QIPCO Guineas weekend – Talented filly Skiffle returns for Charlie Appleby in Sunday’s Charm Spirit Dahlia Stales at Newmarket
Appleby's four-year-old showed plenty of talent last season and looks the type to come into her own this year with the Lancashire Oaks a long-term target
CHARLIE APPLEBY is looking forward to getting Skiffle's season started in the Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday.
Skiffle is lightly-raced and will be making just her fifth start of her career.
Appleby's filly finished fifth in last year's Oaks and will be making her first start since last August.
The Newmarket handler said: "I am pleased with the way she has done during the winter. Like most Dubawis, she has done great from three to four.
"We gave her one run at the back-end over nine furlongs at the Curragh and that was her put away for the season. There were no abnormalities with her.
"She's an honest workhorse. Her work has been good and I have been pleased with it. The trip will be on the sharp side but the quick ground will suit.
"It is a good starting point for the season. She will be stepping up in trip afterwards as we are working back from the Lancashire Oaks."
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Despite worries about the ground, Marco Botti hopes Aljazzi can progress again after her Listed win at Kempton on her last start.
He said: "She won well at Kempton and has come out of that race in fantastic form. I am really happy with her.
"She will handle the track because she won there as a two-year-old on her first start. The ground might be a touch too quick, but at the same time the ground was fast when she won at Haydock.
"Ryan Moore said she is not short of speed but she should definitely stay the extra furlong.
"It is a step up in class but she is a nice filly and hopefully she can improve her profile. We are looking forward to seeing her run."
Last year's Cheshire Oaks winner Somehow is an interesting contender for Aidan O'Brien as is Nezwaah for Roger Varian.
Varian told www.varianstable.com: "I think a lot of Nezwaah and I hope she is a filly we have yet to see the best of.
"She has plenty of speed and acts on quick ground so this is the perfect starting point.
"I expect her to run very well."
Elbereth has shaped well in two runs on the all-weather this year and trainer Andrew Balding reports her to be in great form.
"She's in fine form. It's probably a furlong short of her best distance but the stiff track will suit her well," said the Kingsclere trainer.
"I'm looking forward to seeing her back on the turf."
The Francois Doumen-trained Aim To Please and Silver Step from the yard of Pia Brandt represent France, while the field is completed by Muffri'Ha (William Haggas), and Rosental (Luca Cumani).