Taghrooda the tip in the Oaks
Last Updated: 05/06/14 3:52pm
Our Andy Charles goes through the runners in Friday's Investec Oaks and fancies Taghrooda to come out on top.
AMAZING MARIA Trainer: Ed Dunlop. Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Very progressive as a juvenile, but this will be her first run since winning Group 3 Prestige Stakes in August. Stamina questions and lack of winners from her yard enough to pass her over. She could well prove to be a filly to follow later in the season though. Rating: 5/10
ANIPA Trainer: Roger Varian. Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
A tiny filly, but what she lacks in size she more than makes up for in heart. Proved a game winner of the Cheshire Oaks last time out but will have to improve plenty on that form even though her abundant stamina will be a major help. Needs a top-three finish to justify supplementary entry fee. Rating: 4/10
DAZZLING Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Jockey: Seamie Heffernan
Predictably well-bred contender from the Ballydoyle but Dazzling is most likely of their team to be in as a pacemaker. Well beaten by Tarfasha in the Blue Wind Stakes last time out and seems unlikely to be turning that around. Rating: 1/10
HONOR BOUND Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Jockey: Jim Crowley
Game winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial last time out, her second win in a fortnight, but that leaves her with a lot to do even though her trainer has a record of improving fillies rapidly. Another of the four supplementary entries. Rating: 2/10
IHTIMAL Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor. Jockey: Kieren Fallon
This Godolphin filly was our tip for the 1,000 Guineas last month, when we said she might even be better suited by the Oaks trip. She finished a fine third at Newmarket and looks certain to run a big race, but there are nagging doubts about her staying the trip that see her bypassed now. Rating: 7/10
INCHILA Trainer: Peter Chapple-Hyam. Jockey: Jamie Spencer
We always like to try and find an outsider to hit the frame, and our Oaks pick is this likeable daughter of Dylan Thomas. Although only fourth behind Volume at Newbury last time, she travelled like the best filly in the race for a long way and she should be well suited by the added test of stamina. Worth a few pennies at likely big odds. Rating: 8/10
ISLAND REMEDE Trainer: Ed Dunlop. Jockey: James Doyle
Has the same yard form concerns as Amazing Maria to overcome and doesn't seem to be as talented as her stable companion either. Only fifth at Lingfield and looks to be one of the less-likely contenders. Rating: 1/10
LILY RULES Trainer: Tony Coyle. Jockey: Barry McHugh
Ran a massive personal best in the Musidora at York last month but that might still not be enough to get her into the frame as she seems likely to be more suited by 10 furlongs than 12. Paying £30,000 to get into the field suggests connections might think differently though. Rating: 2/10
MADAME CHIANG Trainer: David Simcock. Jockey: William Buick
Clearly progressive filly based on her win in the Musidora last month, which was only her second career run after a 33/1 maiden win at Yarmouth. Looks one of the most certain stayers in the field but has been off the bridle early in both wins and that could be costly at a track like Epsom. Rating: 5/10
MARSH DAISY Trainer: Hugh Morrison. Jockey: Jimmy Fortune
Stayed on strongly to win the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood last time, a big step up on her previous win in an ordinary Ascot maiden. Added to the field for £30,000 and might prove best of the supplementary entries, but the daughter of Pivotal could do with a bit more rain. Rating: 7/10
MARVELLOUS Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Jockey: Joseph O'Brien
Stepped up markedly on her previous form when running away with the Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh. Her defeat of Lightning Thunder, who beat Ihtimal at Newmarket, reads very well but although she should stay, and possibly improve for the longer trip, it will be four furlongs than she has ever tried before. Rating: 9/10
MOMENTUS Trainer: David Simcock. Jockey: Harry Bentley
Another beautifully-bred filly, but she has only run twice and finished third twice in her career so far. Asking a lot to get competitive in this open contest and needs to find more than a stone's worth of improvement...at least! Rating: 1/10
PALACE Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Jockey: Ryan Moore
Another contender from Ballydoyle and will no doubt have her supporters because of that. Ryan Moore's presence in the saddle adds to the ground-swell but her form is nowhere near good enough to win this and she was well behind Marvellous in the Guineas. Would have to improve a lot for the trip to turn that around. Rating: 3/10
REGARDEZ Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Best run came last time out when third in the Musidora but that still leaves her with plenty to find and, based on jockey bookings, she might not even be the first choice from the Beckett yard. Rating: 2/10
TAGHROODA Trainer: John Gosden. Jockey: Paul Hanagan
Romped clear to win the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket just over a month ago, and although that form has taken a number of knocks since, Taghrooda looked a class apart that day. Seems sure to stay well and looked to cope well with the humps and bumps at HQ. Soft ground would be a worry but that looks unlikely and she appears very solid. Rating: 10/10
TARFASHA Trainer: Dermot Weld. Jockey: Pat Smullen
Impressive winner of the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas last time out to move into a prominent position in the Oaks market. That form leaves her a bit to find but her trainer is sending out regular winners and she has to be in the shake-up, especially if there is a little bit of cut in the ground. Rating: 7/10
VOLUME Trainer: Luca Cumani. Jockey: Richard Hughes
Kept on well to win a Listed race at Newbury last time out, with Inchila behind, but the 10 furlong trip of that contest could prove to be her optimum. Not the worst outsider in the field though. Rating: 6/10
VERDICT: A tough race to get to grips with and still plenty of question-marks to answer even among the leading contenders. Although the form doesn't look as good in hindsight, Taghrooda looked so good in winning at Newmarket it would be foolhardy to leave her out of the equation. We'll take John Gosden's filly to come out on top of Aidan O'Brien's first-string Marvellous with outsider Inchila out-running her odds to fill the frame. If there is enough cut in the ground, do not rule Marsh Daisy out from a bold bid for glory either.