Yorkshire Oaks: 'It's all systems go' - Alpinista chases first domestic Group 1

Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Luke Morris believes the Yorkshire Oaks will be a crucial test of Alpinista's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe credentials as the pair bid for a remarkable fifth Group 1 victory in a row.

The Sir Mark Prescott-trained five-year-old outran her odds of 33-1 to finish second in the race behind Love in 2020, but has blossomed into a top-level winning machine since and took her unbeaten run to six when an impressive winner in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on her return last month.

The daughter of Frankel is as short as 7-1 for the Arc and Morris is looking forward to once again partnering Prescott's stable star, who races solely against her own sex for the first time since her Lancashire Oaks triumph in July last year.

"She's in great form at home and she put up a good performance at Saint-Cloud, where she clocked a very fast time," Morris said. "I'm very excited to get back up on her. I generally don't work her at home but I had a sit on her on Tuesday. She wouldn't be the best worker, but she feels like she's in great form."

Morris is conscious of the challenge Alpinista faces on the Knavesmire against the likes of Classic heroines Magical Lagoon and Tuesday, as well as Pretty Polly Stakes scorer La Petite Coco and Group winners Lilac Road, Raclette and Poptronic in a top-class seven-runner field.

He added: "Sir Mark has placed her to perfection and it would be fantastic if we could get her a domestic Group 1 win. It does look a very deep race though and could be the toughest she's faced, with three other Group 1 winners in there and some top-class fillies. It's a brilliant running.

"Tomorrow will be another stepping stone towards Longchamp, but these are the days you dream of as a jockey. It'd be fantastic to get another Group 1 in Britain to my name, especially for Sir Mark."

The Prescott team are eager to land that elusive British Group 1 with Alpinista for her owner Kirsten Rausing and her Lanwades Stud operation.

Assistant trainer William Butler said: "We've been happy with her preparations and it looks like she's going to get her fast ground, which we feel she's best on. It's all systems go.

"It would mean everything to Miss Rausing to make Alpinista a British Group 1 winner. Her Saint-Cloud win was very impressive as well as her form levels from last year, which have worked out brilliantly. To get a win in such a big race in the calendar in Britain would be huge.

"She's already an Arc contender and has proven her credentials. She has already beaten last year's Arc winner Torquator Tasso in Germany last year and warrants her place in the race, but this is building towards Longchamp. She's in fine form."

Magical Lagoon needs to have improved – Harrington

Jessica Harrington believes Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon will need to improve from her Curragh heroics as she takes on her elders for the first time.

A game winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, the daughter of the late Galileo put up a similarly battling performance under Shane Foley to give Harrington her first Irish Oaks success last month and will be bidding to give the trainer another first in this race.

She and fellow three-year-olds Tuesday and Raclette have a 9lb pull with chief rival Alpinista, but her Irish Oaks form has taken a knock after the second, Toy, was well beaten in the Preis der Diana this month, while the third Cairde Go Deo and fourth Emily Dickinson have also been beaten in lesser contests since.

Jessica Harrington on Magical Lagoon: 'She seems to be good since the Irish Oaks, and that's all I can hope for.'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Harrington thinks Magical Lagoon needs to progress further if she is to land a second top-level success. "Hopefully it's all systems go with her. She seems to be good since the Irish Oaks, and that's all I can hope for," she said.

"She only does as much as she has to do at home, but I hope she's improved a bit since the Curragh. She'll need to because this is a very good race, taking on older fillies for the first time."

Tuesday in bid to emulate Ballydoyle aces

Tuesday's bid to beat the colts in the Irish Derby came to nothing in June, but Aidan O'Brien hopes a midsummer break will have reignited her spark as she bids to become the third Oaks winner in a row to follow up in the Yorkshire equivalent.

Placed in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas earlier in the season, she dramatically denied Emily Upjohn by a short head at Epsom in June.

However, the daughter of Galileo was beaten ten and a half lengths by runaway winner Westover in the Irish Derby on her latest appearance, when sent off the 11-8 joint-favourite, and returns after a 54-day absence.

Tuesday (centre): Oaks winner bids to follow up in the Yorkshire versionCredit: Edward Whitaker

She aims to become O'Brien's third successive Oaks heroine to win the Yorkshire Oaks in the same season, following Love in 2020 and Snowfall last year, while the great Enable also achieved the feat in 2017.

O'Brien said: "She's in good form and has had a nice little break since her last run. We're happy with everything she's done since and we're looking forward to seeing her out again."

Tuesday bids to give O'Brien his seventh win in the Yorkshire Oaks, with all of them coming with three-year-old fillies, while her regular jockey Ryan Moore bids for his third consecutive win in the race and his fourth overall.

What they say

Paddy Twomey, trainer of La Petite Coco
She seems in good form, having travelled over well on Monday and cantered on the track on Tuesday. She's pretty versatile in terms of ground and is stronger now than before. I wouldn't like to run her on hard, but I think she'll be fine on the ground that's there.

William Haggas, trainer of Lilac Road
I think she's been looking for this step up in trip in her recent races and she goes there with a very sporting each-way chance.

Karl Burke, trainer of Poptronic
It's a huge step up in class. She'll have to run a career-best to finish in the first four but I think she's capable of that, she looks in great shape and I'm very happy with her.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Raclette
I'm happy and I think she's still progressing, but it's a tough race. The track should suit her and with the long straight they should go at a sensible pace. She likes good ground.

Yorkshire Oaks analysis: How good is Alpinista? That is the question and this race can provide the answer (£)

Thursday's previews:

1.50 York: The Lowther poser: is Queen Mary winner Dramatised a certainty or opposable?

3.00 York: 'He's due a big one' - trainers on their runners in this £125,000 handicap

4.10 York: Can Golden Lyra continue recent sea of yellow success in the Galtres?

Sign up here for your Racing Post exclusive offer. Horse racing multiples only. Combined min odds of 2.0. Free bet valid for 48 hours on horse racing multiples. Max one per day. Excludes Oddsboost multiples. Sportsbook exclusive. T&Cs apply.