Burke confident Laurens can rise to new challenge

There is no let-up in the action on the Knavesmire today, where the local filly Laurens, trained by Karl Burke in Middleham, can win the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (3.35).

The three-year-old filly, who was runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas before making the most of French premiums by winning the Prix Saint-alary and Prix de Diane, steps up to a mile and a half for the first time, but has always raced like she would be as good, if not better, over further than 10 furlongs.

“She looks fabulous,” said Burke yesterday. “I was four days away at Deauville and when you have been away, you notice subtle differences. If she arrives in the paddock looking like she did when I got back to the yard, I’ll be very happy. She has been moving brilliantly.

“There is no reason why she won’t get a mile and a half. Siyouni is a big influence on speed but there’s a lot of stamina on the dam side. It’s a great race and rhythm is very important for a big horse like her, whether she makes the running or sits in.”

There is little doubt that she will have to be at her absolute best to beat Sea Of Class, who stepped up to the trip last time when winning the Irish Oaks under a sensationally confident ride from James Doyle. Although she only won by a neck, one has to conclude that she was far superior to Forever Together, the Epsom Oaks winner, that day.

Coronet, a well-beaten third in the King George, is perhaps just shy of winning at Group One level, but Eziyra is an older filly that may have a lot more to give, judged on a Group Three win at Leopardstown on her reappearance.

The return to action of John Gosden’s one-time Oaks hope Lah Ti Dar in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (4.15) will be interesting. She has promised much and could be about to embark on a successful autumn campaign. The trainer should be on the mark again in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (1.55) with the tough Angel’s Hideaway.

Mark Johnston, meanwhile, is still searching for the winner that will make him the winning-most trainer of all time. His nine entrants yesterday failed to deliver and today he has just two runners. Love Dreams and Poet’s Society both contest York’s Clipper Logistics Handicap (3.00), a highly-competitive 20-runner event.