Ladies Day at Epsom hosts the third Classic of the season, The Oaks, as the best fillies of this generation lock horns bidding for Group 1 glory. The Coronation Cup is another top-class contest to look forward to on the day.
The Oaks is one of the most eagerly anticipated Flat races of the season and this year carries a purse that totals over £540,000 as the field goes in search of Oaks glory on the Downs.
Adrian Wall provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections on day one at Epsom's marquee meeting, where they race from 2.00-5.40, with the Oaks itself due off at 4.30.
4.30 – The Oaks (Group 1, 1m4f)
It has been a long time between drinks for master Irish handler Dermot Weld as far as the Oaks is concerned, as 43 years ago Blue Wind won the race for the yard. The Rosewell House trainer hasn't won the race since but that could all change as Chris Hayes will be chomping at the bit to get the leg up on EZALIYA, who has strong credentials sporting the famous silks of the Aga Khan.
The filly won a good renewal of the Salsabil Stakes on her return to action last month. That Navan Group 3 had some highly regarded fillies in the contest, including the second Purple Lily who went on to run a good race in fifth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh last weekend. Ezaliya was given a confident ride by Hayes on the day and they pounced late to win.
Whether she will handle a track like Epsom is up for debate, but she isn't that big which is always going to be a help around this course. The big danger could be the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ylang Ylang, who hit the line well when winning the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket last year.
A daughter of Frankel, she made a pleasing comeback when a close-up fifth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and she looks like a horse crying out for a step up in trip. Whether she will stay or not is the question, but she does look like a stayer.
3.10 – Coronation Cup (Group 1, 1m4f)
Last year's winner Emily Upjohn failed to get her head in front for the rest of the year, and she was also beaten in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on her return in March, so she looks plenty short enough this year despite having solid claims.
John & Thady Gosden's Sea The Stars mare will probably have been trained with this race in mind, but it's difficult to erase the 27-length thrashing she got at Ascot last summer out of the memory and at the prices she is worth taking on.
So, what's the alternative? He comes with risks attached but this could be the day for LUXEMBOURG to gain a fourth career Group 1 victory. Trained by Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore booked for the ride, he has two ways of running and was awful when tailed off in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, but he's a top-class horse on his day.
He saw off the attention of Bay Bridge when winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last year before finding only Mostahdaf too good at Royal Ascot.
Second to Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes, he was narrowly denied in the Hong Kong Cup behind the incredible Romantic Warrior, and that form alone gives him a huge chance here, for all he has to prove he stays this far.
2.00 – Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes (6f)
Before we tackle the Group 1 action, we have a cracking renewal of the Woodcote to whet the appetite, and Ralph Beckett's MEGALITHIC looks the one to be on with Hector Crouch booked for the job.
Heavily backed and sent off favourite for his debut over the minimum trip at Salisbury this month, the heavy ground probably caught him out on the day, but he still ran with plenty of enthusiasm and will come on a heap for the run.
The winner Pont Neuf had experience coming into the race and that told for a finish. He's the most likely winner here for me. Of the rest, Karl Burke's yard is flying and, although he has a bit to find, Assertively could be a big danger to all.
He got the job done narrowly on debut at Ripon in April and despite the form not working out well in that contest, he has scope to improve. Really fast ground seemed to catch him out when fourth at Beverley latest but he can bounce back.
3.45 – Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap (1m2f)
Leading Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani is training horses for Wathnan Racing in Britain this year, and HAUNTED DREAM could give him a first British winner of the year. Leading rider James Doyle is booked for the ride which could be significant.
Third in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket in 2022 when trained by Ed Dunlop, the gelding ran in some top handicaps including the Sky Bet Finale at York and the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last year.
Haunted Dreams won a Group 3 at Doha on his first start for Al-Jehani, and although he is high enough in the weights back on British soil off a mark of 104, he should be in the mix.
Of the others, Killybegs Warrior will be very dangerous if he's allowed to get things his own way out in front. He got taken on for the lead so wasn't seen to best effect at Chester when last seen, but he has dropped 2lb in the weights as a result and he's a classy sort who can win this on a going day.
