Bellajeu, Arod and Thunder head to Epsom

Bellajeu is the Classic aspirant, one of 11 fillies declared for the Gr.1 Investec Oaks (16.30) which is run over the famous Investec Derby course. Trained by Ralph Beckett, Bellajeu is still a maiden after four very promising runs, but her runner-up spot in last month's Lingfield Oaks Trial puts her in the picture for Friday's race.

Beckett won the Lingfield race with Pearl Bloodstock's Secret Gesture before she finished second in the Oaks two years ago, and he has won the big race twice - with Casual Look in 2008 and Talent in 2013.

The older horses bidding for an Epsom win on day one of the two-day meeting include the four-year-olds Arod (pictured, under Andrea Atzeni) and Lightning Thunder. Arod showed he could handle Epsom's contours when fourth in last year's Investec Derby, and more recently he produced a super effort when third in the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. On Friday he runs in the Gr.3 Diomed Stakes (15.10), and his trainer, Peter Chapple-Hyam, said earlier this week: "He is bouncing at the moment and very fresh - I haven't seen him come out of a race so well."

Lightning Thunder contests the Gr.3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (14.00), and if returning to the form which saw her finish runner-up in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas last year she will be hard to beat. She was ninth of 11 in the recent Gr.3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield, but trainer Olly Stevens reports she is proving a little more feisty at home now, which he takes as a positive sign.

Aces runs for Qatar Racing in Friday's Listed Investec Scurry Stakes (17.15), while on Saturday the sporting world will briefly pause for the Investec Derby, in which Elm Park remains a major player. Final declarations for that race will be made tomorrow morning.

Picture of Arod - Dan Abraham