Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
The Yorkshire Oaks Odds have Blue Bunting as a narrow favourite for this Group 1 prize (York 3.40)
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8 runners go to post, with Crystal Capella seen as the main challenger.
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11/4 Blue Bunting, 3/1 Crystal Capella, 9/2 Vita Nova, 13/2 Banimpire, 6/1 Bar
Blue Bunting, who won the 1000 Guineas, is a warm favourite despite missing out on a Classic double in the Epsom Oaks, where she wasn’t really able to get a decent run. She did respond with a narrow win over Banimpire in the Irish equivalent and that has moved her to the head of the market and suggested she can handle the extended distance without problem. Banimpire re-opposes today, along with the 3rd place finisher, Wonder of Wonders and Laughing Lashes who was 4th.
You can’t assume there is a great deal between these three, with Blue Bunting scrambling home by a short head. What does help is that Blue Bunting also gets 10lbs from Crystal Capella thanks to the weight for age scale. She finished 4th in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in her last start, having landed a Group 2 contest at Newmarket before that. It might be that she is on a slight decline at the age of six.
Vita Nova suffered a surprise defeat in the Lancashire Oaks and will need to improve on that.
Blue Bunting has the potential to be better than her last two runs and can take advantage of the weight she gets. Back Blue Bunting at 11/4 with Paddy Power and you can get a free bet of up to £50.