Epsom's Derby meeting gets underway on Friday, when the highlight of a seven-race card is the Investec Oaks.

The second English fillies' classic of 2016 has attracted a field of nine, with Aidan O'Brien sending out three runners as he tries to follow up last year's shock 50/1 winner Qualify.

Previewing Friday's feature race at Epsom races, The Investec Oaks

Check out our guide to this season's runners and riders...

ARCHITECTURE (Form: 31-2)

Trainer: Hugo Palmer. Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Breeding doesn't particularly scream stamina, but showed in the Lingfield Oaks Trial this trip is certainly within her compass. Entitled to come on for that run and should be able to turn around form with Seventh Heaven on preferred easier surface. Rating: 8/10

AUSTRALIAN QUEEN (Form: 5-2185)

Trainer: David Elsworth. Jockey: James Doyle

Finished adrift of Harlequeen in the Musidora, a second well-beaten effort on turf after seemingly improved efforts on the all-weather. This filly is a big outsider for a reason, and soft ground probably won't help either. Rating: 1/10

DIAMONDS POUR MOI (Form: 1-3)

Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Ran well enough in the Cheshire Oaks but never looked like being able to overcome Somehow in that Chester race. Another who could benefit from the softer ground, and will stay, but probably playing for place money only. Rating: 4/10

Image: Mick Channon's Harlequeen worked out at Breakfast With The Stars at Epsom last month

HARLEQUEEN (Form: 1-24)

Trainer: Mick Channon. Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa

Beaten soundly by the injured So Mi Dar in the Musidora, but appeared not to enjoy the rapidly drying ground at York and this surface should be much more suitable. Had appeared to be progressive going into that York race and looks the best of the long-shots for a trainer whose record with fillies is excellent. Rating: 9/10

Image: Ryan Moore guided Minding to victory in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket

MINDING (Form: 211-12)

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Jockey: Ryan Moore

Undoubtedly the best horse in the field on ratings, having won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in scintillating fashion before being beaten in the mud at The Curragh when trying to claim the Irish version. But she has never yet run beyond a mile and there has to be a concern that the trip on soft ground will find her out - at odds-on, the risk is too high for me to join in the plunge. Rating: 7/10

Image: Seventh Heaven is Aidan O'Brien's third entrant

SEVENTH HEAVEN (Form: 74-11)

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Jockey: Colm O'Donoghue

Held off the persistent challenge of Architecture to win the Lingfield Oaks Trial, but had the benefit of a run on the runner-up and not guaranteed to uphold that form. Slight concern her worst effort came on the softest ground she has encountered, but that was on her juvenile debut. Rating: 6/10

Image: Skiffle (nearest) wins the Veolia Height Of Fashion Stakes from The Black Princess

SKIFFLE (Form: 31)

Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: William Buick

Improved from a promising maiden run to win the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood, but needs another step up on that form to justify the £30,000 fee Godolphin paid to supplement her for the race. Top three finish is needed to get that fee back - could be a close one. Rating: 5/10

SOMEHOW (Form: 3-11)

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Jockey: Seamie Heffernan

Stayed on stoutly to win the Cheshire Oaks last month in the style of a filly with unlimited stamina. She struggled a little with the tight Chester bends at times, but Epsom is nothing like as sharp and she should be running on at the finish, much like O'Brien's 2015 Oaks winner Qualify. A repeat could well be on the cards. Rating: 10/10

Image: Turret Rocks was one of last year's leading juvenile fillies, here winning the May Hill Stakes.

TURRET ROCKS (Form: 3412-6)

Trainer: Jim Bolger. Jockey: Kevin Manning

Another Irish raider racing beyond a mile for the first time, and she was soundly beaten by Minding in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Her trainer admitted she was left 'short' for that race, and improvement is possible, but stamina has to be a doubt, as does the softer ground. Rating: 5/10

VERDICT:

Minding's place at the top of the market is well deserved on her Guineas win, but her defeat in Ireland and stamina doubts are concerning for an odds-on favourite. But the Oaks trophy could still be heading back to Ballydoyle courtesy of Somehow, an impressive winner at Chester after meeting trouble in running. Mick Channon's Harlequeen will love the softer ground and can chase home the winner ahead of Hugo Palmer's handsome filly Architecture.