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Alluringly out to make it a super six for Aidan O'Brien in the Cheshire Oaks

3 minute read

Alluringly bids to provide Aidan O'Brien with a sixth victory in the Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks on Wednesday.

It is nine years since the Ballydoyle maestro first claimed this Listed contest with Sail and he has since added to his tally with Perfect Truth (2009), Wonder Of Wonders (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015) and Somehow (2016).

Alluringly was well-beaten on each of her two starts as a juvenile, but looked a much improved filly when making an impressive start to her three-year-old career at Tipperary three weeks ago.

The formidable combination of trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori is represented by the promising Enable.

The daughter of Nathaniel was third behind stable companion and fellow Khalid Abdullah-owned filly Shutter Speed in a conditions race at Newbury almost three weeks ago.

Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: " She's in good shape and came out of Newbury very well.

"It looked a smart race at Newbury, or at least we hope it was.

"Enable was finishing off her race well and the step up in trip should suit her, so we're hoping she'll run a big race."

Of Shutter Speed, who is second-favourite for the Investec Oaks at Epsom behind the O'Brien-trained Rhododendron, Grimthorpe added: " All is good with her and she's on course for the Musidora Stakes at York next week."

Ralph Beckett's Rich Legacy must concede weight to the rest of the field after winning the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September.

She subsequently placed fourth behind Rhododendron in the Fillies' Mile before finishing down the field on her final juvenile appearance in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Beckett said: "She hasn't got a great draw (stall seven) and she's got the penalty to carry, but we've got to run her to see if she stays this far.

"I think she will myself, but we'll find out tomorrow."

Argenterie was a close-up third behind Rhododendron in a Goodwood maiden last summer and impressed on her second start at Salisbury.

However, she disappointed in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket and trainer Marcus Tregoning is hopeful rather than confident ahead of her seasonal reappearance.

"It was always the plan to run in a trial, but which trial was the question," said the Whitsbury-based trainer.

"We decided not to go to Newmarket because of the quick ground and although they haven't had any rain, Chester always has a good covering of grass.

"I hope she'll run well. She's not in the Oaks (at Epsom), but if she was to win tomorrow and prove she stays, we could always supplement her.

"She is in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, but we'll leave any decisions until after we see how she runs.

"Her last run was a disappointment, so we'll just have to see how she goes."

Roger Varian's Tansholpan, the Jo Hughes-trained Erica Bing and Hidden Steps from Andrew Balding's yard complete the seven-strong field.

The last filly win the Cheshire Oaks-Epsom Oaks double was the late Sir Henry Cecil's Light Shift 10 years ago.