IT'S A LOVE IN

Ben Morgan runs the rule over the fillies’ Classic

- Ben Morgan

This year’s Oaks wouldn’t be the strongest edition in terms of depth but the two fillies at the top of the market could be very, very good. Aidan O’Brien’s LOVE currently heads the market at 13/8 after a dominant 1000 Guineas success at Newmarket. That was an impressive victory because her breeding suggests she should really be hitting her peak over further and although you can pick holes in the form you have to admit it was an exceptionally good performance.

In the Lockdown, I dedicated a fair bit of time to the ante-post markets and struck a few bets to satisfy the urge. One of these was Love to win the Guineas and Oaks at 40/1. Now, I can’t admit to being overly confident on this bet but I thought it was an outrageous price considering that it looked likely from a long way out that this would be O’Brien’s main dart at the board at Newmarket.

A man who usually throws four or five into a race of this nature was looking likely to rely on one filly? I couldn’t have her out of the places considering that and I thought she might just strike lucky and fall into a Guineas win before really dominating the Oaks field.