Oaks Prep Draws 10 at Chester

[Wandering Eyes]

Despite its listed status, this is the race in which Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) first came to the fore last year and became the second Epsom Oaks winner to use it as a springboard after Light Shift (Kingmambo) in 2007. It is hard to believe now, but Alluringly (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was even-money to beat Enable 12 months ago, but with Aidan O’Brien successful five times since 2008 it made perfect sense at the time. This year Ballydoyle, who have come to relish Chester’s May meeting as a perfect education for their Epsom hopefuls, have a trio of unknown quantities with Ryan Moore on the least-proven of them in Magic Wand. A €1.4million half-sister to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), she has the pedigree to leave her relatively modest maiden form behind now that firmer pressure will have been applied at Rosegreen. Interestingly, Enable’s trainer John Gosden has opted to run another Coolmore-owned filly in opposition to the Ballydoyle representatives in Award Winning just 10 days after her maiden win over 10 furlongs at Wetherby.

“I was very pleased with Ispolini’s seasonal debut at Sandown and he looks to have come on for that race,” he said. “The step up in trip to a mile and a half will suit him and he should be competitive in the Chester Vase.”

One of the hottest renewals in recent times also sees William Haggas throw his hat into the ring with Investec’s Bernard Kantor’s colour-bearer Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), a strong-staying five-length winner of an often-informative 11-furlong Newbury maiden Apr. 21.

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