16:30 Epsom Downs

Friday 1 June 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1517:50

Investec Oaks (Fillies' Group 1)

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 2m 40.39s

(6)

Bye Bye Baby²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 109

8/1

Habitual front-runner who produced a career best effort in a Group 3 at the Curragh when last seen. More progress entirely possible here but down the order on jockey bookings and may be here to ensure a strong gallop for her stablemates.

Form: 2113-81

(2)

Ejtyah¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock

25/1

Probably didn't beat a whole lot at Chelmsford on debut. Improved with a third in a Group 3 at York last time but that wasn't a strong race for the grade and she has work on to reverse the form with Give And Take.

Form: 1-3

(5)

Flattering²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| BF

11/1

A wide margin heavy ground winner at Cork on just her second start but failed to justify favouritism in the Lingfield trial for this race a week later. Return to softer conditions could be in her favour and entirely unexposed so can't be ruled out.

Form: 0-13

(3)

Forever Together²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

7/1

Plenty of promise in two maidens last year and ran well when runner-up to Magic Wand in the Cheshire Oaks on seasonal return given that her stablemate got first run on her. Ought to get closer this time and has leading claims.

Form: 43-2

(7)

Give And Take¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 97

16/1

Had Ejtyah in third when winning the Musidora last time. That looks like a weak race for a Group 3 but she's effective on soft ground, as seen at Lingfield last year and her dam was a sister to a Derby winner, so the new trip could see her improve.

Form: 221-21

(4)

I Can Fly²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101| BF

9/1

Never a factor in the 1,000 Guineas when last seen but it's interesting she's dropped in again at this level and she went well on soft ground in a Leopardstown Group 3 on seasonal bow. Stamina is another question mark as she's not bred for this far.

Form: 13-30

(9)

Magic Wand^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

4/1

Improved from her reappearance to win the Cheshire Oaks, slipping the field and displaying a useful turn of foot. Hard to know whether she will be as effective in the softer ground but gets the vote of stable jockey, Moore. Open to improvement.

Form: 7-31

(8)

Perfect Clarity²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 100| D

5/1

Unbeaten in two starts, winning the Lingfield trial for this race, quickening well off a slow pace. While more improvement likely, she's unproven in these conditions and others bring some stronger form in to the race.

Form: 1-1

(1)

Wild Illusion^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 113

5/2

Surprise 25/1 Group 1 winner at Chantilly at the end of 2017 and showed that was no fluke when a good fourth in the 1,000 Guineas. Brings the best form in to this and signs on the dam's side of her pedigree she will stay; interesting runner.

Form: 131-4

Forecasts

Wild Illusion (5/2), Magic Wand (4/1), Perfect Clarity (5/1), Forever Together (7/1), Bye Bye Baby (8/1), I Can Fly (9/1), Flattering (11/1), Give And Take (16/1), Ejtyah (25/1)

Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last six renewals of this race and runs five in here. Magic Wand would appear to be the first-string with Ryan Moore booked but it might be worth taking a chance on FOREVER TOGETHER to reverse the Cheshire Oaks form from last time out. Denied a clear run at a crucial point in the race, Donnacha O'Brien's filly ran on strongly when she hit some daylight and there's a good chance she will improve for that, her first run of the season. Wild Illusion is the form horse in the race and there's plenty of hope she will stay this new trip in her pedigree, but her low draw (1) tempers enthusiasm slightly.