Minding heads a field of 9 fillies’ for tomorrow’s Oaks with Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas winner the 4/5 favourite to secure a second classic under Ryan Moore. The daughter of Galileo was turned over at odds-on a fortnight ago at the Curragh in her quest to become a dual-Guineas heroine but she undoubtedly had her excuses that day, banging her head leaving the stalls, and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by Epsom’s forecast good-to-soft ground. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper reported that 22mm fell over the track overnight on Tuesday, which should make The Oaks a severe test of the stamina and it will be fascinating to see whether the dual Gp 1 winner stays the trip, stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time.
It could prove an excellent weekend for jockey Silvestre de Sousa, with outside fancies in both classics aboard Harlequeen and Red Verdon, 20/1 with BetVictor for the Oaks and Derby respectively, and he must go close aboard Mutamid (9.10) in this evening’s finale at Kempton. The selection was well-backed when finishing second on his seasonal debut at Southwell and he is likely to strip fitter to go close from the ideal draw in stall six.
SDS could spring an upset on Eastern Lady in the maiden over a mile and a half, however preference lies instead with Roger Varian’s Point of View (6.40) bouncing back under Andrea Atzeni. The well-bred son of New Approach was a beaten favourite in a competitive maiden last time out at Newmarket but sets a fair standard on his two career outings thus far and can shed the maiden tag stepping up in trip.
Sir Mark Prescott’s string appearing to be coming into form and after failing to land a gamble at the track two weeks ago his filly Boost (7.10) can reimburse punters and get the job done in the 6f Maiden. The selection is a homebred by Cheveley Park Stud; by Pivotal out of connections‘ Gp 1 winning juvenile Hooray and is bred to be an outstanding 2-y-o. She was well-backed prior to last month’s debut over course and distance but was ultimately too green to ever land a blow. Nevertheless, she was nearest at the finish that day and with a run under her belt is a confident selection to make amends under Luke Morris.
The pair combine for some interesting runners this afternoon at Lingfield Park, where Dusty Raven (5.10) looks potentially chucked-in from an opening mark of 59. The son of Raven’s Pass showed little in a trio of all-weather maidens but remains in the right hands and should improve for the step up in trip.
In the earlier 9f Handicap Martin Smith’s Bridge of Sighs (4.40) must go close under talented pilot Oisin Murphy. The selection remains 3lb of the handicapper after an excellent second last time out at Sandown and is just 5lb higher than when bolting-up at the track in a 10f Handicap just six weeks ago under Adam Kirby. He was unfortunate to bump into one last time out on the turf and should prove even better returning to his preferred polytrack surface.
There’s action on the turf at Ripon where Dalton (2.20) is a fascinating debutant for the David O’Meara yard and is likely to prove difficult to beat under Philip Makin. Owned and bred by David Armstrong, the Mayson colt made an encouraging debut for former handler Richard Fahey when third behind two smart types last month at Ayr, prior to connections’ moving their horses onto new yards thereafter. He can use the benefit of experience to get the better of Mark Johnston’s newcomer Jacquard.
Kevin Ryan’s Laughton scored for column readers at 6/1 earlier in the week at Redcar and the red-hot trainer can go in again with Count Montecristo (3.20) under Tom Eaves. The selection shaped with plenty of promise on his seasonal debut at Beverley, tiring when attempting to make all over a mile, and that effort should put him spot-on to go close this aft.
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