Maybe: filly now no bigger than 2-1 for Friday’s Oaks after more support

PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

AIDAN O’BRIEN’S Classic juggernaut may have stalled at the Curragh on Sunday when Ishvana figured best of his trio to finish second behind shock Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Samitar, but punters are expecting business to return to usual at Epsom on Friday.

Homecoming Queen, unplaced at the Curragh, upset stable first string Maybe when winning the Qipco 1,000 Guineas earlier in the month but despite her failing to post a repeat of that effort at the Curragh, the market was still suggesting that a big show is expected from Maybe in the Ivestec Oaks..

Already sat at the head of the market for Friday’s Classic, Maybe was backed with a whole host of firms on Sunday and is now no bigger than 5-2 for the Oaks, a race for which Ladbrokes have her at 2-1.

O’Brien is expected to leave five colts in Saturday’s Investec Derby on Monday but will wait until nearer raceday before finalising his running plans.

Odds-on favourite Camelot could be joined by recent trial winners Astrology and Imperial Monarch, with Father Of  Science and Tower Rock still in the mix too.

Speaking at the Curragh on Sunday, O’Brien said: “Everything is fine with Camelot. It’s a case of so far so good.

“It will be the middle of the week before we finalise running plans. The horses we have left in the race will have their scopes and blood tests in the next couple of days and then we’ll sit down and decide how many we’ll run.”

Camelot, brilliant winner of the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, is no bigger than 4-5 to give O’Brien a third win in the world’s premier Classic.

Racingpost