Sky’s final coverage of the year goes out live from Wimbledon with the bitches classic, the William Hill Oaks. Dave Mullins’ Dangerous Lady is a warm favourite but I reckon this one is wide open and should be a cracker.
Speed Figs
T1 – Droopys Quinta 100
T5 – Ravello Drive 92+
T3 – Steady Scholes 84+
T6 – Dangerous Lady 84
T2 – Meenala Amy 71
T4 – Adamant Mojo 66
First off a word of warning, the speed figures are derived from times in the last two rounds of a competition, if a dog has suffered trouble I discount the time. The problem I have with this particular race is that the times between the quarter finals and semi finals are markedly different but Wimbledon gave the going allowance as neutral on both occasions. There have also been a number of races where one or more dog has found trouble too and as such I’m not 100% confident in the numbers for this one.
That said, Droopys Quinta heads the figures after a good performance in the quarter finals. Ravello Drive won that race in a tight photo finish but has since gone slower hence the lower rating. Steady Scholes also went well in the quarter’s when beaten a short head by Dangerous Lady, a race in which both bitches had to overcome trouble. Meenala Amy and Adamant Mojo both look set to struggle if the numbers are anything to go by although the former is smart from the traps and any dog that leads at the first bend at the ‘Don cannot be ruled out.
Skydogs Tissue
Using the speed figures along with early pace and draw considerations I’ve come up with the tissue below –
2/1 Droopys Quinta, 9/2 Dangerous Lady, 5/1 Ravello Drive, 15/2 Steady Scholes, 9/1 Meenala Amy, 10/1 Adamant Mojo
Seamus Cahill’s Droopys Quinta is my jolly and is fairly priced by the bookies at 5/2. She can lose her chance at the boxes however and I couldn’t support her given that she could well be last from the traps. Dangerous Lady has an excellent draw in the stripes and is capable of being quick away. Dave Mullins’ daughter of Larkhill Jo has won five of her last six races since hitting form after being in season in July. She definitely has a chance but a best price of 15/8 is far from generous. Ravello Drive is capable given a clear run, she sees this trip out well but will need luck in running and is another dog on the short side at 3/1. Steady Scholes is another strong staying bitch and had run over eight bends at Crayford prior to her Oaks campaign. Things might happen a little too quickly for her tonight but she’ll be staying on at the death and there are worse 14/1 shots than her. Meenala Amy, a daughter of the super fast Droopys Shearer, has something to find on the clock but she is capable of leading this field which makes her a dangerous outsider, I think the layers have pitched her about right at 10/1. Finally, Andy Heyes travels Adamant Mojo down from Belle Vue. She’s got the coffin box and her chance will depend on her getting the flyer she is capable of and then some trouble in behind. Given that she could lead 20/1 is a big price but for me she lacks the necessary class but a winner for a trainer from my local track would have to be cheered home.
All in all a very tricky race. Dangerous Lady is a fair favourite but a poor price, the other market leaders will have to trap smarter than they have been doing or have plenty of luck in running. If forced to have a bet I’d go for Steady Scholes on value grounds but this really does look a race to savour without too much financial interest.
