Ascot preview: Princess Margaret Stakes (14.05)

Besharah has some top class form to her name, and can take advantage of a drop in class to get back to winning ways in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot (14.05).

The William Haggas trained filly showed a smart turn of foot on her debut to beat Kassia by 1 1/4 lengths in a competitive 13-runner contest over 5f at this venue.

Besharah was well on top at the finish and scored with far more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

The daughter of Kodiac then had little difficulty following-up in a minor contest at Windsor, travelling strongly and only having to be pushed out to score by two lengths from Whatdoiwantthatfor.

Judged on those runs Besharah has nothing to fear from Kassia and Whatdoiwantthatfor who both re-oppose, especially as she has since improved and two cracking efforts to finish in the frame in Group 2 company.

In the last of those at Newmarket, Besharah ran on strongly and failed to overhaul the very smart Illuminate by just a short-head in the 6f Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

That effort sets a clear standard in this line-up, and a repeat if going to make Besharah very tough to beat.

The aforementioned Whatdoiwantthatfor has gone on to score twice since being defeated by Besharah on debut and looks sure to go well in the hands of the soon-to-be retired Richard Hughes, but Salvo is the dark horse in the contest and could well emerge as the biggest danger to the selection.

Trained by Charlie Fellowes, Salvo made a fine start to her career when winning a maiden at Newmarket in taking fashion.

After being held-up off the pace travelling strongly, the daughter of Acclamation made smooth headway a furlong out under Frankie Dettori before showing a nice turn of foot to score by 1 1/2 lengths.

Although the quality of those that Salvo beat is questionable, the manner of the victory suggested she was an above average sort and she looks well worth a crack at this level.

Coral’s top tip: Besharah is the one to beat here.