Touleen out to take advantage of drop in class in Valiant

Tap-ins are hard to come by in racing and nowhere more so than at Ascot, but connections of Touleen are hoping a drop in grade to the Group Three Longines Valiant Stakes will allow their filly to post a first win of the campaign.

The Owen Burrows-trained three-year-old is comfortably the highest-rated filly in the blue and white Shadwell silks this season.

But, frustratingly, she remains winless after her second in the Fred Darling, sixth in the Guineas and second again in the Group One Coronation Stakes when she was viewed by some as an unlucky loser after meeting trouble in running.

“We wanted to give her the best chance of winning a Group race and whether she achieves that or not this must be a better opportunity for her on Saturday than going for the Falmouth,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for Shadwell.

Saffie Osborne, who has ridden Touleen in her three runs this season and was furious after not being able to get a clear passage immediately after Coronation, has been replaced in the saddle by William Buick.

But Gold insisted that was in no way a reflection of her talents, more that they wanted to leave no stone unturned in their attempts to get a Group win on to her page.

“It is important to try to win a race with her as she’s our best filly and we haven’t won a (Pattern) race with her yet. Saffie is doing a fantastic job and is a huge help to us,” said Gold.  “It is not at all (a reflection on her). William rode her twice last year, he was available and we just thought it is important to try to make her a Group winner because she’s not yet.”

No Group race is a stroll and Duke of Cambridge Stakes fourth Kon Tiki, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, presents stiff opposition after winner Blue Bolt advertised the form in the Falmouth.

Sukanya, trained by Jack Channon, renews rivalry with the favourite having edged their early-season battle in the Fred Darling at Newbury.

Perhaps the most intriguing runner is Skydance, trained in Ireland by Willie McCreery, given she beat subsequent Oaks heroine Thundering On by a short head in a Leopardstown maiden in April, her only outing of the campaign.

Richard Hannon says Albany fourth Dark Issue “looks the one to beat” in the Group Three Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes and has had his confidence boosted by the win of Aperoll at Sandown on Friday.

“She is quite similar to Aperoll in that at home cantering she does nothing but when she works she does it very well,” said the Wiltshire trainer. “She has only done two bits of work since Ascot, but we have been extremely happy with her.

“It looked a very good race the Albany, as it is every year, and on that showing you have to say they probably have her to beat.”

The Hamad Al Jehani-trained Alta Regina, running for Wathnan Racing, brings a different but no less impressive strand of Royal Ascot form to the party having finished sixth to impressive Ballydoyle filly Victorious in the Queen Mary.

Ryan Moore takes over from Dylan Browne McMonagle on Albany sixth Dee’s Funny Girl for in-form trainer Donnacha O’Brien, while Moonrise for Andrew Balding and Velozee for Paddy Twomey are others who could go well, as could the Kevin Philippart De Foy-trained Nuit d’Eclair.