Sunderland Echo

Is Love in the air at the Ebor Festival?

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Love can conquer all again in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on day two of the Ebor Festival.

Aidan O'Brien's dual Classic winner has been an unstoppabl­e force in her two victories this season, and it is impossible to advise that her superiorit­y is about to flounder at York as she bids for a third successive Group One.

Love won at the highest level as a juvenile last season too, coming out on top in the Moyglare Stud Stakes during a busy campaign which ended with a fine third in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket.

If she was not clearly head and shoulders above her contempora­ries then, she has surged clear of the field this summer - starting in the 1000 Guineas back at Newmarket, where she turned the tables on Quadrilate­ral, and then upped to this trip for the first time when a nine-length winner of the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

She moves into open-age company, but is opposed largely by her own generation again and appears to have relatively little to fear from them.

Her supporters will have to operate at odds-on, however, and may want to look elsewhere on the card for more rewarding investment­s.

Sacred is another filly who has every right to be considered a strong favourite, in the opening Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

William Haggas' youngster won a strong five-furlong maiden on her debut at Newmarket in June, before running into American star Campanelle on her only subsequent start in Royal Ascot's Queen Mary Stakes.

She could not match Campanelle's kick over the minimum distance, but was beaten less than a length and finished clear of the rest.

This move up to six furlongs looks timely, and the suspicion is that it will take another very good one to beat Sacred again.

Devious Company is also seeking a return to winning ways, and can do so in style in the lucrative Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes.

Tom Dascombe's speedy juvenile drops to six furlongs for the first time, having won twice over seven at Haydock and then twice finished a clear second upped to Group

Two level against two potential rising stars.

Unless there is another Battlegrou­nd or Master Of

The Seas lurking here, Devious Company looks the right favourite to make up for his honourable runner-up efforts at Newmarket and Goodwood.

Away from York, the best of the action is at Chester.

Spright is likely to appreciate Chester's speed test in the #simpleplea­sureschest­er EBF Fillies' Conditions

Stakes, having led throughout over this six-furlong trip at York and then posted a decent third at Goodwood.

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