Snowfall carries O’brien’s Oaks challenge on ladies’ day at York

The Classic generation’s colts have proven themselves a cut above average this year, but the fillies get a crack at their elders at York today in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire on ladies’ day.

Aidan O’brien’s Snowfall looks an exceptional middle-distance threeyear-old filly and, since winning the Musidora at York in May, she has won both the Oaks and Irish Oaks.

Today she should once again stamp her authority on the race, despite O’brien enduring a quiet time stretching back to the beginning of July with his British runners.

Her opposition includes David Menuisier’s lovable four-year-old mudlark, Wonderful Tonight. On decent ground it is hard to see the Frenchman’s stable star getting the better of this argument, although it could be different in October’s Prix de l’arc de Triomphe.

Eshaada might be the one to provide any upset. Roger Varian’s filly was wide and keen before finishing second to Loving Dream in the Ribblesdale at Ascot. She could reverse that form today.

Andrew Balding, who is clinging on to his lead in the trainers’ title, has dispatched a strong team to Yorkshire for the week and today he sends the unbeaten Sandrine for the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

The winner of the Albany and the Duchess of Cambridge’s Stakes is lumbered with a 3lb penalty, which may not be enough to stop her, but Karl Burke’s Illustrating, a winner at five furlongs on soft ground at Goodwood, looks a good bet at the prices as she steps up to six furlongs.