Shield looks solid for Cecil

Sacred Shield may not be the biggest star in Sir Henry Cecil's yard but the filly can still give the trainer a decent winner at Newbury tomorrow.

The daughter of Beat Hollow was far from the finished article in one start as a juvenile but the patient Cecil adopted his customary waiting tactics with her and he was duly rewarded when she struck gold on her three-year-old bow.

While that Wolverhampton maiden was a low-key race, Sacred Shield could do little more than win and she did so in comfortable style, beating Sweet Possession by two-and-a-half lengths.

Switched to handicap company next time up at Salisbury, she started off on a mark of 69 and put up a bold effort, eventually having to give best by just under a length but the experience would not have been wasted.

Sacred Shield then tackled better company at Goodwood and she looked to have sealed victory before Aldwick Bay swooped late and fast to deny her by a head.

Sacred Shield, who will be ridden by Tom Queally, still remains pretty unexposed and despite lining up off an increased mark of 75 in the one-mile-two-furlong Enjoy Junior Rugby With Tadley Tigers Fillies' Handicap, she should take a lot of beating.