Favourite should take Listed step in her stride
Savethelastdance can book her Epsom ticket with victory in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks on the opening day of Chester’s May Festival.
Beaten nearly 10 lengths on her debut in a Thurles maiden towards the end of last year, few would have thought then this daughter of Galileo would be heading the Betfred Oaks market come the spring.
Sent off a 20-1 shot on her seasonal bow at Leopardstown last month, Savethelastdance made a mockery of that price as she comfortably accounted for the Ballydoyle first string Boogie Woogie by two and a quarter lengths.
Admittedly she benefitted from an excellent Wayne Lordan ride, but none of her rivals ever looked like reeling her back in.
The form has worked out well too, with Boogie Woogie winning her maiden by upwards of five lengths while the third, Azazat, was a Leopardstown winner on Sunday.
Moving up to just shy of 12 furlongs rings no alarm bells and Savethelastdance can take this Listed step in her stride on the way to a Classic date next month.
Arrest is another whose form bears close scrutiny and he should again be too good for Adelaide River in the Boodles Chester Vase.
The pair finished second and third behind Dubai Mile in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud last year, with Arrest beaten just a head while Adelaide River was a further six lengths adrift.
The ground was incredibly testing that day, so perhaps too literal an interpretation would be dangerous, but nevertheless Arrest had shown plenty of ability before, chasing home Nostrum at the first attempt before beating Desert Order and Sea Of Roses in his next two starts.
Desert Order has won twice since while Sea Of Roses beat Oaks contender Infinite Cosmos next time and placed in Group Three company on her return this year, giving the John and Thady Gosdentrained runner another nice boost.
Danger Alert’s All-Weather Finals Day run was too bad to be true and he can be given another chance in the Tote £100K Guaranteed Placepot Every Day Handicap.
Winner of two of his eight starts since joining George Boughey, he has also finished second four times and was certainly not unfancied in the finale of the three-year-old division on the all-weather.
However, he trailed home last of nine after starting slowly, with his team unable to offer any excuses.
That looked a strong race, with runner-up Shouldvebeenaring taking Listed glory at Newmarket last week while third-placed The X O was only beaten a length and a half in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot.