Timeform big race preview: Love to justify favouritism in Investec Oaks at Epsom

The Top-Rated

Love (Timeform weight-adjusted rating: 131p)

Love had more racing than any of these as a two-year-old, winning three times (including the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh) before appearing to have no excuses when third in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. However, she returned after eight months off with a much-improved effort to win the 1000 Guineas at the same venue last time, quickening clear impressively entering the final furlong to beat Cloak of Spirits by four and a quarter lengths. That form is comfortably the best on offer in this line-up, and her pedigree suggests she may have even more to offer now stepping up in trip, being by Galileo and a sister to a pair of useful sorts who stayed this trip well. She looks to hold sound claims of emulating the same stable’s Minding, who completed the Guineas/Oaks double in 2016.

The Improver

Frankly Darling (125p)

The Oaks trials staged in Britain this year were dominated by fillies from the John Gosden yard, with none of them making a better impression than Frankly Darling. She was an emphatic five-length winner of a maiden at Newcastle on the day racing resumed and then followed up in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she put some useful sorts to the sword in ready fashion. Still far from the finished article (raced freely off a steady early gallop), she was ultimately value for several more lengths than she won by in the end, being looked after by Frankie Dettori in the final furlong after she had gained a decisive advantage at the top of the straight. By Frankel – sire of last year’s winner for Gosden, Anapurna – Frankly Darling has proved herself at the Oaks trip and is very much the type to improve further.

The Timeform Flag

Gold Wand (107P) (Trainer Form)

Gold Wand is the one runner in the field with a Timeform large ‘P’ still attached to her rating, which denotes that she may yet prove capable of significantly better than she has shown so far. Beaten a neck by Domino Darling in a Doncaster maiden on her sole two-year-old start, she readily landed the odds (without needing to run to the same level) in a similar event at Newbury last time, leading on the bridle two furlongs out and quickly forging clear to win by a length and a half. Clearly that form is well below what will be required here, but the Roger Varian yard could hardly be in better form at present, sending out 24 winners in June.

Timeform weight-adjusted ratings

131p Love

125p Frankly Darling

119p Ennistymon

116p Queen Daenerys

112p Passion

111p Bharani Star

Verdict

The last six renewals of the Oaks have been shared between Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden, with both trainers having saddled three winners apiece during that period, and there’s every chance that the finish on Saturday will again be fought out by fillies representing the same two stables. Gosden’s Frankly Darling is progressive and proven over this trip, but preference is for the more battle-hardened Love, who has the pedigree/profile to suggest this test won’t present any issues after stretching clear to win the 1000 Guineas in impressive fashion on her return.

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