Valiant aim for Irish Rookie

MARTYN MEADE is hoping to give Irish Rookie her confidence back by dropping her down in grade.

His filly will tackle the Valiant Stakes at Ascot on Friday having been pitched in at a high level recently.

Second in the French Guineas last season, she was not beaten too far behind Alice Springs in the Falmouth at Newmarket a fortnight ago.

That came after a rather fruitless trip to America, when 12th in a Grade One at Belmont in June, but Meade has been satisfied with her well-being ahead of the Listed heat over a mile.

“It was a really good run in the Falmouth, I was very pleased with her,” said the Newmarket handler.

“I just feel I’d like to give her a confidence boost, which is why we are dropping down to Listed level.

“Hopefully she’ll be good enough to win and then we can campaign her back in a higher class towards the end of the campaign.

“Going to America with her was a hopeless task. She was drawn wide and raced seven or eight wide throughout – it was an expensive mistake.

“The pleasing thing was the experience obviously had no lasting effect on her.”

Another filly with Guineas experience is Chris Wall’s Mix And Mingle, who finished seventh behind Minding at Newmarket but has not been seen since.

She was declared for the Sandringham at Royal Ascot but Wall decided to play it safe.

Wall said: “The ground was just too soft for her at Ascot.

“We’ve had to bide our time with her as the only other option was at Sandown on Eclipse day, when it was soft again.

“I’ve been happy with her at home and the Guineas form has worked out well.

“This is more her grade, but my only worry is that some of our horses have not been sparkling.

“She has done well physically for her time off.

“If she gives her true running she shouldn’t be far away.”

James Tate saddles recent Newmarket winner Namhroodah and the hat-trick-seeking Light And Shade.

Tate said: “Both fillies have been targeted at this for some time and both are in very good order. I just hope one of them can win.

“Light And Shade is an Ascot specialist and is two from two there.

“Namhroodah is a filly that we have campaigned over further, then she put in a career-best effort over a stiff seven furlongs at Newmarket, so this mile trip should be perfect for her.

“Namhroodah shows more at home on the gallops, and always has done, whereas Light And Shade keeps a bit for herself at home.”