TimeformBlog

This year's Yorkshire Oaks looks a high-class renewal. Timeform run the rule over the nine runners...


Brushing improved last year, numbering a mile-and-a-half listed race at this track among her three wins. She ended 2010 on a low note and was beaten a fair way in the Middleton Stakes here when last seen in May. This looks too tough again.

Crystal Capella has been lightly raced in recent seasons but finally delivered her abundant talent when a ready winner of the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket. Her latest run is easily ignored as a steady pace was against her.

Snow Fairy - NR

Vita Nova is a lightly-raced filly who won her first here starts and could well have arrived her unbeaten in different circumstances. She was most unlucky in the Lancashire Oaks last time and is capable of better still.

Banimpire is a tough filly who already has six wins to her name this year and was only narrowly denied by Blue Bunting in the Irish Oaks last month. There's no real reason why she'll reverse form with the Godolphin filly.

Blue Bunting was a surprise winner of the 1000 Guineas given that stamina was always going to be her forte and put a rather luckless run in the Oaks behind here when landing the Iris equivalent last time. There's a chance she's even better than that bare form.

Laughing Lashes has done very little wrong since flopping in the 1000 Guineas and wasn't beaten far in the Irish Oaks on her first try at a mile and a half in the Irish Oaks last time despite her rider dropping the whip a furlong out. She needs to raise her game still to reverse with Blue Bunting.

Rumh made all to win a listed event at Newbury in June by six lengths, but has had her bubble burst in the Ribblesdale and Irish Oaks since. She is very much the Godolphin second string.

Wonder of Wonders is a big, long-striding fully, but the suspicion is that she's missed the boat in Group 1s, finishing second in the Oaks at Epsom and then seemingly put in her place by Blue Bunting and Banimpire in the Irish version after.


Timeform 1-2-3:

1. Blue Bunting
2. Vita Nova
3. Banimpire

Timeform View: It would be no surprise were Vita Nova to put up a massive career best, and she makes the most appeal of the older runners, but Blue Bunting was able to show everyone what she was all about on her second try at this trip in the Irish Oaks, and there's no reason to look elsewhere as she's better than the bare form of that. Banimpire should also be thereabouts in a fascinating renewal.


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