Looking at the final field for the Oaks and, more importantly the likely going, it seems obvious there is no Ballydoyle superstar in the race.
Ryan Moore chooses Magic Wand from the 5 O'Brien trained runners (out of a total field of 9) based, one assumes, on her having run the best trial of the 5 in winning the Cheshire Oaks. She has, however, previously struggled with cut and if you take a strict formline through Dermot Weld's Jaega (which I admit can be risky), she has a bit to find with Bye Bye Baby - who in turn looks totally exposed and is difficult to fancy. Ruling out Magic Wand also rules out Forever Together (beaten by her at Chester).
I Can Fly quite clearly can't and is gladly overlooked which leaves the totally unexposed Flattering, ridden by last year's Derby hero Padraig Beggy, as possibly the one to spring a surprise at around the 20/1 mark. She absolutely sluiced up on seasonal debut at Cork over 10 furlongs, winning by 10 lengths from the race-fit Samasthiti (whose form ties in with Jaega) and may not have appreciated the good-firm ground at Lingfield when beaten into 3rd behind Perfect Clarity and Cecchini (Moore dropped his whip in the finish). Clive Cox's Perfect Clarity reopposes and is respected but I just think ground conditions might enable Flattering to turn the tables.
Whilst Wild Illusion won the Marcel Boussac on soft, that was over 7 furlongs and I have reservations about her stamina on a testing surface. Her dam Ruhm got extremes of trip but was only a handicapper (highest OR 103) and her other daughter Really Special (by Shamardal) was well short of top class.
If the rain forecast for today doesn't materialise and the ground dries to be nearer good by the off, then you can take the above with a pinch of salt. But if conditions are testing then the call is a sporting each-way bet on Flattering.
