Harrington may be smiling thanks to Laughing Lashes

But having forged a hugely successful training career over jumps with horses such as Moscow Flyer, Macs Joy, Cork All Star and recently Boston’s Angel, Jessica Harrington now has the flat racing luminaries of Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin in her sights today when Laughing Lashes competes in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

A fast-finishing third in the Irish 1000 Guineas saw Laughing Lashes take a step up in trip when last seen in the Irish Oaks, going down narrowly in an epic four-way finish.

Harrington was more than hopeful of reversing the Irish Oaks form after revealing jockey Fran Berry had dropped his whip in the final 100 yards of the Irish Oaks

“Laughing Lashes was only beaten by three quarters of a length. If Fran had kept his whip then who knows what the outcome would have been,” she said.

“The first four from the Irish Oaks all look like lining up here. It’s exciting and with a bit of luck we might reverse form with a few of them.”

The Irish racing year has been dominated so far by the O’ Brien stable.

With an unbelievable seven out of nine Group Ones held in Ireland, the Coolmore operation already has domestic prize money of nearly £2.8m going back to Ballydoyle.

So how can stables continue to be succesful against the O’Brien machine?

“Struggling along,” was Harrington’s response when asked how she was competing in the Irish flat racing sphere against the likes of O’Brien, Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld.

“You try to get the best out of your horses.

“Having a small string really makes you appreciate the big race victories.”

Harrington is having her most successful Flat campaign, with prize money already in excess of £500,000.

With three months of the campaign still remaining, Harrington is all set to beat her seasonal Flat best of £600,000 set last season.

A top-five finish in the Irish training championship for the first time would be a superb feat when you consider that she is also amongst the top five National Hunt trainers.

The Highlight on York’s Second day of the Ebor meeting is the £300,000 Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

The prospect of a St Leger winner lining up in this year’s race adds a fascinating twist to an already high quality field.

Likely Yorkshire Oaks favourtie after the expected withdrawal of Snow Fairy will be English 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks Winner-Blue Bunting. The-Saaed Bin Surror-trained three-year-old still has the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of classics with this season’s St Leger a target.

Simon Crisford, Racing Manager for Godolphin, owners of Blue Bunting, said: “She’s a dual Classic winner now; there’s no hiding place for fillies like her.

“If she recovers well from this outing, the St Leger is definitely at the back of our minds.”

Blue Bunting’s Irish Oaks victory saw her come with a devastating late burst under Frankie Dettori to win by just three quarters of a length. The first four home in that race all reoppose today with O’Brien hoping better ground will see Wonder of Wonders reverse the Curragh form, with Blue Bunting and Banimpire.

“She seems very well and I just hope the ground is not too soft for her, on good ground she would have a chance,” stated O’Brien.

Sir Henry Cecil’s Vita Nova looks sure to run well after going close in the Lancashire Oaks last month.

Cecil said: “Vita Nova was unlucky not to win the Lancashire Oaks. She is going very nicely, although giving weight away will make life tough.”

With the day being designated for the Ladies it would be fitting if the first lady of Irish Racing, Jesscia Harrington, was crowned the queen of Knavesmire.