The further she went the better she looked so she'll have no problem with the extra half furlong at Epsom.
When it comes to winning the Epsom Oaks, Henry Cecil is the daddy amongst trainers. The great man has won the race eight times in his career (from just 17 runners), and he looks to have another solid candidate in MIDDAY.
While she didn't look anything special at two and nor for that matter when runner-up against the colts in the 1m2f Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom on her reappearance, she was hugely impressive when hacking up in the Lingfield Oaks Trial over an extended 1m3f last time. The further she went the better she looked so she'll have no problem with the extra half furlong at Epsom, while we know she'll act on the track. OK, the form of the Lingfield race isn't outstanding, but she ticks plenty of boxes and 6/1 (William Hill) is not a bad price at this stage.
That's nearly twice the odds of Sariska, whose runaway victory in the Musidora last month propelled her to ante post favouritism. However, the form of that race doesn't look strong to me: the pace was ordinary, two of her main rivals failed to act on the fast ground, and the runner-up Star Ruby has only a maiden win to her name. What worries me more, though, is her breeding as her sire Pivotal is a strong influence for speed, and I doubt he's produced many 1m4f winners, let alone Classic winners over that distance. Even at a top price of 7/2 with Coral, she's not for me.
For me, the current second favourite Rainbow View (9/2 bet365) is much more likely to stay. Her sire Dynaformer is a strong influence for stamina and the fact she won over a mile at two suggests she's going to be suited by middle distances this season. In fact, she might even improve for it. However, after a succession of spectacular wins at two, her bubble was well and truly burst in the 1000 Guineas, in which she was a beaten favourite. In hindsight, that wasn't such a bad run and her trainer John Gosden's feeling that the ground ended up too quick for her is entirely believable, but it still leaves her with something to prove and it remains to be seen whether she's as good as she was last season.
Apart from the three mentioned, there aren't many fillies who can be seriously fancied. After including Beauty O' Gwaun (10/1 Betfred) in my ten to follow, I had hoped she would advance her Oaks claims by winning cosily on her reappearance at Naas. In the end, though, she scraped home from a 33/1 chance and, while he's going to be a smart filly in time, Epsom will surely come too soon for her. Besides, she's not a definite runner at this stage.
There are also doubts about the participation of Sandown maiden winner Leocarno and Again. The latter is as short as 5/1 after winning the Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday but connections are edging away from running in the Epsom Classic with one eye on Royal Ascot. Of the rest, Cheshire Oaks winner Perfect Truth (12/1 Blue Square) has each-way claims, but I'll be surprised if she was good enough, while I won't bang on about the rags as this is generally a good race for fancied horses.
Recommended Bet:
Midday 2pts @ 6/1 William Hill