Islington heads Yorkshire Oaks

Eight fillies will start in the 1 1/2-mile Group 1 Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks at York on Wednesday, and Islington has a great chance to repeat her success in last year's race.

Trained by Michael Stoute, Islington has run two solid races in open Group 1 company this season, and in truth this looks a far from vintage field for a top-level event. The Epsom Oaks winner, Casual Look, and L'Ancresse, who beat Casual Look as the runner-up in the Irish Oaks, look the pick of the opposition.

But the current crop of 3-year-old middle-distance fillies is a moderate one, and none can match the level of the 4-year-old Islington's form. The French raider Tigertail, who has been Group 1 placed in Italy this season, could well be a threat.