Fallen Angel aiming to get back on right path in Cambridge

Powys County Times

17-06-2025

Fallen Angel is expected to take a big leap forward from her comeback run in the Lockinge when she returns to fillies-only company in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes on Wednesday.
The Too Darn Hot filly was sixth of eight runners at Newbury as a route towards the Royal meeting was plotted by trainer Karl Burke.
Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan Racing, believes the four-year-old will benefit from that outing and said: 'This has been the plan for a long time with her and she ran a very nice comeback race in the Lockinge, so we were delighted with that.
'We don't really think she is a spring filly and Karl says she just takes time to come to herself, she is not a great work filly at home so it can be hard to judge her. But he seems very happy with her now.
'Her last piece of work was good and she has come fully in her coat now, which wasn't the case at Newbury, and last year we saw she got beat in the English Guineas before bouncing back to win in Ireland.
'I think she will definitely have improved for the run and she is a gorgeous filly who we can't wait to see run.'
Wathnan also own the John and Thady Gosden-trained Crimson Advocate who has improved since stepping up in trip and Brown said: 'She will also go and won the Queen Mary at the meeting two years ago. She's been very good and consistent since stepped up to a mile and I'm sure she will run an admirable race as well, she never lets us down.'
Elmalka was second behind Cinderella's Dream in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last month and trainer Roger Varian will drop her back in trip having taken in the Prix d'Ispahan last time out.
Varian told Sky Sports Racing: 'I thought she ran really well in the Dahlia Stakes, it was a good renewal. I then ran her in the d'Ispahan against the colts and in hindsight maybe that was the wrong thing to do but the winner (Sosie) was supplemented at the last minute, none of us had an idea he'd be running.
'She wasn't quite good enough against strong colts but she still ran well and it made my mind up that she's a miler, so we're taking the positives.
'It will be quite tough to turn the form around with Cinderella's Dream as she was impressive that day but Elmalka is a good filly in her own right.'
Varian has had to bide his time with My Cloud but is confident he can take another step forward in the Royal Hunt Cup.
He said: 'He's a lovely horse, he's always been a nice horse but he's been late-developing, so we've had to be patient. He's won some nice races this year, in fairness it probably wasn't much of a race at Ascot that he won but he did well to win at Newbury on Lockinge day.'
Michael Bell will be double handed with Greek Order and Tony Montana and believes both horses can give a good account of themselves.
Bell said: 'Greek Order is an interesting horse having just come over from America.
'He looks as if he is on a very competitive mark and I think the draw (30) looks all right given that the principles in the betting are drawn next to him.
'Tony Montana is a very, very consistent, likeable horse.'
Paddy Twomey's Carmers will put his unbeaten record on the line as he steps up to Group Two company in the Queen's Vase.
Twomey said: 'Carmers is a nice horse, he made his debut at the start of May and he won nicely at Ballinrobe and stepped up markedly a week later in the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan.
'We've had this race in mind for a while. I don't think any of the other horses in the race have won at a mile and six and I think he will handle the trip.'
Old Is Gold impressed in winning at Beverley for Andrew Balding before being acquired by Wathnan and Brown is not worried about the step up in grade in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
He said: 'I liked his run at Ascot and I like that he has course form.
'He was then impressive at Beverley and of course with our Naval Light (runs in the Norfolk), who we hold in high regard in second, it made sense to take that run very seriously.'