The Irish hold a very strong hand in both Epsom classics this year with Jim Bolger, Dermot Weld and, of course, Aidan O'Brien all entertaining high hopes of a magnificent double.

John Oxx, who trains Katiyra, has no entry in the big one tomorrow, but his filly has always been regarded as potentially high-class and she can prove herself against what could turn out to be a quality field today.

Held in high regard before making her debut in a Leopardstown maiden in August, she then succumbed to a series of niggling problems and did not return until last month where she stayed on over a trip too short to finish runner-up in a Group 3 on the same track.

The winner that day, Carribean Sunset, went on to be placed in the Irish 1000 Guineas and there is no doubt Katiyra will be better suited by today's trip.

Bolger has not endeared himself to the racing public over the past few weeks and what the reception will be if Lush Lashes is successful is anyone's guess.

The Musidora Stakes winner is quite obviously a top-notch performer who looks certain to go well, as does the unbeaten
Chinese White.

The latter has won both races to date in facile manner and still looked green when landing a Listed contest at Gowran.

It is a long way from that track to the Oaks, but Dermot Weld is never a trainer to overface his horses and he would not have entered his filly here unless he was certain she would do herself justice.

O'Brien's team does not look as strong as usual though most of his fillies improve dramatically for a run and it would be churlish to rule any of them out.

The home team is led by Cape Amber, Clowance and Michita, but none of the trio appears to have the potential of the main Irish contenders.

Frankie Dettori has 'jocked off' the popular Steve Drowne on Clowance and may not get the adoring reception he craves if successful on Roger Charlton's entry, though that is hardly likely to be a concern to the Italian.

Cape Amber has something to find with Lush Lashes on York form and Michita, who is progressing nicely, is probably the main hope of keeping the classic in the UK.

Oxx, one of the 'quiet men' of Irish racing but lacking nothing in comparison to his countrymen, can gain his first Epsom Oaks with the superbly-bred Katiyra.

While Yorkshire yards are not represented in the main event, the remainder of a superb Epsom card is enhanced by the presence of at least one entry in each of the supporting events including what could turn out to be a brilliant Juddmonte Coronation Cup.

Alan Swinbank's Turbo Linn and Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova represent our area in the Group 1 contest and though both will win races this season they are taking on a couple of potentially world-class performers.

Getaway and Soldier Of Fortune occupied fourth and fifth places behind Dylan Thomas in last year's 'Arc' at Longchamp with another of today's entries Youmzain in the runners-up spot.

The latter is a genuine Group 1 performer, but he ran moderately in Dubai earlier this year and may not confirm the form with the pair behind him in France.

Getaway produced a spectacular effort to land the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup on his reappearance and Andre Fabre has already won more Coronation Cups than any other trainer.

After Newmarket the five-year-old received plaudits from every corner though in beating Sixties Icon he was taking on inferior opposition to what he will face here.

However, he was mightily impressive and it will take a huge effort to lower his colours, but Soldier Of Fortune could just be the one to find him out.

O'Brien's colt, a nine-lengths winner of the Irish Derby on soft ground before landing a Group 2 at Longchamp, ran a cracker in the 'Arc' as he probably took up the running sooner than wished because he was going so well.

He will be a much stronger horse in his third season and may well turn out to be one of the stars of the coming campaign.

Blythe Knight, who landed the Juddmonte Diomed Stakes a year ago, can repeat the process for John Quinn in today's opener.

A series of runs against high-class opposition over timber during the winter did not do the eight-year-old any harm and he returned to produce an outstanding effort under a huge weight in the Lincoln at Doncaster.

He came back to form with a three and a half lengths defeat by Mia's Boy at York last time and though the winner is in opposition again a 14lbs pull in the weights looks enough for Blythe Knight to reverse the form.