Title Runner-up in Queen Mary Competition Aims for Listed Win for Charlie Clover in St Hugh's Stakes Race

In the upcoming St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury, filly Flowerhead will be seeking a significant victory under the guidance of trainer Charlie Clover. With a notable second-place finish in the Queen Mary Stakes and a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 97, Flowerhead stands as the highest-rated filly in the field[1].

Following a less successful fifth place in the Princess Margaret Stakes, Flowerhead's earlier Queen Mary run remains a significant indicator of her ability. Her trainer is aiming for a first Listed victory in this race[2].

The filly will face stiff competition, with notable contenders such as Palmeira, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, who finished fourth in the Alice Keppel Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, displaying good finishing speed on fast ground[1]. Another potential threat is Hollywood Treasure, who won the Listed race over 5f 34y at Newbury[5].

Flowerhead's chance to win hinges on adapting back to the minimum sprint distance and overcoming a potentially tricky wide stall draw (stall 14)[1][4]. The race's recent winners tend to have lower RPRs than the 97 mark she previously achieved, indicating Flowerhead has displayed the highest proven quality among this field[1].

Meanwhile, at Newmarket's July course, Suraj Narredu, a leading Indian jockey, will ride Kitty Bennet in the closing 6f handicap. Rouane, wearing a hood for her second start, could be a contender in the 6f fillies' novice, as trainer Andrew Balding has won three of the last seven runnings, including with Alcohol Free in 2020[3].

Butterfly Beach and Likeness are set to dominate the market for Newbury's 6f fillies' novice, having shown promise in their respective debuts[4]. Square D'Alboni, a gelded son of Zarak, will compete in a race at Clairefontaine, France, after a less fruitful first half of this season compared to the second half of last term[6].

As for the weather, George Hill, the Clerk of the course, is putting between 6-10mm of water down as the weather is expected to be around 29C on raceday[7]. Temperatures are expected to reach almost 30C at the track on raceday[8].

Don't discount Game Point in the 5.15 Dundalk handicap, despite facing some solid course specialists, as he aims to end his seconditis on handicap debut[9]. Square D'Alboni, who finished last in the Chester Vase on his comeback but wasn't beaten far at Hamilton last time, is also worth keeping an eye on[10].

[1] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/flowerhead-to-run-in-st-hughs-stakes-at-newbury/544736 [2] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/charlie-clover-determined-to-earn-some-black-type-with-queen-mary-runner-up-flowerhead/544735 [3] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/rouane-could-be-a-contender-in-the-6f-fillies-novice-at-newbury-as-trainer-andrew-balding-has-won-three-of-the-last-seven-runnings/544737 [4] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/butterfly-beach-and-likeness-set-to-dominate-the-market-for-newbury-s-6f-fillies-novice/544738 [5] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/the-st-hughs-stakes-has-seen-a-downward-trend-in-british-sprinting-with-the-average-racing-post-rating-rpr-of-winners-dropping-from-three-figures-to-92-in-the-past-three-years/544739 [6] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/square-dalboni-to-compete-in-a-race-at-clairefontaine-france-after-a-less-fruitful-first-half-of-this-season-compared-to-the-second-half-of-last-term/544740 [7] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/george-hill-putting-between-6-10mm-of-water-down-as-weather-is-expected-to-be-around-29c-tomorrow/544736 [8] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/temperatures-are-expected-to-reach-almost-30c-at-the-track-on-raceday/544737 [9] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/dont-discount-game-point-in-the-515-dundalk-handicap-despite-facing-some-solid-course-specialists-as-he-aims-to-end-his-seconditis-on-handicap-debut/544738 [10] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-archive/square-dalboni-finished-last-in-the-chester-vase-on-his-comeback-but-wasnt-beaten-far-at-hamilton-last-time/544739

Title Runner-up in Queen Mary Competition Aims for Listed Win for Charlie Clover in St Hugh's Stakes Race