Betfred Oaks: runner-by-runner guide and 20-1 tip

Impressed when beating stablemate Gone By on testing ground at Newbury in October and took a big step forward on much quicker ground when third behind Amelia Earhart and I’m The One in the Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance.  

Missed the break there and wouldn’t want to repeat that, but plenty to like about that performance and stronger test of stamina here should see her to better effect. 

Least exposed in the field but this half-sister to German Derby runner-up Mr Hollywood looks capable of taking another step forward which would put her firmly in the mix. 

Far from your typical Oaks favourite for the Ballydoyle team, the strapping Camelot filly winless in three maiden starts, and then fourth in the Weld Park Stakes, before finally breaking her duck in style in a back-end maiden at Leopardstown (race won by Minnie Hauk 12 months earlier). 

Continued her progress (in first-time hood/blinkers combo) with a smooth success in the Cheshire Oaks, following in the footsteps of her brother Cleveland who won the two-mile Chester Cup there for the yard as a four-year-old. 

Stamina clearly runs in the family, and should continue to progress with racing this season, but looks short enough in the betting for what she has achieved so far on the track. 

Won the Group Two Airlie Stakes here last June, before giving Precise a real battle in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes following a break.  

No-show in the Cheveley Park on her next start, and again in the Nell Gwyn on her reappearance last month, and wasn’t helped by ducking right at the start when six lengths behind old rival Precise in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last time.  

Shapes as if this longer trip will suit (dam won the Munster Oaks over a mile and a half) but will need to take a big step forward to feature prominently. 

Long way behind Precise on debut but improved with each start prior to disappointing effort as favourite in a Group Three at the Curragh on her final run at two. 

Failed to feature in a similar contest on reappearance, but much more encouraging effort - up in trip - when coming well clear in the Lingfield Oaks Trial earlier this month. 

Ryan Moore very complimentary about her after that performance, but bare form leaves her with plenty to find (runner-up rated 85 and fifth well beaten in handicap company since). 

Ready winner at Southwell in the winter who improved for an understandably modest Dubai Duty Free Stakes reappearance over an inadequate trip when third to Legacy Links in the Musidora at York last time. 

Bred to improve again for this longer distance, with all three siblings – including Great Voltigeur winner Pride Of Arras - doing their best work over this trip. 

May need some more time before we see her at her best, though. 

Caught the eye on debut at Newbury in August when third behind subsequent 1,000 Guineas runner-up Evolutionist and duly made no mistake when making all at Haydock the following month. 

Rallied for fourth behind Precise in the Group One Fillies’ Mile on her final start that term, and showed the benefits of another winter under her belt when travelling kindly – and then battling well - on her way to success in the Musidora on her return. 

Jockey keen on heading down this route – rather than the Prix de Diane – and both run style and pedigree (1m4f-winning dam, a sister to Frankel, is a granddaughter of a Lancashire Oaks winner) suggest that the longer trip should be within range.  

Respected. 

Wolverhampton novice winner who continued her progression when landing a handicap over shorter here (from a BHA mark of 80) on her reappearance. 

Took another step forward when third (three quarters of a length and one place behind Earth Shot) at Goodwood, but, while clearly progressing quickly, this would be a tough assignment. 

Beaten on debut at Fairyhouse but took steps forward in each of her subsequent four juvenile starts, which included wins in the Prestige at Goodwood, Moyglare at the Curragh, and Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.  

Failed to get involved when strong in the betting ahead of her return in the 1,000 Guineas back there earlier this month, but looked much straighter when turning the tables on stablemate True Love in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh three weeks later. 

Quick turnaround here, but clearly takes her racing well and - while she is by Starspangledbanner - shapes as if she will relish the extra distance. 

There are mixed messages from her pedigree, but it’s worth noting that O'Brien won the 2015 Oaks with Qualify who was also by an Australian sprinter (Fastnet Rock) and, like Precise, out of a Galileo mare. 

Green when fourth on debut at Leicester in October but learned plenty and quickly broke maiden tag at Kempton later that month.  

Dictated when making most on her reappearance at Lingfield in April, and then far from disgraced when upped in trip/switched back to turf when chasing home Cameo back there the following month. 

Sister to the yard’s 150-1 Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal, so not one to rule out completely, but plenty of stamina in the family and may not quite have the speed for this assignment. 

Failed to make an impact in three Group starts following debut win, before appearing to appreciate a greater test of stamina when landing a heavy-ground Curragh Group Three on her final start at two. 

Set the (steady) fractions for most of the Cheshire Oaks on reappearance, but quickly left behind by the main protagonists there, and – though from the family of Oaks winners Minding and Tuesday and likely to come on for the run - not hard to see the same situation occurring here unless she takes a big step forward. 

Bit to find with Cameo and Sugar Island on two-year-old form, having chased home each in her two starts last season, but only nailed on the line when collared by Moyglare fifth Skydance on her reappearance at Leopardstown. 

Made no mistake when travelling smoothly and quickening sharply in a strongly-run Group Three Salsabil Stakes at Navan just 13 days later. 

Dam improved with racing (started her three-year-old campaign rated 86 and ended it rated 105), and no surprise if Thundering On follows in her footsteps, with this longer trip likely to be within reach. 

Quickly came to hand last season, winning Chelmsford debut at the start of June and producing a series of solid efforts up in grade, most notably with season-closing second (beaten three and a quarter lengths) to Precise in the Fillies’ Mile. 

Belied 33-1 SP when producing career-best third to True Love in the 1,000 Guineas at HQ on reappearance, leading the near-side group until overtaken by the winner a furlong out, and appearing to be coming back again at the line. 

Connections delighted with that effort in what they described as ‘an Oaks trial’ and there could be plenty of improvement to come now up in trip (dam won over 10 furlongs at Sandown on her first start as a three-year-old). 

In contrast to stablemate True Love, who seemed to lack a bit of sparkle in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, Precise appeared to relish the quick turnaround from Newmarket, and she looks the type who will stand plenty of racing this season. 

As a result, she looks the pick of the Ballydoyle runners with some minor pedigree concerns overridden by her running style (and trainer’s confidence). 

Legacy Link has done her winning at Haydock and York, so the Gosdens’ decision to take her for an Epsom gallop looks a smart move, but the best British trial this season may prove to be the Cheshire Oaks. 

Though not run at a strong gallop, both Amelia Earhart and the third A LA PROCHAINE enhanced their reputations. The last-named is less of the finished article but caught the eye when running on from off the pace under a considerate James Doyle ride, and she makes most appeal at the prices at 20-1. 

“I’m confident she’s up to the grade and pretty confident she will handle the track, but I’m just not entirely certain how good she is,” said her trainer Ralph Beckett recently. 

But Beckett knows all about Oaks winners – he won it with Look Here in 2008 and Talent in 2013, both of whom were overlooked in the betting – and his Lope De Vega filly is fancied to follow in the footsteps of 2014 winner Taghrooda who was the last horse to win after just two starts. 

Impressive Navan winner Thundering On and Venetian Lace, whose form stacks up very strongly, look the pick of the rest. 

1. A LA PROCHAINE 2. PRECISE 3. LEGACY LINK