2011 Epsom Oaks Outside Contenders

Misty For Me (Galileo) won the Irish 1,000 Guineas and looked great doing it. Already a multiple Group 1 winner she looks a fairly strong play for anybody seeking a solid price and excellent proven ability. It must be admitted that the gamble on Blue Bunting is coming on a 99 OR while this one boasts an accomplished 113 and even travelled to Longchamp to capture one of those Group 1 contests at 1m on very soft going. She looks to have the measure of many fillies her age but didn't flash any of that quality in the English Guineas after being an interesting outside shot at 9/1. She bounced back to take the Irish Guineas and it should be concluded that she likely needed the race.

The really interesting outside shot for this one looks to be Khawlah (Cape Cross) who racked up a pair of high-profile scores in Dubai when taking the Group 3 UAE Oaks and then nipped the UAE Derby by a nose over Master of Hounds (Kingmambo) when sent off as a lukewarm 4/1 favourite.

Unraced since the UAE Derby, she can be backed as high as 20/1 with some major bookmakers and her proven ability more than puts her in the mix for this one. It will be interesting to see if Godolphin point her elsewhere at the last second, but she may be an interesting foil to Blue Bunting in this one. She boasts excellent tactical speed and will be a serious threat if the going favours her and she gets her preferred stalking trip.

Outside contender Zain Al Boldan is emerging off the Lingfield turf after just taking her first listed score and takes a major step up in class for this one. She looks like she is more likely aiming at a slice of this one in lieu of the outright victory but conditioner Mick Channon wouldn't have her lined up in this one without thinking she was at least going to acquit herself properly. It was a six length victory on May 7 in her second start of the season and we can expect some improvement. I don't think she'll go as far towards the back as she was last time but it was a 1m3.5f contest and the ground should be similar but I reckon they may want her not exactly in touch but at least able to assert herself at the right point.

She remains undefeated and is the only contender in the race without a loss.

The really big outside shot is Fork Handles who broke her maiden on the first attempt but then has gone five races without victory. She managed a place finish in the Cheshire Oaks to second-favourite Wonder of Wonders and you get the feeling that, with that 100/1 price tag, that she just might be worth a bash if she winds up in the starting gate as this one might be a little bit tighter than many other punters are giving it credit for.