'Tranquil Lady's high cruising speed makes her a player in the Oaks for sure'

The countdown to the Cazoo-backed Derby and Oaks at Epsom next month has been hotting up at Chester during the week and on Saturday it is Lingfield's turn to take centre stage with their trials for the two Classics. Other top-notch and highly informative action on a busy day comes from Ascot and Naas and here we provide the key details and analysis of a selection of the big races . . .

2.20 Ascot

Carey Group Buckhounds Stakes (Listed), 1m4f

What happened?

Al Aasy showed his class when making all in a competitive race. The William Haggas-trained five-year-old remained patient and found room on the inside with just under two furlongs remaining. From there, he bolted up past race leader Mandoob to claim a two-length victory.

The winning time

2m 34.55s – slow by 4.55s compared to RP Standard time, showing that the ground remains good to firm as first described.

What do our experts reckon?

This Listed event in which an ordinary gallop picked up in the last half mile didn’t tell us anything that we didn’t already know, other than Al Aasy retains a good chunk of ability.

The William Haggas-trained gelding, who had upwards of 8lb in hand on official ratings, didn’t have to match the pick of last year’s form - which included a close second in the Coronation Cup – to win comfortably.

Life will be tougher in what could be a strong renewal of the Hardwicke back over course-and-distance at the Royal meeting but he would have each-way claims, especially if there’s any give in the ground.
Richard Young, Raceform analyst

2.20 Ascot full result and replay

2.40 Lingfield

SBK Derby Trial Stakes (Listed), 1m3½f

What happened?

The partnership of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore made it six from six on British soil this week as United Nations landed the SBK Derby Trial Stakes. He fended off Godolphin pair Walk Of Stars and Natural World to provide Ballydoyle with yet another Derby contender. Natural World had taken an early grip of the race and was still in contention until the final stages, before United Nations took over.

The winning time

2m 26.68s - slow by 0.88s compared to RP Standard time.

United Nations: gave Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore another Classic trial winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ante-post market moves

United Nations has moved from 25-1 to 10-1 with both Paddy Power and Betfair for next month's Cazoo Derby at Epsom. With Coral, he is now priced at 12-1 from 33-1 before the race.

What do our experts reckon?

Just the four runners but it was a proper test at the trip, the Godolphin second string Natural World setting a good gallop. He cried enough inside the final 2f and it was left to United Nations and Walk Of Stars to battle it out.

As expected, the Aidan O'Brien colt improved for both his reappearance and step up in trip, and he came out on top, but there wasn't much between the two of them and it wouldn't be a shock to see the placings reversed at Epsom, Walk Of Stars still looking a little green here and open to further improvement.
Steffan Edwards, Raceform analyst

Result and replay | Report

3.15 Lingfield

SBK Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes (Listed), 1m3½f

What happened?

Rogue Millennium edged out Mystic Wells in a thrilling finale to the SBK Oaks Trial. The Tom Clover-trained filly took her time before coming inside and bolting up the home straight. She was joined by Mystic Wells and Makinmedoit, who both stayed on well, but she did enough to get her nose in front and see off the late challenge to remain unbeaten.

The winning time

2m 28.80s slow by 3.00s compared to RP Standard time.

Rogue Millennium: surprise winner of Lingfield's Oaks TrialCredit: Edward Whitaker

What do our experts reckon?

This was run in a much slower time than the Derby trial and doesn't strike as particularly strong form, the third coming in with a rating of 77.

Only two of these held an Oaks entry, and the one serious candidate, Emily Dickinson, blotted her copybook, delivered to have her chance in the straight but then getting unbalanced on the undulations. That doesn't bode well for Epsom.

Mystic Wells ran a brave race from the front, collared only late on by Rogue Millennium, who came home strongly. She holds a Ribblesdale entry but connections are apparently tempted to supplement her for the Oaks.
Steffan Edwards, Raceform analyst

Result and replay | Report

3.25 Naas

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Blue Wind Stakes (Group 3), 1m2f

What happened?

The outsider Sister Bridget, rated 94, took them along at a reasonable clip until early in the straight. They tacked across to the nearside up the straight, shunning the far rail, and it was blatantly obvious from the 2f pole that Tranquil Lady had everything under control. She scored decisively by four lengths with a further five and a half lengths back to the third. It was easy on the eye.

The winning time

Tranquil Lady won by four lengths in a time of 2m 14.75s, slow by 10.75s on ground officially described as yielding to soft, soft in place.

Ante-post market moves

Tranquil Lady was slashed to 7-1 from 25-1 by Paddy Power for the Cazoo Oaks, but there is still big as 12-1 still available.

What do our experts reckon?

This was visually impressive, especially the ease with which she moved up alongside Lily Pond early in the straight.

Joseph O'Brien had no hesitation in admitting he was disappointed with her Navan effort in the Listed Salsabil Stakes, when fourth to Concert Hall, but she looked a different filly here.

O'Brien is adamant she wants nicer ground than she got here, but she certainly seemed to handle it a lot better than most of her rivals and stretched clear for an emphatic victory.

Dermot Weld expects Eclat De Lumiere to come on for her reappearance, while Tosen Lydia may not have seen out the trip in these conditions so it might be foolish to get completely carried away.

That said, Tranquil Lady was in an entirely different league to them all and her high cruising speed makes her a player in the Oaks for sure.
David Jennings, Deputy Ireland editor

3.25 Naas full result and replay

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