31 May 2023 , 10:24
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Savethelastdance heads a field of 11 fillies declared for the Betfred Oaks on Friday when she will bid to give Aidan O’Brien his fourth straight victory in the Epsom Classic.
The daughter of Galileo has been favourite for the showpiece ever since decimating the opposition in the Cheshire Oaks earlier this month.
She will be the mount of Ryan Moore at Epsom where connections hope she will fare much better than her mother Daddys Lil Darling who bolted to post during a thunderstorm, unshipped her jockey and was subsequently withdrawn in 2017.
As well as Savethelastdance, O’Brien will also saddle Be Happy (Seamie Heffernan) and Red Riding Hood (Wayne Lordan) in his attempt to secure Oaks win number 11 and continue his domination of the Friday feature.
John and Thady Gosden are responsible for Savethelastdance’s biggest dangers, Running Lion and Soul Sister, the latter the mount of Frankie Dettori in his final Oaks outing before retirement.
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Supplementary entry and Lingfield trial winner Eternal Hope is entrusted with trying to provide Charlie Appleby with his first Oaks success, while Heartache Tonight is an interesting contender for David Menuisier.
Jack Channon’s 1000 Guineas fourth Caernarfon steps up in trip from a mile for her first start since Newmarket, while Maman Joon, Sea Of Roses, and Bright Diamond make up the rest of the field.
In the other Group One on the card, the Dahlbury Coronation Cup, Westover will look to erase a troubled run in last year’s Derby in which he appeared an unlucky loser behind Desert Crown before going on to win the Irish Derby.
Emily Upjohn was another to be narrowly denied in her quest for Classic success in last year’s Oaks and will also line up along with Hurricane Lane, third in the 2021 Derby.
O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale, unbeaten in two starts this term, and Tunnes, who has travelled from Germany, round off a field of five.