Epsom Oaks Preview: Gosden filly to be pitch perfect

The Derby and the Oaks have a habit of telling contrasting stories to each other every season, and whilst we could well see a dual classic-winner emerge from the Derby, the Oaks has a much more open feel to it, with Guineas winner Billesdon Brook heading elsewhere.

The filly currently at the top of the market is the highly unexposed Lah Ti Dar, who is unbeaten in just two starts to date. She has far less experience under her belt than some of her rivals, but that is a feather in her cap, considering that she was able to run to a smart level when winning the listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket at the beginning of the month, despite showing signs that she is still learning on the job.

John Gosden, of course, won this race last year with another precociously talented filly in the form of Enable, and it would be no surprise should Lah Ti Dar find the improvement necessary to take this, especially considering she is a sister to the very smart So Mi Dar, who herself showed plenty of improvement as a three-year-old.

Ballydoyle have a strong hand once again

It is rare that Aidan O'Brien doesn't have a major say in British classics, though, and he has 11 still entered in the race at the time of writing, though of those Happily has been ruled out - she heads to Sunday's Irish 1000 Guineas instead. It can be tricky to work out which of the contingent will take their chance, but Bye Bye Baby, Magical and Magic Wand are perhaps the three most interesting entries, though it wouldn't be too much of a surpise should I Can Fly bounce back from her poor run in the 1000 Guineas last time.

Magical clashed with Happily on a couple of occasions last term with the score reading 1-1, and her two-year-old form, which includes a success in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last August, sets the standard on Timeform ratings here. She can be excused below par runs in her final two starts last term and her respectable reappearance run suggested she'll be much sharper if taking her chance, though she looks vulnerable to an unexposed sort.

Happily leads home a 1-2-3 for Aidan O'Brien in the Moyglare Stud Stakes after a thrilling finish with stablemate Magical: pic.twitter.com/YheAUsSogN

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 10, 2017

One who ticks that box is Magic Wand, who was an impressive winner of the Cheshire Oaks last time, a route to Epsom that was taken by Enable last year. She hadn't shown too much in her two starts prior to that, but the fact she was the choice of Ryan Moore on the Roodee suggested she was highly thought of, and whilst she will need another good deal of improvement to figure here, she's a filly on the up and is respected. Bye Bye Baby is an interesting inclusion, having stepped up on her previous form when taking a Group 3 contest at the Curragh last time. She's open to further improvement, though that success came on heavy.

Together Forever let down Rick Astley fans when only seventh in this race in 2015, but her full-sister, Forever Together, is not without claims if attempting to better that result here. She looked unlucky not to finish closer when second to Magic Wand at Chester (hampered on the home turn and conceded first run) and is open to improvement herself, though she could well head for calmer waters than this, with several entries coming up.

The Brits can serve it up to O'Brien

The market is populated by a host of Coolmore fillies, but Lah Ti Dar isn't the only British-trained runner who's prominent in the betting. Charlie Appleby's Wild Illusion, who was well-backed when a close fourth in the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance, is the current second favourite for the race. A Group 1 winner in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly last season, she shaped encouragingly considering she was thrown into the deep end last time, and is likely to have a big say here, with the step up to a mile and a half expected to suit on breeding.

William Haggas won this race in 2011 with Dancing Rain, and he will be hoping to repeat the feat with Sea of Class, another unexposed sort who looked smart when taking a listed contest at Newbury last time. A daughter of Sea The Stars, she's only had two runs under her belt, but is bred to stay the trip, and connections may be tempted to let her take her chance. Perfect Clarity is another British-trained filly to note for the Clive Cox yard, having won the Lingfield trial in decisive fashion last time. The form of that win isn't close to an Oaks-winning standard, but she gave the impression that she could have stacks more improvement in her yet and, as such, deserves her place.

Conclusion

A wide open renewal of the Oaks, which contains plenty of live contenders at this stage. Aidan O'Brien once again has a strong hand, Magical potentially his best chance of a seventh win in the race, but the unexposed Lah Ti Dar was deeply impressive last time and could well improve past these. Sea of Class, Wild Illusion and Magic Wand are others to note in a fascinating heat.

Reccommended bet:

Back Lah Ti Dar to win the 2018 Epsom Oaks at 5/2

Click here to read our Epsom Derby 2018 preview