Royal Intervention looking to bounce back in York Fillies’ Stakes

LAST year’s winner Royal Intervention returns to defend her crown in the William Hill Summer Fillies’ Stakes at Yorktoday.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel carried the colours of Lord Lloyd-webber to a couple of notable triumphs in 2019 – landing this Group Three prize 12 months ago before travelling to Germany to win a Group Two.

However, Ed Walker’s charge is back on the Knavesmire with something to prove, having disappointed in Saudi Arabia in February and again failing to fire in a Listed contest at Haydock last month.

“Royal Intervention has been disappointing in two runs this year. I’m a bit shocked, to be honest, as I sort of thought whatever she did last year as three-yearold would be a bonus and she would improve this season, but she’s done the opposite,” said Walker.

“You can put a line through her last run at Haydock as the ground was too soft for her and I’m not sure what happened in Saudi – she missed the break for the first time in her life and could never get into it after that.

“She’s a very talented filly and we just want to see her bounce back to her best. The only thing missing from her CV is some Group One black type, so we’re hoping she can get back on track on Sunday and we can then pitch her in at the deep end again.”

John Quinn saddles the three-year-old Keep Busy, who was last seen chasing home top-class prospect Art Power in a handicap at Royal Ascot.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Jovial and the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Miss Celestial also feature among 19 declared runners.

Charlie Appleby’s Boccaccio puts his unbeaten record on the line in the William Hill King Charles II Stakes while Additional is an outsider for Martyn Meade.

Perhaps the most interesting horse on the undercard is the Richard Hughestrained Brentford Hope, who made a huge impression on debut at Newmarket last October and makes his first start since in the williamhill.com Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Stakes.