Best Hoping Cross Can Step Up John Best is hoping his progressive filly Rising Cross can make her mark in Pattern company when she tackles the Swynford Paddocks Hotel Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.The daughter of Cape Cross goes for the Group Three contest with an advantage over the opposition in that she is already twice a course and distance winner.The Maidstone trainer believes he has no option but to step up in class what he describes as a 'tiny filly', as she would have to carry big weights in nurseries and conditions races.'We were delighted with her latest win at Newmarket as she managed to capture a couple of big scalps,' said Best.'She keeps on surprising me everytime she runs. She´s rated around the 92 mark now. She´s only small so I´d be against her carrying big weights in nurseries.'She´d also have a penalty in conditions races, so that means we have to go for Listed or Group Threes. It would be fantastic for her to get some black type.'I hope they get some rain up there as that would help her.' Best´s charge is one of eight declared for the seven-furlong race, with Clive Brittain hoping that Deveron can also rise to the occasion.The Group One-entered daughter of Cozzene built on a solid debut second in a hot maiden over the course and distance when running out a smooth winner at last week´s Glorious Goodwood meeting.'The filly came out of her Goodwood run really well, she seems in very good form and we think that she is going there with a very good chance,' said Brittain.'She seems as though she is on an upward curve. What little bit of work I have done with her since Goodwood has been very pleasing, but it is her attitude to her work that is very good.'If we win tomorrow, the Fillies´ Mile would be the next step and she is a filly for both this year and next.'Although we have had some rain here I can´t see the ground being any different to good and that certainly wouldn´t inconvenience her.'Deveron will be ridden for the first time tomorrow by Jimmy Fortune, who replaces Kerrin McEvoy, while Shane Kelly will aboard Jeremy Noseda´s recent Lingfield winner Hill Of Grace. Sir Mark Prescott believes that a combination of a 3lb penalty and the prospect of easier conditions may prove the undoing of Confidential Lady.The daughter of Singspiel has to carry the extra weight thanks to winning the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown last month, a win which brought up her hat-trick after victories at Catterick and Beverley.'The 3lb penalty and the ease in the ground won´t help her. Historically, a penalty has been a filly´s undoing in this race,' said Prescott.'She has won a Listed race which is good so I can´t complain. I went through the race before I declared her and felt that Barry Hills´ filly (Spinning Queen) was the one to beat.' Sole Irish raider Ice Princess bids to build on her all-the-way debut win in a seven-furlong Limerick maiden last month.'She won her maiden well and this is the next step up. We´ll see where she fits in after tomorrow´s race,' said trainer David Wachman. ? PA Sport
