bet365 Lancashire Oaks (Group 2) (Fillies and Mares)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 2m 30.63s

(3)

Dramatic Queen⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106| D

4/1

Notched her first win beyond Listed company when keeping on well close home to edge out the re-opposing Enbihaar in the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) in May; same terms here.

Form: 3411-81

(1)

Enbihaar⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| BF| D

5/2

A Goodwood Listed winner (1m4f) on her penultimate start, beating the hot favourite Klassique by 1¾L; run down close home by the re-opposing Dramatic Queen in the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York (1m6f) latest; stablemate of Highgarden.

Form: 314-12

(5)

Highgarden^p1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104| D

9/1

Has finished in front of Dramatic Queen in the past (July 2018); rounded off last season with a gritty Group 3 win at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm); contested a Class 2 handicap on seasonal reappearance at Chelmsford 17-days ago; cheekpieces on.

Form: 46251-3

(2)

Klassique²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| CD

13/8

Boasts a 50% career strike-rate (4-8), and was driven clear for a 3L win in the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes over C&D (heavy)latest; that said, she did appear to meet her match when beaten 1¾L by the re-opposing Enbihaar at Goodwood prior.

Form: 1112-21

(6)

Nyaleti⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 105

9/1

Globetrotter; ready winner of the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf (1m) in May 2018; bustled up the improving Sun Maiden in the Group 3 Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle (1m2f) last week; should take the quick turnaround in her stride; stamina?

Form: 2-24872

(4)

Shailene³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 98

28/1

Runner-up to the subsequent Group 3 scorer Sun Maiden on her penultimate start in the Nottinghamshire Oaks (1m2f); broke her turf duck in a 1m3f Listed contest at San Siro (Italy) latest; on an upward curve.

Form: 137-662

Forecasts

Klassique (13/8), Enbihaar (5/2), Dramatic Queen (4/1), Nyaleti (9/1), Highgarden (9/1), Shailene (28/1)

A very open looking Lancashire Oaks with plenty of previous form-lines and direct clashes to dissect. Nyaleti faces a quick turnaround following a pleasing run in the Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle, and her form ties in closely through Sun Maiden with the Italian Listed winner Shailene. Highgarden should build upon her recent AW return but is probably the second string for John Gosden, while Klassique will encounter very different ground to when winning the Pinnacle Stakes over C&D latest. Therefore, with less of an emphasis on stamina than in the Bronte Cup at York, we'll opt for ENBIHAAR and hope that she can extract her revenge on Dramatic Queen.