Friendly Soul bidding to make her mark on Duke of Cambridge

Having survived the Haydock hole, Friendly Soul now turns her attentions to the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, having not completed a race for over a year.

A Group One winner in 2024 for John and Thady Gosden, the five-year-old missed the whole of last season before making her return on Merseyside recently, only to step in a hole that appeared on the track, one that has uncovered a serious drainage issue.

Thankfully none the worse for that, her jockey Oisin Murphy feels she is the class act in the race.

The champion jockey said: “I’m looking forward to riding Friendly Soul, but it looks a competitive race with the likes of Blue Bolt and fillies like that in there.

“Friendly Soul is a quality filly and it’s lovely to get the ride on her.”

Twomey Filly Chasing Ascot Improvement

Paddy Twomey’s Catalina Delcarpio got back to winning ways last time out and looks to improve on her third place at the meeting last year.

“She has had a good campaign, she is a good filly and we are looking forward to Wednesday,” said Twomey.

“This year we have brought her back in trip as I just thought she showed a bit more speed maybe and we thought the Duke of Cambridge would be a good race for her.

“She has a lot of class and ran a good race in the Ribblesdale, but I just felt there was more speed there than maybe I realised when she was younger.

“She was very good the last day beating some highly-rated colts and she comes into the race in good form.”

Falakeyah Seeking to Reclaim Early Promise

Owen Burrows’ Falakeyah is in danger of not fulfilling her potential having looked decidedly smart early last season.

“She is probably her own worst enemy really. She was so impressive in the Pretty Polly last year and we obviously supplemented her for the Coronation (Stakes), but she got a bump at the start, got set alight and things went wrong in that race and then thereafter,” said Burrows.

“It didn’t start great this year either at Newmarket where she was too free in the Dahlia. She seems in good form — a stiff mile at Ascot on the round course might just suit her.”

Asakir Primed for Queen’s Vase Test

Johnny Murtagh ’s Asakir holds strong claims in the Queen’s Vase, a race he won as a jockey in 2010 on Mikhail Glinka.

“We are very happy with him since his last run in Navan where he ran very well, He should stay a mile and six. We think he should stay,” said Murtagh.

“It was only his third run and he will have learned plenty from that and going an extra two furlongs shouldn’t be a problem.

“Hopefully cheekpieces will sharpen him, but like I say it was only his third run and going a mile and six should help him.”

Unbeaten Ravenspire Leads Remaining Contenders

The Karl Burke-trained Ravenspire is unbeaten after victories at Southwell and Haydock.

“He’s a nice horse and still unexposed. He hasn’t got many gears, but he’s a real grinder,” said the Leyburn handler.

Charlie Appleby is another hoping the step up in trip works for Del Maro after his second in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.

“I am hoping the extra distance will see some improvement as he is bred to get this sort of trip and has shaped as though it will suit with his style of running,” the trainer told the Godolphin website.

Joseph O’Brien’s Limestone and the Gosden-trained Point Of Law owned by the King and Queen, are others to watch.