Oaks antepost favourite Ylang Ylang is set to face 11 rivals including stablemate Rubies Are Red at Epsom on Friday.
The Frankel filly was a close fifth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month and looks to be crying out for the additional four furlongs provided by the third Classic of the season. The Irish contingent is completed by Salsabil Stakes first and fourth, Ezeliya and Caught U Looking.
Forest Fairy is bidding to follow in the hooves of the legendary Enable after capturing the Cheshire Oaks and Ralph Beckett’s leading contender is the only unbeaten filly in the field. The Kimpton-based handler also saddles Oaks Trial heroine You Got To Me and Royal runner Treasure.
Snowfall was the last horse to follow up victory in the Musidora Stakes and Secret Satire – the mount of Oisin Murphy – attempts to become the latest to achieve the feat.
Charlie Appleby steps 1000 Guineas ninth Dance Sequence up in trip, Karl Burke captured a couple of Classics last weekend and pitches Making Dreams into the mix, while Seaward and War Chimes complete the field for Friday’s 16:30.
The latest Oaks odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Oaks verdict
Timeform: YLANG YLANG looked ready for further when a promising fifth in the 1000 Guineas and can provide her yard with a seventh Oaks win since 2015. It’s 43 years since Dermot Weld broke his Classic duck in this race with Blue Wind but he looks to have found a live contender in Ezeliya, who should relish 1½m. Ralph Beckett in 2013 was the last trainer other than Aidan O’Brien and the Gosdens to taste success in this and Cheshire Oaks winner Forest Fairy looks the pick of his quartet.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Oaks 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Oaks 2024.
Caught U Looking
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: C. T. Keane Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Group 3 winner at 2 but only sixth in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on final start. Creditable 2 lengths fourth of 7 to Ezeliya in Group 3 at Navan (1¼m, good to soft) on reappearance 34 days ago. Up in trip again. Hard to make a case for.
**
Dance Sequence
Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2
7f Group 3 winner at 2. Beaten a neck in Nell Gwyn on Newmarket reappearance but could only finish ninth of 16 in the 1000 Guineas there 18 days later. Significantly up in trip.
**
Ezeliya
Trainer: D. K. Weld Jockey: C. D. Hayes Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
Took her record to 2-3 when seeing off 6 rivals (including Caught U Looking) in 1¼m Navan Group 3 (good to soft) on reappearance, relishing the step up in trip. Should be even more to come at 1½m (dam placed in Irish Oaks). Player.
****
Forest Fairy
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Waldgeist filly who has looked a smart prospect when winning both starts, latterly the Cheshire Oaks (11f, good), leading near the line having had to wait for run. Definitely capable of better for a stable no stranger to success in this.
****
Making Dreams
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Three wins in a busy 2-y-o season and took her form up another notch with 10.5f Saint-Cloud Group 3 success (heavy) on her reappearance in April. Not in the same form when only sixth in a Longchamp Group 2 since.
**
Rubies Are Red
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Sister to Arc winner Found. Has shaped encouragingly when placed on all 3 starts, showing useful form when ½-length second of 7 to You Got To Me in Lingfield Oaks trial (11.5f, good to firm) 20 days ago, staying on strongly after losing her place coming down the hill. More to come.
***
Seaward
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Won a 1m Ascot novice last September. Well held in Fillies’ Mile on her final 2-y-o start but much improved when 1¼ lengths third of 6 to Forest Fairy in Cheshire Oaks (11f, good) on reappearance 23 days ago.
***
Secret Satire
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
Progressive form, winning the Musidora at York (1¼m, good) 16 days ago by 2 lengths from Francophone (won since). Likely capable of better but her stamina isn’t assured now stepping up to 1½m.
***
Treasure
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: James Doyle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11
Made a winning debut in the mud at Nottingham last autumn. Stepped up on that form when 1½ lengths fourth of 7 to stablemate You Got To Me in Lingfield Oaks Trial (11.5f, good to firm) 20 days ago. Open to progress for a yard which has won this twice.
***
War Chimes
Trainer: David Menuisier Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Listed winner on heavy ground at 2. Creditable efforts in defeat at Group level in France this year but there’s little in her record to suggest she’ll be up to the task here.
**
Ylang Ylang
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 12
Frankel filly who won 3 of her 5 starts as a juvenile, notably the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Good ¾-length fifth of 16 to Elmalka in 1000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, good) on reappearance 26 days ago, nearest finish. Promises to be suited by this much longer trip. Leading claims.
*****
You Got To Me
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Hector Crouch Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
AW winner at 2 who was having only her third start when fending off Rubies Are Red by ½ length in Lingfield Oaks Trial (11.5f, good to firm) on her reappearance 3 weeks ago. One of 4 in this for the stable. Looks capable of better again.
***
Today’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Epsom today
- Rory Delargy’s Epsom tips for today
- Mick Fitzgerald’s horse racing tips for Epsom today
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for today‘s Epsom action
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips at Epsom today
Read These Next on the Oaks
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the Oaks 2024? Epsom date, start time, runners and betting
- Oaks 2024 trends and stats for Epsom 4.30 on Friday
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