Ante-Post Betting: When it comes to the Oaks the cream will rise to the top!

Sky Previews / Editor / 28 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Darrell Williams is looking for track experience and form as he tries to make sense of this year's Oaks' field.

It's simple mathematics - 132 into 48 does not go! But that was the task faced by Wimbledon in trying to whittle down the massively over-subscribed entry for the Oaks, which begins on Tuesday with eight first round heats and culminates with a grand final, live on Sky Sports, a fortnight later (16th December).

Last year, I was frantically counting the days down, having fancied Blonde Jeannie massively for outright glory; the rest, as they say, is history!

This year's field contains any number of unexposed improving bitches and a stack more hitting form after their seasonal breaks, but I still take the view that when it comes to the Classic, the cream will rise to the top. I'm looking for the runners that know their way around, ideally with at least a spot of Wimbledon experience, and most importantly are in good form. Never has a truer phrase been spoken than the importance of following a bitch in form.

That philosophy leads me to a race played out in front of Sky's cameras at Nottingham on Eclipse night just over a week ago between Lochbo Meg and Kilelton Rose who fought out a riveting finish with just half a length between them.

The determination shown by the Karen Sim trained first named to get back up after being headed close home probably explains why Lochbo Meg has now won nine of her last fourteen starts. A winner of the Sunderland Oaks back in the summer, she a must for the ante-post portfolio, and would have been my main choice were it not for the fact she has yet to have been round Wimbledon, and also that she faces an early threat at trap rise in her heat (8.15) from local early paced railer Bevs Gem, drawn in trap two.

Given those slight concerns I am therefore making Kilelton Rose my main long range choice. A semi-finalist last year, Seamus Cahill's charge is three times a winner at Wimbledon (from eight attempts), with the most recent, a win over the Oaks trip on Leger final night, undoubtedly the most impressive. On that occasion she comfortably accounted for Midland Oaks winner Klockwork Kyla, and with a sequence of five wins in her last eight starts certainly fits the bill of being a bitch in form.

I also rate Killough Belles who has arguably returned in even better form than she was in prior to a three month layoff. Her record of eight wins and four seconds from 14 British starts confirms her consistency and I include her as my third selection. Given the benefit
of a trial at Wimbledon the other day, she has drawn a hot heat (9.45), and will need to avoid rails edging Droopys Ariadne as the boxes open.

Others to keep on the right side of are Dangerous Lady, looking to have hit peak form after her season break, and now starting to win races. She was also a semi-finalist last year and can qualify from Lochbo Meg's heat, while Kent Leger runner-up Steady Scholes, could hardly have been more impressive in winning an Open over the CD last weekend, and looks nailed on for the 8.30 heat.