Trends analysis

There is one common thread here – nine of the last ten winners had all won in Pattern company

Only the John Gosden-trained Fallen For You (2012) was short on this score, otherwise Group-class fillies have dominated. Indeed, as many as six of those had struck at the top level, including five in the last six years.

France, Britain and Ireland have shared the spoils recently, with nine fillies having run in a Guineas earlier in the season since 2009. Four took part at Newmarket with two winning, three ran at the Curragh with two successful and the three Gallic-winning fillies had all run in the Pouliches with one following up.

One interesting stat which has developed is the draw. Recent history suggests we should be looking at the high numbers, which isn’t necessarily what you’d expect on the round mile. But they do tend to go a pace in this and the last eight winners were housed in stall seven or higher.

Verdict

With Hermosa set to head to France, the two most solid options are Pouliches heroine Castle Lady and Pretty Pollyanna, runner-up to Hermosa at the Curragh. Preference is for Pretty Pollyanna. She’ll come on for her reappearance and has experience of the royal meeting, finishing fifth in last year’s Albany.