Ylang Ylang Heads Ballydoyle Assault on the Oaks

Ylang Ylang Favourite

Ylang Ylang has been made the 2/1 favourite for the Epsom Oaks with BoyleSports after declarations were revealed on Wednesday.

A Fillies Mile winner as a two-year-old, Ylang Ylang was a fast finishing fifth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, and punters are hopeful that stepping up to a mile-and-a-half at Epsom will bring about further improvement in the Frankel filly.

O'Brien Seeks Classic Success

Aidan O’Brien is yet to score a Classic success this season, and will also send Rubies Are Red, who finished second in Lingfield’s Oaks Trial to Epsom. The full sister to Arc winner Found is rated a 7/2 shot, with Dermot Weld’s Salsabil winner Ezeliya also a joint second favourite at 7/2 completing a three-pronged Irish raid.

Britain Ruling Supreme

British-trained horses have completed a Guineas clean sweep in Ireland and the UK this year and the home defence of the Oaks is led by Ralph Beckett’s Cheshire Oaks winner, Forest Fairy at 7/1 with Lingfield winner, You Got To Me (14/1) also high on the shortlist for the home team having got the better of Rubies Are Red last time out.

Royal Hopes

The Royal runner, Treasure has also seen plenty of support for the Beckett team and is yet another filly to come out of the Lingfield trial, finishing fourth to stablemate You Got To Me. The homebred filly has seen her odds slashed into 14/1 from 33/1 with further support likely before the gates open for Friday’s feature.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said:

“Ylang Ylang is being put forward as a confident selection for punters with a step up in trip sure to suit, but a significant gamble is starting to form on the Royal colours being carried to victory in the Oaks for the first time in nearly 50 years.”