Falmouth Stakes preview Andre Fabre does not anticipate quicker ground proving a problem for Usherette in Friday's Tattersalls 250th Year Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. The four-year-old has won six of her seven starts, most recently claiming the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in impressive fashion. Her only defeat came on her sole previous run in Group One company, but Fabre feels the Dahlia Stakes she won at Newmarket in May was arguably a stronger field than the one she faces this time. "She's been good since Ascot and has travelled over to Newmarket well," said Fabre. "The drying ground should not be a problem to her. If all goes well, she should run a good race. "There's no reason the ground should inconvenience her, even though most of her form is on soft. "She is by Shamardal and most of his horses like fast. She is top-class and top-class horses like her should enjoy nice ground, they usually do. "The course should be in good condition after all the rain, it should have a good covering of grass. "The ground and course aren't a worry, just the other opponents. "I don't think this race looks any stronger on paper than the one she won at Newmarket earlier in the season, there were lots of good horses and Group One winners in that." Last year's winner Amazing Maria will attempt to repeat the feat for David O'Meara. The fast-ground lover ran as well as could have been expected in soft conditions in the Queen Anne but will be much more at home on a quicker surface. "Amazing Maria won this race last year and has been fine since Royal Ascot. The current fast ground should suit her much better than what she has been encountering so far this season," said O'Meara. "It would be a big statement to say that she is still improving at the age of five, but I think that I have got her in similar form to what she was at this time last year. "She's got some ground to make up on Usherette from when they met in the Dahlia, but that was over nine furlongs on softish ground and it was her first run of the year. "She is much better over a mile on fast ground and, although I couldn't say that she will beat Usherette, I am sure that the two will finish much closer on Friday." Third to Usherette at Ascot was Saeed bin Suroor's Always Smile, who handled the step up from handicap company but got going too late. Bin Suroor also runs Very Special, who has not seen since finishing a creditable sixth in the Dubai Turf on World Cup night. "Always Smile is a very tough and consistent filly who is working well. I was pleased with her run at Ascot and drying ground will suit," said Bin Suroor. "She always tries very hard - s he's not a big filly, but she has a big heart. "She has worked well and we're looking to see a good run from her again. " This will be the first run back for Very Special in the UK following a successful campaign in Dubai. She goes into the race in good form and will appreciate the conditions." Aidan O'Brien runs Alice Springs, third in the Coronation Stakes, while the other three-year-old in the line up is Kevin Ryan's Ashadihan. Martyn Meade's Irish Rookie, who ran in America last time out, completes the field after Marco Botti was forced to withdraw Euro Charline after she suffered a career-ending injury on Wednesday.
