Aidan O’Brien saddles three runners in the Investec Oaks (4.30) at Epsom on Friday, but ante post favourite Minding (10/11) looks far and away his best chance of landing the second fillies’ Classic for the sixth time. The daughter of Galileo stayed on strongly to beat stable companion Ballydoyle by 3½ lengths in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in May and, although failing by a neck to overhaul Jet Setting in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh three weeks later, she sets an exemplary standard.
The front pair pulled 10 lengths clear of the third, Now Or Never, at the Curragh and Minding can probably be rated a little better than the bare form after hitting her head on the starting stalls. Even so, she has 9lb and upwards in hand of her rivals on official ratings and, while her stamina for a mile and a half is not absolutely guaranteed, she stayed a mile as a juvenile, so the step up to middle distances could conceivably bring about further improvement. Even if it doesn’t, she’s hard to oppose.
Selection: Epsom 4.30 Minding (10/11) to win