12.15pm Favourite Legatissimo faces 10 rivals in Friday’s Oaks
Legatissimo will face 10 rivals as she bids to supplement her 1,000 Guineas victory with success in Friday’s Oaks at Epsom.
David Wachman’s charge will be partnered by Ryan Moore as she attempts to become the first filly since Kazzia back in 2002 to follow up her win on the Rowley Mile in the mile-and-a-half fillies’ Classic.
John Gosden has declared both Star of Seville and Jazzi Top as he seeks to win back-to-back renewals of the race having saddled Taghrooda to victory 12 months ago.
Aidan O’Brien, who has won the race on four previous occasions, will be triple-handed in his quest for a fifth victory. The Ballydoyle master’s team consists of Cheshire Oaks winner Diamondsandrubies, last year’s Fillies’ Mile scorer Together Forever and Qualify.
Crystal Zvezda will fly the flag for Sir Michael Stoute in his attempt to win the race for the first time since 1987, while Luca Cumani, who was responsible for last year’s third Volume, will send out Lady Of Dubai.
The Andre Fabre-trained record-breaking yearling purchase Al Naamah will carry the hopes of France, while trainer Ralph Beckett, successful in 2008 with Look Here and 2013 with Talent, is to be represented by Lingfield Oaks trial runner-up Bellajeu. Completing the field is the Jessica Harrington-trained Jack Naylor. PA
Wednesday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The midweek racing programme which has, according to the Flat’s champion jockey Richard Hughes, become “saturated with rubbish” on Wednesday includes a seven-race card at Nottingham worth a total of £96,000 and another on the all-weather at Chelmsford this evening with £82,000 up for grabs. Hughes has only two rides at Nottingham, however, following the withdrawal of Glastonberry from the sprint handicap, and surprisingly could not find a mount in the feature event, the Listed £42,000 Nottinghamshire Oaks.
Pleasant Valley (4.20) steps up from handicap company here but could not have been more impressive when successful last time out, albeit against only three opponents. She should improve for the step up to 10 furlongs, whereas her main market rival, Charlie Appleby’s Dream Child, is stepping back from 12 furlongs despite being beaten only a neck over that trip at Goodwood last time out.
The Cashel Man (4.50) found abrupt improvement when stepped up to 14 furlongs at Redcar last week and will be difficult to beat under a penalty, while at Ripon’s evening meeting, Miss Van Gogh (7.10), who runs here in preference to a race at Nottingham, can set the record straight after being disqualified from first place at Hamilton last time.
Thahab (7.50) and Gentlemusic (8.50) stand out on the card at Chelmsford, while Perfect Timing (3.40) should go close on the jumps card at Fontwell.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Monday
Queen Catrine 9-4
Great Page 4-1
Tropics 7-1
Tuesday
Sarangoo 9-4
Instant Attraction 9-1
Honeysuckle Lil 9-2
And our leader is …
Sportingbest +11
… who had a double for the second day in a row, adding Sarangoo and Honeysuckle Lil to Queen Catrine and Great Page. Judge2301 (+10.25) and BearRides (+9) come next.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.50 Nottingham, 4.20 Nottingham, 8.10 Ripon.
This week’s prize is a £25 bet on the Derby, offered by those generous souls at Coral! If, on Friday, you think you may have won, keep an eye on your email inbox, as we’ll have to contact you on Friday evening to arrange your bet. You could specify in advance how you’d like your bet to be placed in the event that you win.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -6.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
