Oaks Day 2011 - Supporting Races

The Epsom Derby meeting is one of the key signs that summer has arrived and while some are intent to crab this year’s renewal it’s attracted more interest and talk than ever (maybe for the wrong reasons).

It now looks like Carlton House, following an easy four-furlong workout under Ryan Moore on Thursday morning, is all but a runner in the Derby and while many are despairing over his chances it should be noted that nobody is more careful than Sir Michael Stoute with his 3yo’s and Kris Kin actually stood on a stone and suffered lameness before winning – Crucially, just as with Carlton House, he was able to canter before the race.

Onto Oaks day, which looks like being the better fixture of the two meetings this year, there are some notable Group races and also two fiendish handicaps, in which I’ve got two that I’ve been “waiting for”.

Start Right - Can go onto better things

Start Right (2.15) ended up finishing last year with a mark of 98, having started with 83 before blossoming last June when he took two decent races in better style, including a clear cut win in a Glorious Goodwood handicap. It looked as if he was set for far bigger things after then but he was given too much to do in the Irish Cambridgeshire when fourth.  In the real Cambridgeshire when soft ground was against him as well.

He showed he’d retained all ability when  a close fourth in a valuable and well contested Meydan Handicap (the form has been boosted since, not least by the winner who was fourth in a Group 2 next), another race he should have won but for a better trip.

His draw doesn’t help him but he’ll be dropped in by Kieren Fallon and I envisage him taking on much bigger tasks than this in the future, so he’s got to be backed today off 89, as there’s a big handicap in him. The main threat for me would have to be Tartan Gigha, who not only bids of a hat trick in this but is a whole 6lbs lower than last year, and Extraterrestrial, who may be more suited by racing prominently than when well beaten last year.

Since Right Step came a good second to a horse that was a step ahead at York, I’ve been waiting to see him run and the booking of Ryan Moore secures my vote in the Investec Investment Stakes (3.25). He’s only been raised 3lbs for his excellent York second and he rated to have a cracking chance, as he’s well proven in this type of company and races off a fair weight. Beaumont's Party is 3lb ahead of the handicapper under a penalty for his recent Chepstow win and while he’s expected to go well, this is a big rise in class. Dhaamer is best forgiven his last run on account of poor ground and rates a good shot here.

Advice

1 pt each/way Start Right, 2.15 Epsom (7/1 general)

1 pt each/way Right Step (13/2 Paddy Power, Boylesports)