WEATHERBYS DIGITAL SOLUTIONS PIPALONG STAKES

The feature on today’s six-race card is the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Pipalong Stakes, a Listed event for fillies and mares over a mile, which has attracted a field of nine

William Haggas won the race back in 2004 with Chorist and his four-yearold Purplepay is clear on official BHA Ratings. Previously trained in France by Cedric Rossi, the daughter of Zarak ran five times for the Newmarket-based trainer last year, winning the Prix de Sandringham (Group 2) on her second run of the campaign. She could never quite recapture that form thereafter and has been over to Australia in the spring, most recently finishing down the field in the Sydney Queen Of The Turf Stakes in early-April.

If returning to her best, she sets a good standard and the forecast rain is certainly in her favour, with her four career wins being gained on soft ground.

Rated 95 and 12lbs inferior to Purplepay is Fall In Love, who is set to make her debut for Roger Varian. Previously trained in France by Hiroo Shimizu, the Sea

The Stars filly was last seen in action at Meydan in early-February, where she contested a Group 2 over this trip A soft-ground winner as a two-year-old, she failed to win at three, but was beaten just 4 lengths in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille over 1m4f That piece of form would make her a major player at this level, although she is another on a slight retrieval mission after a lay-off

Both Purplepay and Fall In Love have wide draws to overcome, with only Al Agaila out wider, in stall nine She was slowly away before running on quite well at Newcastle last month and will need to be sharper from the gate over this trip, with her two latest victories coming over 1m2f at Lingfield.

Gavin Cromwell’s Irish-raider Dha Leath comes back in trip, having run over 1m4f last time, and is another who appreciates really testing ground. The more rain that falls the better her chance will be, with her last two wins coming when the word ‘heavy’ featured in the going description. She has won four of her 10 starts for her current trainer (previously trained by Garvan Donnelly), during which time her I.H.R.B. Rating has risen from 68 to 92

Mary Salome is another runner from Ireland, with Andrew Kinirons’ daughter of Zebedee having won at Roscommon during June That handicap win came off just 77 and she was beaten in a small field, off just 1lb higher, last time She has plenty to find on official figures and that comment also applies to Kingmania, who won a Southwell handicap off 78 two starts back. Again, she has been beaten since and needs to put up a career-best to take a hand.

Zenga, a stable-mate of Fall In Love, and Love Interest finished seventh and 18th respectively in the Kensington Palace at Royal Ascot last time, with the former denied a clear-run in the closing stages. Despite being worse off at the weights, she can confirm that form and might be capable of further improvement, having undergone wind-surgery over the winter The lightly-raced Lope de Vega filly is certainly one of the more interesting runners.

The Charlie Johnston-trained Espressoo completes the line-up and is the most likely pace angle in the race She made all when winning a 7f handicap at Ayr in May, but was unable to dominate in this grade last month. If allowed her own way in front, she might be capable of a better showing, although she has stamina to prove on just her second start at the trip (only run over a mile to date came in last year’s Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot).

Paul Ferguson

Weatherbys