Emily Upjohn heads the field of eight for an exciting renewal of the Yorkshire Oaks on day two of the Ebor Festival at York.
The dual Group 1 winner is winless from four starts in this calendar year and the pressure will be on jockey Kieran Shoemark after a heavily-criticised ride in the Nassau Stakes last time out.
John & Thady Gosden boast a second leading contender in the form of Queen Of The Pride, who is seeking a hat-trick after landing the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks last time out.
Aidan O’Brien, who has saddled four of the last five winners of the Yorkshire Oaks, also fires two darts in the form of Ribblesdale heroine Port Fairy and Content, who was second in the Irish Oaks last time out.
The latter will need to reverse the form with You Got To Me – trained by Ralph Beckett – who claimed the spoils in the Classic.
Ribblesdale second Lava Stream completes the Classic quartet in the clash of the generations.
Listed winners Mistral Star and Sea Theme complete the line-up for Thursday’s 15:35.
The latest Yorkshire 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.
Yorkshire Oaks 2024 verdict
Timeform: QUEEN OF THE PRIDE looked a Group 1 filly in the making when winning the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock and shades the vote over stablemate Emily Upjohn, who should have no excuses here. There isn’t much between 3-y-os Content and You Got To Me judged on their showing in the Irish Oaks and they are also expected to be bang there.
*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
Yorkshire Oaks 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Yorkshire Oaks 2024.
Emily Upjohn
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 2
High-class mare but not at that level this season, though a reproduction of her Pretty Polly second at the Curragh puts her bang in the mix, and she was an impressive winner of the Musidora as a 3-y-o on her only visit here.
****
Mistral Star
Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: William Buick Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 4
Steadily progressive and proved suited by the strong pace when comfortable winner of Newmarket listed race last month. That form is solid so she’s not taken lightly despite this big step up in class.
***
Queen Of The Pride
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 6
Beautifully-bred filly who won the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock on only her fourth career start and took a big step forward when following up in Lancashire Oaks there 7 weeks ago. Open to further improvement and bold bid expected.
*****
Sea Theme
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 1
Looked a smart prospect when landing good C&D listed event at this meeting last summer. Failed to build on that next 3 starts but came good when wide-margin winner of listed event at Clairefontaine last month. This much tougher, however.
**
Content
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 3
Caught the eye when third in Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and arguably unlucky in the Irish Oaks when ¾-length second to You Got To Me last month, meeting trouble having been dropped out. That was her first attempt at this trip so may do better again.
****
Lava Stream
Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 7
Completed hat-trick when narrow winner of listed race at Goodwood before excellent neck second to Port Fairy in Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, needs to bounce back from a lacklustre display in the Irish Oaks.
**
Port Fairy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 8
Just denied in Cheshire Oaks before game winner of Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. However, ran no sort of race in the Irish Oaks and overlooked by Ryan Moore once again.
**
You Got To Me
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Hector Crouch Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 5
All-the-way winner of the Oaks Trial at Lingfield on return before making the frame in Oaks at Epsom and Ribblesdale at Ascot. Took another step forward fitted with a tongue strap when winning the Irish Oaks at the Curragh from Content, so she must be respected.
****
Thursday’s York Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for York on Thursday
- A 33/1 shot features in Rory Delargy’s York betting tips
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for York on Thursday
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips for day two of the Ebor Festival
Read More
- How to watch the York Ebor Festival: TV channel guide and free live stream
- York Ebor Festival race times and day-by-day schedule
- When is the Nunthorpe Stakes 2024? York date, start time, runners and betting
- When is the Ebor Handicap 2024? York date, start time, runners and betting
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