held up behind, under pressure over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
took keen hold, close up, ridden and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon in rear, ridden over 4f out, never dangerous
pulled hard, prominent behind leader, effort 2f out, hard ridden and no impression approaching final furlong
soon tracked leader, pressed leader 3f out, driven to lead 1f out, stayed on strongly under pressure, ridden out
took keen hold, held up behind, ridden and outpaced 3f out, stayed on well under pressure from over 1f out, took 3rd post
in touch wide, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out
made most, ridden over 2f out, hard pressed by winner, headed 1f out, no extra and one pace final furlong
A furiously competitive renewal of the Ribblesdale Stakes can go to Modesta, who is fancied to halt Henry Cecil's high-profile drought; possibly at the main expense of Quiff and New Morning, who are lightly raced types that arrive here open to acres of improvement. However, it would also be folly to write off Punctilious after her below par effort in the Oaks and she is sure to be given another chance by a large chunk of the Ascot betting public if there are positive signs emitting from her camp before the off. Prior to her Epsom blip, Punctilious had looked a useful recruit for Godolphin when winning on her debut for the operation at York. But there now has to be a suspicion that 10 furlongs will prove to be her optimum trip after she ran out of steam at Epsom. Michael Jarvis will have a good handle on the mount of Frankie Dettori, having trained her as a juvenile last season. Therefore, it will not be surprising to see New Morning make a bold bid after her comprehensive victory at Leicester just over three weeks ago. A full-sister to the top-class Islington, this daughter of Sadler's Wells has shown a real liking for fast ground and will it be another notch on the ever increasing profile of the Ballymacoll Stud if she manages to scrape home today. However, she did find the selection too good when they met at Yarmouth earlier in the season and is reluctantly passed over today. Which brings us to Modesta, who has been crying out for a mile and a half and will take some beating if she continues in the way she has shown so far. Also by Sadler's Wells, this half-sister to Reams Of Verse has a familiar pedigree to followers of Cecil's runners, who will be hoping the attention of the market is swayed elsewhere to grant a fair price about Modesta today. Sir Michael Stoute's Quiff can do her bit by attracting a percentage of the market; as anything from her yard has to be given the utmost respect. However, she did post a slow time when winning her maiden and has improvement to find here. Nevertheless, she is impeccably bred and is sure to have a bright future whatever happens this afternoon. But for now Modesta edges the vote for betting purposes at the likely prices and is selected in the hope that Khalid Abdullah's retained jockey is on the right one this time.
