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| Staff Writer |
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Pink Dogwood won this Listed contest in 2019 before finishing a neck behind Anapurna in the Oaks at Epsom, and her trainer Aidan O'Brien unleashes another potential Classic contender in Willow.
The daughter of American Pharaoh is a half-sister to September and made it third time lucky in a mile maiden at Leopardstown in October. The further she went, the better she looked so it is no surprise to see her begin her three-year-old season over this trip.
Willow is as short as 10-1 with William Hill for the Cazoo-sponsored Oaks and victory here would surely see her price shorten further.
Joseph O'Brien has two runners and Thinking Of You appears to be his leading hope. She won a Limerick maiden in September and contested a Newmarket Group 3 less than a month later. She achieved a lot as a juvenile and should progress further at three.
Last year's winning trainer Jessica Harrington is represented by Thurles maiden winner Sacred Rhyme, while other maiden winners worth noting are Create Belief, Port Sunlight and Maar.
Henry de Bromhead has some big fish to fry next week at Punchestown, but before then he will find out whether Flirting Bridge is a Classic contender.