Any fancies for the Epsom classics?

I can't be having the fav for the Oaks at 5/2 so at the moment, I'm liking Rubies Are Red 10/1, Forest Fairy 14/1, Tamfana 14/1 and Opera Singer 20/1

Rubies Are Red finished faster than anything in the trial in a good time
Tamfana ran a cracker in the 1000 Gns despite a troubled run. May not get the trip but could run into a place
Forest Fairy unbeaten, could be anything. Proven over 12f
Opera Singer no luck in running on debut against Ylang Ylang. Impressive lto at Longchamp and should appreciate the step up in trip
The unraced Vanilla (what a lovely name for a filly) is interesting if she runs, by Camelot out of a Danehill Dancer mare

In the Derby I'm quite keen on Ancient Wisdom 12/1 and Henry Longfellow at 10s

Henry Longfellow unbeaten and surely will be better over 12f
Ancient Wisdom beat today's trial winner easily and will be just as suited by the extra 4f

I can see you all promptly crossing these off your lists

 

8th beaten 4l and it was the best part of 2 secs slower than the fillies. Surprised he went for that being by Dubawi out of a Galileo, Oaks winning, mare

 

Weird that, there's nothing soft about the ground at our place

 

He was my Derby bet. Goes for the St James Palace I believe.

 

I might be crossing Ancient Wisdom off my list after the Dante but that would reduce my list to none as he was the only horse on it. I did not expect him to be targeted at the Dante (thought he might go to Lingfield) but defeat would not be the be-all and end-all so long as he runs a satisfactory race against some race fit rivals.

Like you, I think that the step up in trip will bring out more and his two year old form was amongst the best with only the one blip.

 

Not impressive by Ancient Wisdom. Will have to cross that one off and, with Henry Longfellow possibly missing the race, that will leave me (like QM) with nothing left on my short list

 

Why is no one talking about Bellum Justum?

 

Runs in the Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury tomorrow 17.15

 

I'm surprised Bellum Justum hasn't gone for a trial but maybe Balding thinks he doesn't need one. He did of course win the Blue Riband Trial in mid-April and won it well, handling the hill and the camber very well.
He's by Sea the Stars out of an Oasis Dream mare. The latter may worry some but we forget that Oasis Dream has sired plenty who stayed further than he was asked to. However the rest of the maternal side is replete with stamina (Sadler's Wells, then High Line, then Sir Gaylord) and an eyecatching 4th dam is Lucayan Princess who was the dam of Luso, Needle Gun, Cloud Castle and especially Warrsan. Bellum Justum has already shown he stays 10f, I don't think 12f will be beyond him.
He started in a Newmarket maiden and returned 3 weeks later to be placed over a mile. He then ran 4th on soft ground at Doncaster behind God's Window but hit back by winning his maiden at Newmarket beating a useful colt in Inisherin.
He may be an interesting outsider.

 

God's Window didn't give that form any boost

 

As far as I recall, 12f races for 3yo maidens/novices have been few and far between, which leaves very few opportunities for late developing unraced 2yos, bred to stay, to gain any experience over the distance prior to the Derby/Oaks. So, bar one, I see little/no hope of any potential classic winning dark horses emerging now

What does that leave us with?

OAKS
Well, not a lot. I think I'm stuck with the same ones I started with

DERBY
Gone off Ancient Wisdom after his 6l defeat in the Dante
Still quite keen on Henry Longfellow, if he runs (33/1)
Have now taken a liking to two unbeaten colts in Los Angeles, by Camelot out of a Dansili mare (6/1), and the once raced Voyage, by Golden Horn out of a Galileo mare (33/1), the latter looking a tasty ew wager

 

Inisherin did.