Unbeaten Forest Fairy cut to 10-1 for Oaks after Chester victory - and trainer Ralph Beckett says she is 'still a work in progress'

Ralph Beckett enhanced his prospects of winning the Betfred Oaks for the third time after Forest Fairy edged out Port Fairy in Chester's Classic trial for fillies.

Forest Fairy travelled well into contention turning for home but Rossa Ryan had to get serious on his mount to reel in Port Fairy by a head. 

After the race, Ryan suggested the daughter of Waldgeist, who was unraced at two but a six-length winner at Wolverhampton in February, would be better suited to a softer surface, but Beckett seemed keen to head for the Oaks, for which the winner was cut to between 14-1 and 10-1.   

Speaking away from the track, the trainer, who was also responsible for third-placed Seaward, said: "It was a very good result on all levels, the winner is still a work in progress and was still learning plenty on the job today.

"I think it's probable she'll end up at Epsom on the last Friday of the month. I don't think I'd be too worried about the ground, they usually do a good job for the first day of that meeting. She's a good-moving filly and I'd imagine it will be similar ground to today.

 "She was just very immature at two and we had to take our time with her. I think we were all a bit surprised by how well she won on her debut at Wolverhampton, but we certainly haven't underestimated her since."

Port Fairy, who does not hold an Oaks entry, was the first to come under pressure but responded gamely to Ryan Moore's urgings.

Coolmore representative Paul Smith said of the runner-up: "She ran well. She stayed well and Ryan was very pleased with her. She's still learning on the job and she'll learn a lot from that. We'll get her home and make a plan."  

Beckett, who has won the Oaks with Look Here (2008) and Talent (2013), is part of Forest Fairy's ownership, along with Guy Myddelton and Vernon Taylor, in the colours of 1950 Grand National winner Freebooter.  

Myddelton, who lives locally and later had another winner when Go On Chez landed the hunter chase at Kelso under his son Harry, said: "This is a little bit of a departure from the jumping game and we didn't expect this sort of thing to happen. Ralph's come in on her as well and that's given us a bit of confidence. 

"These are my grandmother's colours of Freebooter and jumping is in the heart of things but we're very happy to have gone on the Flat. The most important thing about today is that the bubble hasn't burst and the dream is still alive."

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