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Yorkshire Oaks preview

Feature event of the day is the Yorkshire Oaks, a race twice won by Barshiba, the dam of yesterday's surprise Juddmonte winner, Arabian Queen. Unlike most traditional Oaks races, this is also open to older fillies and mares.

Taking up the challenge is international racecalling prodigy Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke.

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Darley Yorkshire Oaks
3yo+ F&M 12f
Group 1, £335,000

1 Lustrous (33/1 generally): Fourth beaten ten lengths in the race last year. Best run this year a ¾ length second to Lady Tiana in the G2 Lancashire Oaks. Outclassed.

2 Miss Marjurie (20/1): Has improved, from this year compared to last, with two victories at LR level at Goodwood and Haydock over 12f on good ground in the Daisy Warwick Stakes and Pinnacle Stakes. However only third in the G2 Lancashire Oaks behind Lady Tiana and Lustrous last time, on good to soft however, so obviously likes the ground quick however today it is likely to be good to soft. Place.

3 Covert Love (7/2): Has been a huge improver that was a top winner of the G1 Irish Oaks last time after LR win at Newcastle in the Hoppings Stakes. Ground could be a concern and not sure if she’s the best filly/mare in Europe but with no standout in this year’s renewal of this race, Taghrooda/Tapestry 2014, The Fugue 2013 etc, she’s gonna be hard to catch.

4 Crystal Zvezda (12/1): Extremely easy winner of the LR Fillies’ Trial Stakes before pulling extremely hard in The Oaks, which over 12f at Epsom you quite frankly can’t do, and subsequently ran a 46 Length tenth of 11. Now maybe that took something out of her as she was only second in the LR Lyric Fillies’ Stakes, which on her Newbury form she should’ve won easily. Each-Way is the safe way with her.

5 Curvy (5/1): Top 3YO filly who beat the boys, including Giovanni Canaletto although maybe luckily, in the G3 Gallinule Stakes and then won the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot strongly before every chance in the G1 Irish Oaks when a two length third when favourite. Fair chance and ground should be fine for her.

6 Easter (16/1): LR Hurry Harriet Stakes winner last time at Gowran Park however looks outclassed in all honesty.

7 Jack Naylor (6/1): Always had a nice opinion of this filly. Third to Found in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac last year and this year has run a top fourth in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, an unlucky sixth in The Oaks and a second to Covert Love in the Irish Oaks. Could reverse form with Covert Love and she handles ground and is very consistent and will run well.

8 Lady Of Dubai (7/1): Easy winner of the LR Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood before a good third to Qualify and Legatissimo in The Oaks but was only sixth of nine in the G1 Nassau Stakes beaten 5.25 lengths by Legatissimo. Each-Way.

9 Outstanding (20/1): LR Naas Oaks Trial winner in June before a top third to superstar US 3YO Filly Lady Eli in the G1 Belmont Oaks. 20/1 looks nice odds on that form.

10 Pleascach (7/1): G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner, although hasn’t really raced to the same form since. Second to Curvy in the Ribblesdale and only fifth of nine in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes. Slightly overrated.

11 Sea Calisi (12/1): Really interesting French runner. Mickael Barzalona rides for Francois Doumen, doesn’t have too many UK runners with the last time he brought a horse to England being Top Trip’s third to Estimate in the 2013 Gold Cup. Narrow second to Kataniya in the G3 Prix de Royaumont but then easily reversed form with her in the G2 Prix de Malleret last time, both times over 12f, however Kataniya was a clear last of six in the G2 Prix de la Nonette on Tuesday as favourite, unsuitable distance though. It was interesting to see her skip that for this however. Fascinating and don’t discount.

Not an overly strong renewal of the Yorkshire Oaks where (3) Covert Love was a strong winner of the Irish Oaks and can follow up here even though she’s no standout. (7) Jack Naylor is really consistent and deserves to win and certainly can do that. (9) Outstanding looks nice E-W value at 20/1 and can run well. (5) Curvy was ordinary I thought, compared to previous form, in the Irish Oaks but can bounce back. (11) Sea Calisi is a very interesting runner but will her form hold up? (8) Lady Of Dubai was average in the Nassau but if she runs to her previous form she can be in it. (2) Miss Marjurie looks outclassed but is in form. (4) Crystal Zvezda was awesome at Newbury but has disappointed since. (10) Pleascach was good in the Irish Guineas but has disappointed since. (1) Lustrous is outclassed.

Selections
(3) Covert Love - (7) Jack Naylor - (9) Outstanding - (5) Curvy - (11) Sea Calisi - (8) Lady Of Dubai - (2) Miss Marjurie - (4) Crystal Zvezda - (10) Pleascach - (1) Lustrous

The Bet
(3) Covert Love looks the one to beat but (9) OUTSTANDING looks good Each-Way odds at 20/1 as she has nice form from the Belmont Oaks.

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