the key for the Irish raiders revival and without too much rain, trainer Joseph O'Brien will be bullish about her chances at a course she clearly favours.

Sir Michael Stoute is the leading trainer in the Falmouth stakes with 6 past winners, the most recent being Veracious in 2019.

Silvestre De Sousa teams up to ride entrant, Queen Power, who is a Group 2 winner over 10.5f, however showed her capabilities back down at 8f last time out when finishing 3rd behind Indie Angel and Lady Bowthorpe in the Duke of Cambridge (8f, G2).

The daughter of Shamardal has good form at Newmarket thanks to her neck 2nd placed finish in the Dahlia Stakes (9f, G2) behind Lady Bowthorpe once more.

She does look to have preference for faster ground however and the she may have a job reversing that form with Lady Bowthorpe upon, forecasted, less than ideal conditions.

Jane Chappell Hyam trained, Saffron Beach, is somewhat of a Newmarket specialist having form of 1122 at the track, including a Group 3 victory and a Group 1 runner up finish on her penulimate start in the 1000 Guineas (8f) upon fast ground.

Her prominent run style suits Newmarket whilst the intention to step her up to 12f last time out in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) last time out, signified connections trust in her stamina capabilities, albeit only managing an 8th placed finish at Epsom, her first run away from Newmarket.

The daughter of New Bay looks to be versatile ground wise with her Group 3 victory coming upon soft conditions and the return to 8f and Newmarket should suit.

Interesting that David Egan has replaced usual rider Adam Kirby in the saddle, possibly something to do with Kirby's 4 week luckless run without a winner which he finally rectified just 2 days ago.

The sky is the limit for Ivan Furtado trained, Just Beautiful, who despite only costing 8,000 guineas as a yearling, remains unbeaten across her opening 4 runs including a win last time out in Listed company (7f) at Musselburgh.

Her run style looks likely to suit the July course, which often favours runners attempting to make all from the front whilst her ceiling remains unknown being lightly raced and untried in Group company.

The daughter of Pride of Dubai's current price of 16/1 very much reflects where most would assume her ceiling does lie however and this will be her first attempt over the 8f trip today.

Johnny Murtagh crosses the Irish sea sporting entrant, Champers Elysees, who was extremely progressive as a 3yo, continuously stepping up in grade to land races all the way up to Group 1 level when landing the Matron Stakes (8f, G1) at Leopardstown.

The daughter of Elzaam, has been somewhat off the pace this season however, with a trio of 4th placed finishes at Group 3/2 level, including finishing behind re-opposing rivals Indie Angel, Lady Bowthorpe and Queen Power last time out in the Duke of Cambridge stakes (8f, G2).

Murtagh is in great form and a bounce back to form for Champers Elysees isn't completely ruled out here, however she will need to vastly improve on those runs this season and has a job reversing the form on the aforementioned trio.

Sea the Stars mare, Lavender's Blue, represents Amanda Perrett in the race and is a past Group 3 winner over the 8f trip at Sandown, albeit back in 2019.

Her 3rd placed finish in the Dahlia Stakes (G2) at the track looks strong form given she only went down by a head and a neck to re-opposing rivals Lady Bowthorpe and Queen Power over the extended 9f trip.

The 5yo mare was to less effect back down at 8f last time out at Ascot however, only managing 5th behind the same duo of runners plus Indie Angel and Champers Elysees, leaving her with a bit to find in this field.

Mick Channon trained, Illykato, was a listed winner (8f) on her penultimate start, beating 2020 Duke of Cambridge Stakes runner-up, Agincourt, by a nose on good to firm ground.

That was her first attempt at the distance and she was to much lesser effect back down at 7f in listed company again last time out when finishing 7th of 8 at Carlisle.

The daughter of Toronado should appreciate the step back up to 8f, given it was her last winning distance, however she is bred to be a sprinter, prefers firmer ground and does look to be out of her depth in Group 1 company.