ITV Racing Tips – Friday’s Oaks Day Selections from Epsom

Bet on our Epsom Oaks day ITV tips with a free £5 bet on seven races once you join 888Sport and bet £10 on the first race. The 7x free £5 bets will be credited once your first bet settles and can be used on the rest of the day’s racing.

 

2:00 Epsom

The opener on Oaks day is the Woodcote for the 2-year olds. It’s a real test for these younger horses at Epsom given the unique nature of the track. It takes a real professional performance and with the return of crowds to racetracks, it’s important they don’t get too buzzed off before the off and blow away their chance.

The one I like to start proceedings is OSCULA NB (6/1). He made giant strides from his first run when winning at Brighton on his second career start last time out. He made all that day and I expect Mark Crehan to try similar tactics here. The fast ground will suit the front runners and having proven himself round a tricky track like Brighton, I think this Epsom track should hold no problems. Trainer George Boughey is operating at a 30% strike rate over the last two weeks and he’s having a great start to the season with his 2-year-old. This horse is a great each way selection for us to begin.

 

2:35 Epsom

The second race is a 1m handicap and the unexposed Irish Admiral will prove popular given the connections. He has a nice draw a bold bid will be expected.

However, the one I like from an each way angle in this is MURAAD EW (12/1) for the Owen Burrows team. This horse has gone off the boil recently but his career best performance wasn’t all that long ago when he got up late off a big weight at Glorious Goodwood last August. Goodwood is a unique track like Epsom and he is proven on lightning fast ground like he’ll be running on today. Owen Burrows has a fantastic record here at Epsom with 3 winners from 4 runners. This horse certainly has the talent to go very close and he’s worth a go at a decent price.

 

3:10 Epsom

The Group 1 Coronation Cup is up next over 1m4f and it is a very intriguing renewal. Al Aasy is a shade of odds on and has been mightily impressive in his two starts this season. He has won on the bridle twice in Group 3 company and he’s a horse I love. However, the price is very short given the lack of Group 1 form and his worse career performance came on the unique track of Goodwood last season so I’m happy to oppose at the price.

The one for me again from a price angle is PYLEDRIVER EW (10/1). He was a great story last term for William Muir and Martin Dwyer and his win at Royal Ascot in the King Edward VII Stakes was one of the stories of the week. He demonstrated the class he had when winning comfortably that day and he had Mogul well behind. I’m happy to ignore his performance in the Derby here last season as it was a very strange race as we know and it’s hard to take the form literally given everything that’s happened since. He travelled the best in the St Leger later in the season but stamina gave way late on over that 1m6f trip.

His comeback effort at Newmarket was encouraging as he looked like he needed it to me but still managed to finish a good second to Sir Ron Priestly who had the run of things. He should be spot on fitness-wise now after that and I think he is the best bet at the prices here.

 

3:45 Epsom

The 3:45 at Epsom is the Cazoo Handicap over 1m2f and Victory Chime bids to continue the great run for Ralph Beckett and follow up his course and distance win from back here in April.

The one I like though is BLUE CUP NAP (3/1). He was really unlucky in that same race in April when finishing a never nearer 5th. He then went to York and the race wasn’t run to suit his hold up style there. There is plenty that like to go forward in this and that should suit his hold up style very well. He’ll be doing all his best work at the end of the race and Oisin Murphy will likely come wide from the bend and give him the best chance possible to pick them all up. If things go his way, he’ll prove tough to beat in my book and I’m happy get him on side here.

 

4:30 Epsom

The big one comes up at 4:30 and it’s the Group 1 Cazoo Oaks. Ran over 1m4f it is a great renewal of the contest with Aiden O’Brien well represented as usual. Santa Barbara bids to justify the hype after an encouraging run in the 1000 Guineas on just her second career start. I wouldn’t be quite so sure she’ll get this 1m4f trip though to be honest and Ryan Moore will have to get her nice and settled her during the early stages of the race.

I prefer one of Aiden’s other horses however and that one is SNOWFALL (9/2). The mount of the great Frankie Dettori who has already went in on a “second string” for O’Brien in the 1000 Guineas and I think he can do it again. I was really impressed with her in the Musidora Stakes at York last time out. Yes, she had the run of things out in front but she displayed a very useful turn of foot and powered clear to win going away. She’s bred for the job and the hardy 2 year-old campaign may have served her well for this big 3 year-old season.

 

Sign-up Offers for Epsom Oaks Day

Relevant news