Oaks master Henry Cecil could not be happier with his hand as he bids to win the Investec-sponsored Classic at Epsomfor a remarkable ninth time.

Cecil has won with the likes of Oh So Sharp (1985), Reams Of Verse (1997) and most recently Light Shift (2007) and this year he is represented by Aviate, who is the choice of stable jockey Tom Queally following her battling win in the Musidora Stakes, as well as Timepiece.

Cecil said: "The Oaks looks quite open. I'm not saying I will win it, but I am very happy with mine and I wouldn't swap them."

All the stable noises suggest that Timepiece is held in the highest regard by her trainer, yet she has tasted defeat on both of her starts this season, most recently suffering an odds-on reverse in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.

The master trainer added: "I do think, rightly or wrongly, that the Lingfield trial was a very funny race. They went too fast early on, and I will have her ridden completely different this time. I do think Timepiece has a lot of ability.

"Aviate is improving all the time and is unbeaten. She is from a family who have a cross of Nijinsky and I do think she stays. She was slightly flat-footed at York and took time to pick up, which gives you the feeling a longer distance will suit."

John Gosden saddles Cheshire Oaks winner Gertrude Bell and points to her close form with Timepiece as he assesses her chances.

Gosden said: "Henry thinks the world of Timepiece and she probably wasn't at her best at Lingfield, but the form of our filly is where we want it and a mile and a half will suit her. She ran closely to Timepiece twice and then she was second in a very nice fillies' maiden at Doncaster."

"She had a good winter and the form of her comeback win at Newbury has worked out well. I just hope the race does not get too messy and rough, as it got a bit silly last year. Her two-year-old form is nice and while she didn't win she was placed every time."