Oxford's hopes of success in the Oxford Stadium Bookmakers Stakes all hang on the Nick Colton-trained Danielles Shelly.

The home dog ran a cracker in the qualifiers on Thursday night to go down by a neck to hot favourite Ballymac Ace in a thrilling heat.

However, there was no luck for Oaks winner and ‘Bitch of the Year’ Freedom Emma.

Going off as 4-5 favourite, the Richard Yeates-trained cha-rge missed her break and found trouble early.

She finished a well-beaten third behind 10-1 shot Buzz Doc, who saw off the challenge of Ballymac Denis in a photo-finish.

Johnny Mayo’s Burwood Freddie also found trouble in the same heat, finishing fifth.

Christy Allsopp’s Ballymac Ace, finalist in the Blanchford Gold Cup at Oxford in October, looks the one to beat in Thursday’s decider.

The black dog has a 26.48-second time to his credit round when beating Brickfield Class.

Perilous Guide, trained by Romford’s Ernie Gaskin, produced a fine run to see off favourite Slepping Urban in heat 1.

However, it turns out that the six finalists are all railers, and, as the song goes, “There could be trouble ahead”!

Thursday’s final draw Trap 1: Perilous Guide. Trap 2: Ballymac Denis. Trap 3: Ballymac Ace. Trap 4: Danielles Shelly. Trap 5: Sleeping Urban. Trap 6: Buzz Doc.