Ribblesdale Stakes Entries: Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn features in Group 2 entries
Emily Upjohn, last seen being touched off by Tuesday in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom Downs last weekend, could make a quick turnaround as trainers John & Thady Gosden has entered the top-class filly for the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, which takes place at Royal Ascot on Thursday afternoon. We take a look at the entries and latest odds here...
Slipping at the start of the Oaks and finding herself out the back foot early in the fillies' Classic was far from ideal for Emily Upjohn, but under a patient Frankie Dettori she found herself vying for the lead in the final furlong, but she was just touched off by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tuesday in a vintage renewal of the Group 1 event, and she could strut her stuff again less than three weeks on.
Gosden spoke yesterday about Emily Upjohn's involvement in the Ribblesdale stating his filly was in top form, and those positive musings saw her slashed into a short-priced odds-on favourite for the Ribblesdale for which there could be a maximum of 12 fillies bidding for success on Gold Cup day at Royal Ascot.
Prior to the positive vibes around Emily Upjohn's participation it was the William Haggas-trained Sea Of Silk that headed the betting, and the daughter of Sea The Stars, who was last seen winning the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes, has now drifted to a 7/2 second favourite. Hugely progressive, she will have her work cut out should Emily Upjohn line up, but she's massively exciting in her own right, so has to be a huge player.
Charlie Appleby's Life Of Dreams was well behind Emily Upjohn when they clashed earlier in the season in the Musidora Stakes at York, but that contest on the Knavesmire was the Dubawi filly's second career start, so she's certainly going to improve for that outing, and she's next in the betting at 8/1.
Aidan O'Brien could unleash a four-pronged attack and the Ballydoyle charge is likely to be spearheaded by History, who was last seen finishing seventh in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, while The Algarve, Lily Pond and Emily Dickinson could add more firepower to the O'Brien charge.
Jessica Harrington's Magical Lagoon (10/1) was narrowly beaten by Concert Hall at Navan last time out, but with that contender failing to land a blow in the Oaks last weekend then she will have significant work to do to play a role here, while the Joseph O'Brien-trained Tranquil Lady could make a quick turnaround from the Oaks, and the 12/1 shot will hope to build on a sixth placed finish at Epsom.
Haggas will not only have Sea Silk Road lining up, but Perfect Alibi could take her chance and she is a huge 50/1, with the likes of Roger Varian's Mukaddamah and George Boughey's Mystic Wells completing the 12-strong list of runners entered for the mouth-watering event.