'We've all got Al Agaila to beat' - key trainer quotes for the Winter Oaks

Saturday: 2.47 Lingfield
talkSPORT Winter Oaks Fillies' Handicap | 1m2f | 4yo+ | ITV3/Sky

The Winter Oaks might be only a handicap but it has attracted a smart field for an all-weather contest at this time of year, with the 102-rated Purple Ribbon carrying top weight.

Purple Ribbon almost made the breakthrough in Listed company at Kempton last time. She was beaten just a neck by Belloccio in November, splitting the 107-rated winner and 113-rated third Siskany, for which she has been raised 12lb from 90 to this career-high mark.

She was given a Racing Post Rating of 109 for that Kempton effort, so could still be a step ahead of the handicapper even after the huge rise, and this is evidently a drop back in class.

Her trainer Charlie Fellowes also saddles Tequilamockingbird, who isn't in the same league as her stablemate in terms of ability but will receive 23lb from the topweight, which should bring them closer together. Tequilamockingbird also comes into this race in fantastic form.

She often finishes strongly and races over this course and distance seem to suit horses who do their best work late. That was certainly the case when she won here in November, but she was left with too much to do after being short of room when taking third late at the track last time.

There are three last-time-out winners in the field and among them is Al Agaila, who has won her last two starts by a combined total of six and a half lengths and had the reopposing Makinmedoit and Tequilamockingbird in behind over course and distance last month.

Charlie Fellowes: runs Purple Ribbon and TequilamockingbirdCredit: Edward Whitaker

Aiming High was also successful last time and represents David Simcock, who won the race last year with Lower Street. Morgan Fairy is the other last-time-out winner and is only 2lb higher than when winning over a mile here last month for Tom Marquand, who is on board again.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Al Agaila 'has done very well' since trial win

Al Agaila looked a filly going places when annihilating her rivals over the course and distance last month, and it will be surprising if a mark of 90 proves the ceiling of her ability.

The handicapper has hit Al Agaila with an 11lb rise for that rampant two-and-a-half-length success over Makinmedoit, but many punters will be making her their banker of the weekend, such was the visual impact.

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of the rapidly improving daughter of Lope De Vega, said: "She's in very good form and we've been very happy with her since her win in the trial last month.

"She's gone up 11lb but seems in a very good place. Visually, she was very impressive that day and she's done very well since."

What they say

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Purple Ribbon and Tequilamockingbird
Purple Ribbon put up a career-best performance in a decent Kempton Listed race last time. Top weight won't make things easy, but she's a pretty good filly and won't mind this drop back in trip. Tequilamockingbird has a brilliant record over course and distance. She was a bit unlucky last time after they went no gallop. I don't think they'll walk this time and, if they go a nice gallop, I'd like to think she'll be there or thereabouts. We've all got Al Agaila to beat, but she has been put up a fair amount in the weights.

William Haggas, trainer of Morgan Fairy
She's been training well and won nicely last time. Tom [Marquand] felt that a step up in trip will suit her. She has a sporting chance, although I do believe Simon and Ed's filly will be hard to beat.

Harry Eustace, trainer of Makinmedoit and At A Pinch
Makinmedoit clearly loves Lingfield, she's run very well there and the trip suits. She has come out of the trial in great form. She has a 10lb swing in the weights with Al Agaila, which frankly does not look enough, but we came from much further back that day in a muddling race. At A Pinch has not run on the Flat for a while but, given the prize-money, I felt the last thing we could do is not run her. She has won on the all-weather and is a big filly who has done very well with time. It may all be a bit sharp for her, but she is there to race so we might as well.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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