Oaks master Aidan O'Brien runs three in bid to stop hot favourite Desert Flower from bagging another Classic

Aidan O'Brien may not hold the ace but he has the king, queen and jack and has shown time and again nobody plays this sort of hand better.

The trainer’s record haul of 45 British Classics includes ten Oaks, from Shahtoush in 1998 to Tuesday three years ago.

And while Godolphin’s Desert Flower is the obvious favourite for the race this year, Ballydoyle have won Britain’s three biggest trials for this race since her 1,000 Guineas success and run them all against her here.

Shortest-priced of the trio — and Ryan Moore's chosen mount — is guaranteed stayer Minnie Hauk, who was a gutsy winner of the Cheshire Oaks over just short of this trip on her reappearance and is open to plenty of improvement after just three runs.

Whirl is one of Aidan O'Brien's three-strong Oaks teamCredit: Getty Images

Whirl was impressive in landing the Musidora Stakes at York by more than five lengths and initial doubts about whether or not she will see out the extra furlong and a half here have clearly been overcome.

Giselle is another whose stamina is not in doubt after her victory in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, but she was beaten more than a length by Whirl when the pair met at the Curragh last autumn and is the longest price of the trio.

O’Brien said: "Minnie Hauk is a lovely, straightforward filly who we think has come forward loads since Chester. She came out that very well and is a good traveller who shows plenty of speed. We've always been very happy with her and we think she'll stay.

Minnie Hauk (Ryan Moore) wins the Cheshire Oaks Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"Whirl is also straightforward and got a mile and quarter well at York. She looked like she would maybe get further as she wasn't stopping. But a mile and a half is a different thing and you never know until you try.

"Giselle was keen through the winter and spring and wanted to do too much, so it was all about relaxing her. She was very underdone fitness-wise at Lingfield so we were delighted with her. We think she's come forward a lot and we've been able to train her more."

Queen to reign for Ed Walker?

Rarely can a trainer have gone into his bid to win a first Classic in better form than Ed Walker, fresh from a stakes race treble within 70 minutes last Saturday.

That came 48 hours after stable star Alamaqam won at Sandown and made it eight Group or Listed races victories by seven different horses for the trainer in May.

"It's hard to believe quite how well things are going at the moment," the trainer said in his Racing Post Weekender column.

But things could get even better if Newbury trial winner Qilin Queen lives up to expectations on Friday.

Qilin Queen (far side) is out to keep Ed Walker's amazing run goingCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm full of hope she can run a big race," Walker said. "Everything has gone fine with her since she won the trial at Newbury. She worked well on Saturday and she's in great nick.

"There are only nine fillies in the race and quite a few of those have stamina doubts, whereas she's a guaranteed stayer.

"She's got quite a lot of experience and she's not done much wrong. I don't think her odds reflect her prospects and I think she's got a really decent chance of running into the money."

What they say

Jim Crowley, rider of Elwateen
She ran a huge race in the Guineas. She galloped out past the line extremely well. When I was trying to pull her up at the top of the hill there was only one race I had in my mind for her. She's a talented filly and I'm pretty sure she'll stay. She seems to have improved a huge amount from Newmarket, it was only her second start. She's very relaxed, she's very well balanced, you can put her pretty much anywhere in a race. I'd be hopeful of a big run. 

Elwateen (left) finished fourth in the 1,000 Guineas behind Desert FlowerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

John and Thady Gosden, joint-trainers of Go Go Boots
She ran a nice race in the Musidora. She'd won her first two and it was a big step up. She didn't have the easiest trip round but she picked up well. We trained the mother, who was placed in the Ribblesdale at a mile and a half, and she gives every indication that the step up in trip will suit her too.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Revoir
She should definitely come forward for the run at Newbury. She was still pretty green through the race but I liked the way she went through the line. You'd think the step up to a mile and a half will probably be in her favour. Her dam didn't get the trip but she's more laid back than her mother was and Study Of Man appears to be an influence for stamina.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Wemightakedlongway
She has prepared well for the race since Navan and is versatile going-wise. It's her first try at the trip but we're hopeful she will stay and we think she has an each-way chance.

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