The Investec Oaks - 3rd June 2016

In just a few days time we will be treated to the Oaks and Derby, two absolutely brilliant races and in the Derby potentially the greatest flat race of them all. Run over 1 mile 4 furlongs around the tricky Epsom Downs racecourse, with it's notorious left hand turn and undulating nature making it a stern test for many a horse. The Oaks comes first, on Friday afternoon, so I'll turn my thoughts to this race first.

The market for the Oaks is headed by Minding, Aidan O'Brien's filly who comes here after winning the English 1,000 Guineas but being beaten in the Irish version on much softer ground. Further cause for concern for backers of this evens favourite come in the shape of the sinus problem encountered by the filly after she bumped her head before the race. She probably is the best of these fillies, certainly at a mile trip, and that defeat in Ireland still rates as very good form - the Irish Handicapper rated Jet Setting only 1lbs lower than the winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, indicating with mares allowances Jet Setting would have pulverized that field. However, the step up in trip 4 furlongs, the tough race she had the last day and the fact her pedigree doesn't scream 1 mile 4 furlongs at you on softish ground lead me to look elsewhere.

Hot favourite Minding

Architecture is the most interesting one for me representing the yard of Hugo Palmer at 10/1. The trainer must be respected and he handled Covert Love with expert gloves so clearly can get his fillies to peak when he wants - lucky man. Went down a neck to Seventh Heaven, another Aidan O'Brien horse, in an Oaks trial at Lingfield and also was present at the Breakfast with the Stars event here so she should handle the track and has the magician Frankie Dettori on top. The winner at Lingfield was given an expert ride by Ryan Moore, who actually said she didn't handle that track, which gives me hope Architecture can turn the form around.

The Lingfield trial in which Architecture finished 2nd

She was definitely staying on at the end of that trial and I think she will get the trip, additionally she has form on soft ground so will handle the going conditions presented on Friday. I'm pretty confident she is improving all the time and Hugo Palmer seems to be fairly confident in his Betfair column, which you can read here-> (Hugo Palmer Betfair Column). If the favourite gets the trip she wins, but at the price I want to take her on and it looks an open enough race behind her, let's hope Architecture can do the business.

Others of interest include Turret Rocks, who definitely shapes like this trip will suit her but Jim Bolger isn't firing in the winners as I would like and the soft conditions will be against her, having never tan on soft ground. If it dried up rapidly before the off she must be considered but the fact soft ground is very likely puts me off. Skiffle has been supplemented for the race by the boys in blue and she is one that should certainly get the trip having shaped that way over 10 furlongs. At 11/2 though I'd let her go as I also feel she wants top of the ground to be at her best. Finally Harlequeen is the last horse of interest mainly because I'm interested that Mick Channon pitches her in here, but she didn't settle at all at York the last day and I think the occasion may get to her here.

Don't be put off by the price of your fancy in this race - 4 of the last 5 winners have been priced at 20/1 or bigger, including last year's winner Qualify at 50/1! To sum up I think Minding will win if she stays as she is the best filly in the race no doubt. However, her price is short enough, there are huge concerns about the trip and ground and I think her preparation could have been more ideal. Therefore, with likely softer ground, I'm putting up Architecture who has run well in trial races, has had a go round the track at the Breakfast with the Stars event and has the master Frankie Dettori on board.

Thanks for reading and good luck!