EPSOM PREVIEW:AIDAN O'BRIEN brought off a memorable Oaks-Derby double in 2001, and although the champion trainer will be hoping that Perfect Truth can land the first leg of a similar achievement at Epsom today, his hopes could be foiled by an emotional success for Midday.
As expected, O’Brien has six of the final field of 13 colts left in at yesterday’s Derby declaration stage, for which Sea The Stars remains a 5 to 2 favourite in a premier classic dominated by Irish-trained runners.
They also include Jim Bolger’s Gan Amhras, and Bolger has his own prospects of a classic double over the next 24 hours as Oh Goodness Me also lines up alongside Perfect Truth for today’s Oaks.
Bolger is a former Oaks winner as well, courtesy of the 50 to 1 Jet Ski Lady in 1991.
But when it comes to Epsom classics, and the Oaks in particular, the legendary Newmarket trainer Henry Cecil has carved out a niche all of his own.
A four-time Derby winner, Cecil has dominated the Oaks so much that he is pursuing a remarkable ninth win in the race. He has twice brought off the classic double in 1985 and 1999.
Light Shift provided a memorably emotional Oaks victory for the Englishman two years ago, and a win for Midday this afternoon would be equally popular.
Co Waterford-born jockey Tom Queally provides an Irish element to the Midday story, and the opportunity for a first classic for him looks real enough on the basis of a hugely impressive trial win at Lingfield last month.
That such a performance came at a distance just short of today’s, and continued an upward profile over a course roughly similar to Epsom, looks significant against nine opponents, some of whom are not guaranteed to stay the trip.
Strictly speaking, Midday has something to find on ratings with the likes of Sariska and Rainbow Lady, but Cecil was making encouraging noises yesterday.
“On Timeform figures she is rated 108 and Sariska is 116, so she’s going to have to improve. But I feel she has improved and must have a chance,” he said.
Sariska passed out Rainbow View in ante-post betting with an impressive success in the Musidora at York, and although her sire, Pivotal, is not an obvious stamina influence, trainer Michael Bell is confident she will stay.
“Her dam won over a mile and six. She has a high cruising speed and I’d be pretty confident she will handle the track. She goes left-handed and looks to tick every box,” he said.
Perfect Truth hung on to land the Cheshire Oaks, so Oh Goodness Me could be a better Irish hope based on a good run in the Curragh Guineas.
Rainbow View is an intriguing contender as she attempts to bounce back from an odds-on failure in the Newmarket Guineas. An outstanding juvenile, she has the class to be a danger to all, but that Guineas effort didn’t dilute concerns that she may simply not have trained on.
Last year’s Oaks heroine Look Here is back at Epsom today for the Coronation Cup, where O’Brien runs last season’s Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire.
The latter’s first start of the season at Chester turned into a farce in terms of pace, so better can be expected now from the Montjeu colt.
Youmzain has the form to land a third Group One of his career, but Mick Channon’s colt, twice an Arc runner-up, does need things to go his way and this unique track is difficult enough without chance adding to your task.
Eastern Anthem is back in the Godolphin camp after successful stint in Dubai, but proven form around Epsom is always valuable and Look Here has that in spades. She proved her Oaks win wasn’t a fluke with a fine run subsequently in the Leger, and Ralph Beckett’s filly can make it a Group One double day for the fairer sex.
