OAKS day looked all set to be run on good to firm ground only for persistent rain to turn the ground soft before racing as Epsom saw four times the predicted rainfall.

However, there was no amount of rain that could stop Snowfall (120) from excelling in the feature race and she was the star performer on the clock throughout the day.

In the early races, runners stuck to the tried and trusted path of the far rail with the pick of the early performances being Pyledriver’s Coral Coronation Cup victory where he stayed on too strongly for Al Aasy to make amends for his unfortunate passage in last year’s Derby.

The early pace was not strong in comparison to the Oaks but, once Martin Dwyer sent the winner past Highland Chief (100), the pace lifted with six furlongs to run and there was no relenting from that point.

Al Aasy and Jim Crowley were the last to challenge and looked to have taken the winner’s measure inside the final furlong only for the son of Harbour Watch to dig deep and inch back to the front on the line.

The overall race time was strong, but the closing three-furlong sectional of 37.93secs was marginally slower than course specialist Corazon Espinado (91) (37.43secs) recorded in the preceding handicap.

The impression is that Pyledriver (121) needs soft ground and a test of stamina at this trip to be seen at his best. Al Aasy (120), on the other hand, is effective on a better surface and I would expect him to reverse placings on better ground and a more conventional track.

Oaks romp

The feature race of the day was simply a one-horse romp as Frankie Dettori landed a record equalling 21st classic aboard Aidan O’Brien’s Snowfall who simply blew her rivals away and, according to her jockey, was value for a few lengths more had he wished.

The finishing kick that saw Snowfall an easy winner of the Musidora Stakes at York served her well as she stormed to a record breaking 16-length win.

The margin and ease of victory has projected the daughter of Deep Impact into calculations for all the big summer and autumn races that will range from the King George VI at Ascot in July to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October where, if all goes to plan, Derby winner Adayar will be in opposition.

The overall race time was the fastest of the races that made the move to the stands’ side rail, while the closing sectional of 35.48secs was eclipsed by both Mehmento (108) (33.58secs) and Rhoscolyn (104) (34.88secs) in later races.

Mystery Angel (100) was the only filly to emerge from the pack and, although well beaten here, she may be up to landing a pattern class event, especially if given such an opportunity at Newmarket where she boasts form figures of 1321 on varying ground conditions.

The eyecatcher in the Coral Free Bet Handicap was Plantadream (90) whose three-furlong closing sectional of 35.96secs backed up the visual impression that he was finishing strongly in contrast to the leaders slowing.

John Best’s gelding is equally effective on turf as he is on the all-weather and can race in a lower grade than this event which is where the six-year-old has enjoyed successes in the past.

The Cazoo Handicap over a mile and aquarter saw the emphasis for the day change as David Egan and Ben Curtis brought their mounts Data Protection and Dream With Me to the stands’ side in search of better ground.

Blue Cup (103) ran out an impressive winner as he picked up Victory Chime (102) and the gallant Data Protection (86) who stayed on surprisingly well after an early speed duel with the eventually well-beaten Dream With Me.

The difference in ground conditions was noticeable as the David Menuisier-trained gelding ran the final three-furlongs in 36.30 seconds which was over a second faster than either Corazon Espinado or Pyledriver. Victory Chime was tasting defeat for the first time at Epsom and can be supported to make amends when returning to this track.