MIDDAY can provide legendary trainer Henry Cecil with an incredible ninth win in the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

Cecil has always excelled with his handling of fillies and while Midday may not have looked a Classic prospect last season, she showed improved form when chasing home Debussy in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April.

That run shows she is suited to the unique track and her performance at Lingfield a few weeks later showed she had improved in leaps and bounds when she strolled home six lengths clear of Sir Michael Stoute’s July Jasmine in the Oaks Trial.

Throughout his illustrious career, Cecil has always refused to join in when people have tried to build his horses up, but the noises coming out of Warren Place this week suggest he thinks she is the real deal.

Stoute’s Phillipina, a fast-finishing second in the Cheshire Oaks, can give her most to do.

Look Here can start her season with a victory in the other Group One race by landing the Investec Coronation Cup.

Exactly a year on from springing a 33-1 surprise in the Oaks, Ralph Beckett’s filly will be having just her fifth career start after a couple of setbacks saw her miss intended engagements last term.

In getting to within six and a quarter lengths of Conduit in the St Leger at Doncaster she proved she could mix it with the boys but was better suited to 12 furlongs.

Her effectiveness over the unique twists and turns of Epsom is obviously not in doubt and while Beckett has hardly started the season on fire, his horses are regularly hitting the frame.

You rarely go wrong in backing Stoute’s older horses and Confront looked a massive improver when winning a Newmarket handicap last time out.

Stepped up in class for the Group Three Investec Diomed Stakes, the four-year-old has the look of a typical Stoute inmate who is progressing at a rate of knots.

After beating the classy Stimulation at two, he was talked of as a Guineas horse but finished mid-division in the Greenham behind Paco Boy.

Gelded after he disappointed at Great Leighs on his final start, he looked a different proposition altogether.

Mark Johnston will be disappointed if the long trip to Bath does not pay off for Tilos Gem in the Addlestones Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Second behind Larkham, who has won again since, on his last at Wolverhampton, a maiden win looks a formality based on what he achieved last season.

Bryan Smart was talking in terms of Royal Ascot for Ceedwell after an impressive debut success at Carlisle so if she fails to follow up in the EBF Novice Stakes at Catterick, he will have some egg on his face.

Stoute’s Almuktahem is a halfbrother to the late-maturing Maraahel so it was no surprise he did not win on his debut.

However, he showed enough to suggest the Replas Concrete Repair Maiden Stakes at Doncaster should be within his grasp.

Luca Cumani takes the wraps off Mad Rush for the season in the Wheb Ventures And Ruston Wheb Stakes at Goodwood and it should be worth seeing.