Marvellous new clear favourite for Investec Oaks as 17 declared

The Aidan O’Brien trained Marvellous is now the clear 3/1 market leader with Coral for the Investec Oaks, after 17 stood their ground for the Group 1 fillies’ contest at Epsom on Friday, June 6th.

Taghrooda, who has been on the drift over the past week is now second favourite at 7/2, with the same owner’s Tarfasha next best in at 7/1.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “Taghrooda was as short as 7/4 favourite for the Investec Oaks at one point, but a combination of the form of her Pretty Polly Stakes win not looking particularly strong and the Irish 1,000 Guineas victory of Marvellous has seen the latter attract most of the ante-post support in recent days, and the daughter of Galileo looks likely to start favourite on Friday now.”

Marvellous has been backed as if defeat is out of the question since winning the Irish 1000 Guineas in impressive fashion.

The daughter of Galileo came in for heaps of praise from jockey Ryan Moore after beating Lightning Thunder by three lengths in the Group 1 mile contest at the Curragh, but will be partnered by Joseph O’Brien in the Oaks.

Moore will partner stablemate Palace (16/1), while Seamie Heffernan will be on the third of O’Brien’s runners Dazzling (40/1).

Marvellous will be bidding to give O’Brien his fifth winner in the 1m 4f contest, with the Ballydoyle handler having last been successful with Was in 2012.

She won going away by three lengths in the Irish 1000 Guineas in a manner which suggested the extra half mile at Epsom would be well within her compass.

That run was also just Marvellous’ third start, and with further improvement assured she looks a worthy favourite to complete the classic double.