towards rear, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon every chance, no extra towards finish
awkwardly away always in rear
taken to post early, keen led, ridden and headed 2f out, hampered over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
close up, effort to lead 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on
steadied start keen in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and hung left approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, driven and ran on
towards rear, headway over 2f out, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, driven and stayed on to go 3rd post
This contest has thrown up a few surprises recently including Aidan O'Brien's second string in last year's renewal. But Say looks a long way behind stablemate Moth, third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket where Roz was well beaten. Moth is a leading contender along with the unbeaten Liber Nauticus, the workmanlike winner of the Musidora at York but potentially capable of much better, although Secret Gesture was the most impressive of the trial winners. She beat Miss You Too by 10 lengths at Lingfield and has outstanding claims ahead of Ralph Beckett's other filly, Talent, who got the better of Madame Defarge at Newmarket earlier this month. The latter's stable companion THE LARK has plenty to find on the face of it, but she may well have as much latent ability as her half-sister Sariska, who won this for Michael Bell in 2009, and has a sporting chance at a big price to prove it today. Banoffee adds to a fascinating Oaks as she beat Gertrude Versed in the Cheshire Oaks recently and Hughie Morrison went within a neck of winning this last year with Shirocco Star.
Banoffee (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led final 75 yards, won going away, eased close home, won at Chester 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gf beating Gertrude Versed (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Gertrude Versed 12-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, ridden and edged right inside final furlong, headed and no extra final 75 yards, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Banoffee (8-12) at Chester 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gf.
Liber Nauticus (IRE) 4-6fav (8-12) Keen early held up in touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, soon switched right, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on strongly towards finish, won at York 1m 2f 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gs beating Romantic Settings (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Madame Defarge (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) Dwelt and hampered start, in rear, headway over 1f out, not clear run and switched right inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Talent (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf.
Miss You Too 9-2 (8-12) Steadied start, pulled very hard in rear, soon prominent, led over 5f out, headed over 2f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Secret Gesture (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gd.
Moth (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Slow into stride in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on to go 3rd final strides, not reach leaders, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Sky Lantern (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Fll Grp 1 (1) gf.
Roz 33-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 15, 14l behind Sky Lantern (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Fll Grp 1 (1) gf.
Say (IRE) 1-6fav (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed approaching straight and led 3f out, soon asserted and in command well over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Cork 1m 4f 3yo fll mdn sft beating Silky Pyrus (9-0) by 9l, 4 ran.
Secret Gesture Evensfav (8-12) In touch, headway over 3f out, led on bit over 2f out, forged clear final furlong, impressive, won at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gd beating Miss You Too (8-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Talent 11-1 (8-12) Keen tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf beating Lady Nouf (8-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
The Lark 9-4 (8-12) Held up in last, closed on outside over 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, pressed 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Winsili (8-12) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf.
