Secret Gesture has the highest rating in the race but looks very short at 9/4, given the potential of her rivals and the poor strike rate of favourites in the race in recent years (3 winning favourites in last 10 runnings, including one joint-favourite; 1 winning favourite in last 5 runnings).
The selection is Banoffee, trained by Hughie Morrison. The filly was supplemented for the race at a cost of £30,000 after winning the Cheshire Oaks round the curves at Chester. She came from off the pace to win well, suggesting she will handle the Oaks' course and distance.
Jockey Kieren Fallon rode her at Chester and he is aboard again for the Oaks and this is another point in Banoffee’s favour. Fallon rides the Epsom course well and has three Derby and four Oaks victories on his record. Fallon has no scheduled ride in tomorrow’s Derby, indeed Banoffee is his only ride across the entire Derby meeting. I believe Fallon will be keen to show his abilities on the big stage.
Banoffee is available at 10/1 with William Hill.
