Sariska preparing to go one better and capture Yorkshire Oaks

THERE will not be be many more eagerly-anticipated clashes this season than the one awaiting racegoers in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Knavesmire this afternoon.

Ed Dunlop's dual Classic heroine Snow Fairy attempts to add to her Group One haul but bumps into a couple of top-class four-year-olds in the shape of Sariska and Midday.

The star fillies have crossed swords three times already, with Michael Bell's charge Sariska, whose English and Irish Oaks 2009 double was emulated by Snow Fairy this time, prevailing on each occasion, most recently when making all to land the Middleton Stakes at the Dante meeting in York in May.

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In the interim, she got closest to Arc favourite Fame And Glory in the Coronation Cup and the form that ties in with the best colts around should enable her to go one better than 12 months ago, when she just found Dar Re Mi too strong on ground that was not to her liking.

Maqaasid can extend her unbeaten record to three in the Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes.

The daughter of Green Desert has to shoulder a 3lb penalty as a result of her Queen Mary Stakes triumph but connections believe she will improve further for the step up to six furlongs today.

The action starts with the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes and Malton handler Richard Fahey has an exciting prospect in the shape of Wootton Bassett.

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A comfortable Ayr winner on his racecourse introduction, he won as his 2-5 starting price suggested he would in a better Doncaster event and the decision to swerve yesterday's Gimcrack could reap rich dividends.

Jockey Paul Hanagan said: "I think Wootton Bassett is a very good horse. Both times he's won, he's had to do it the hard way and I ended up making the running at Doncaster last time.

"He beat a decent horse of Michael Jarvis's there (Forjatt) and it will be a lot better on Thursday in a better race as I should be able to get him covered up and that should help.

"It's a very good race, but I think this horse has a big future. He has the best temperament you could ask for and it's going to be a big day for him."

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Kevin Ryan's Perfect Blossom arrives at the concluding eventmasters.co.uk 25th Anniversary Handicap in search of a six-timer, but she may struggle to confirm her Goodwood superiority over Fahey's Skylla, who is weighted to finish much closer than her sixth-placing on that occasion.

Several of the runners in the Addleshaw Goddard Handicap ran behind Mark Johnston's progressive Sea Lord in the Totesport Mile at Goodwood, including the Luca Cuman-trained Acrostic, who is better than his finishing position indicates.

The consistent performer endured terrible luck in running and with that effort best forgotten, he can resume winning ways in a race in which he finished third 12 months ago.

John Oxx has saddled the winner of the European Breeders' Fund Galtres Stakes three times since 2004 and sends Zarebiya over from his Currabeg base.

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The Galileo filly was pitched into Group Three company after making a successful start to her career at Leopardstown and although only third behind She's Our Mark at Cork, she is expected to come into her own over today's extra two furlongs.