SOME of the interest in the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes was lost with the defection of overnight favourite Albaflora, but that won’t bother connections of Galtres Stakes heroine Forbearance (Jessica Harrington/Shane Foley), who took full advantage of the opportunity by winning in the style of a filly who will thrive back over further.

Off the bridle before most, the 4/1 chance went better as the race wore on and forged clear in the final furlong to beat favourite Sayyida (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) by two and a half lengths, with Sea La Rosa (William Haggas/Cieren Fallon) best of the rest, but fully four and a half lengths behind the impressive winner, who races in the colours of Maurice Regan’s Newtown Anner Stud. Harrington was delighted with this win, and had her eyes on bigger prizes overseas in the autumn: “She loves fast ground. I was just talking to her owner, and we said we might see if there’s anything for her in America or Canada later in the year. Hopefully she’ll be staying in training as a five-year-old next season, too.”

The Group 2 Rockfel Stakes saw favourite Majestic Glory fail to figure, but provided another juvenile Pattern winner for the Dave Loughnane stable, as Hello You came clear of the George Boughey-trained pair Cachet (James Doyle) and Oscula (William Buick) to make the breakthrough at Pattern level after a series of solid efforts in defeat.

Improved performance

The 7/1 chance won by a length and a half, and half a length having settled better than has been the case, and that is the obvious reason for this improved performance.

Trained by Ralph Beckett when winning on debut, she was switched to Loughnane by owners Amo Racing after placed efforts in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket, in both of which she was a place in front of Oscula, in races won by Sandrine.

Hello You was unplaced in the Lowther at York and the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood for her new trainer, but shaped better than the result both times, and gained her reward here.

It’s not hard to contextualise the form, and it pays tribute to both Sandrine and her Lowther Stakes conqueror Zain Claudette, who clash in the Cheveley Park Stakes.