Cheshire Oaks Preview: Another Terrific chance for Aidan?

Terrific is favourite to provide Champion Irish trainer Adian O’Brien with his fourth winner of the race in the last seven years, but could be vulnerable to some unexposed types in the 1m 3f Listed contest on the opening day of Chester’s May Festival (2.15, Wednesday, May 7th).

The beautifully bred filly, who cost £1.3 million as a yearling, won twice at the Curragh as a juvenile.

On the first occasion, the daughter of Galileo beat Gorteo by just 1/2 a length and that one has been soundly beaten in two subsequent starts.

Terrific then made all to follow-up in a weak-looking 7f contest by 2 1/4 lengths, and the form of those races does not look anything special.

Although she did step up on those efforts when staying on well to be third behind stablemate Dazzling in a Listed race at Navan on her seasonal reappearance, the winner is no world beater and the race does not have a strong look to it.

To me, Terrific will have to step up significantly on what she has achieved so far to justify her position at the head of the market and is worth taking on.
The two that I like are the unexposed Bright Approach and Lady Tyne.

The former is trained by Johns Gosden and looked a really smart prospect when making a winning debut at Newbury last month.

After being slowly away, the daughter of New Approach was held-up in the last pair before making good headway two from home and showing a smart turn of foot to lead inside the final furlong.

She was then nudged clear by jockey William Buick, before being eased down close home to beat Be My Gal by 1 1/2 lengths.

The runner-up has scored since in Listed company, and the third home Talmada bolted up by seven lengths next time-up in a maiden to give the form a solid look.

It was a very striking effort which suggested Bright Approach was up to taking this step up in class in her stride, and she is my idea of the most likely winner.

Lady Tyne had just two starts as a juvenile, and ran out the wide margin winner of a Newbury maiden over a mile when last seen in action.