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Horse racing tips: Epsom Oaks Day – Friday May 31
Today’s horse racing tips come from Oaks Day at Epsom. See our expert’s picks for the ITV Racing broadcast
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It does not get much better than this. Today’s racing includes the famous Epsom Oaks, another Group 1 in the Coronation Cup, and some great supporting contests on the celebrated Surrey venue’s undercard. The feature meeting is just one of eight across the UK and Ireland on this Classic Friday.
The ITV Racing team are at Epsom for both days of Classic action, including the Derby tomorrow, and they have five contests live today in the broadcast from 1.30pm to 5pm.
Among our Friday fancies is a Classic hopeful who bids to take a tried-and-tested stable path to Oaks glory.
ITV Racing tips – Epsom, Friday May 31
Clive Gildon’s picks for Friday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
- 2.00 – Assertively @ 14/1 with Betfred
- 2.35 – Benacre @ 11/1 with Betfred
- 3.10 – Time Lock @ 11/1 with Betfred
- 3.45 – I Still Have Faith @ 8/1 with Betfred
- 4.30 – You Got To Me @ 12/1 with Betfred
Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.
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2.00, Epsom – Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes (6f, Conditions Race)
The opener of the two-day Derby meeting has an open look to it. Richard Hannon has a good record in this contest and he has the early favourite, New Charter, who looked promising when hitting the crossbar at Newmarket on debut. However, the filly may ultimately want a bit further – and this is a sharp test.
It may be worth taking a chance on Karl Burke’s second string, ASSERTIVELY. He stayed on well to win on soft going at Ripon on debut and may have found the ground too quick at Beverley when a beaten favourite since. He has an ideal draw in stall one and he could be hard to catch if first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect.
Selection: Assertively @ 14/1 with Betfred
2.35, Epsom – Trustatrader Handicap (1m ½f)
Race two on Oaks Day is another competitive contest. This handicap looks favourable for BENACRE.
The son of Australia was consistent without winning last season and he may be able to get to the lead on this track that favours front runners. He did too much too soon at Newmarket last time out but had previously gone close on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, and he could be worth chancing with the potential of more to come as a four-year-old.
Selection: Benacre @ 11/1 with Betfred
3.10, Epsom – Coronation Cup (1m 4f, Group 1)
This contest is not known for big fields and this year’s renewal is no different, but it is a fascinating affair with all five runners having positives and negatives.
Last year’s winner Emily Upjohn (also an unlucky second in the 2022 Oaks) is clearly top-class but she has developed a patchy profile and, seemingly best fresh these days, should have run better in Meydan last time. At the prices she can be passed over.
Luxembourg has also become inconsistent and after two disappointing efforts in the Middle East, latterly when beaten by 28 lengths in Dubai, he is also readily overlooked.
French runner Feed The Fame looks like he could be building up to something while Hamish might outrun his odds – but it is the sole supplementary entry, TIME LOCK, who makes the most appeal.
Harry Charlton’s Frankel filly proved progressive last season, a run of good efforts culminating with an impressive success in the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket in September.
It is interesting that connections have kept her in training this year, clearly feeling she is up to Group 1 standard, and she made a decent reappearance in the Jockey Club Stakes at the start of the month at HQ, chasing home one who had got loose on the lead despite parting company with one of her shoes.
The first-time cheekpieces can bring about a bit more. With William Buick taking over in the saddle, this looks like it could be her big moment.
Selection: Time Lock @ 11/1 with Betfred
3.45, Epsom – Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap (1m 2f)
I STILL HAVE FAITH was progressive throughout his three-year-old campaign and he was only narrowly denied at Nottingham last month. We may not have seen the best of him just yet – and with every chance he will come on for that latest run, he could take some beating with the yard in flying form over the past couple of weeks.
Selection: I Still Have Faith @ 8/1 with Betfred
Epsom, 4.30 – Betfred Oaks (1m 4f, Group 1)
A fascinating Oaks takes place on the Downs this afternoon, and Aidan O’Brien holds his usual strong hand with likely favourite Ylang Ylang complimented by Rubies Are Red.
Ylang Ylang undoubtedly deserves her place at the top of the market but, while she has the best form claims, she lacks a bit of the wow factor and does not in any way look unbeatable.
Rubies Are Red is arguably just as interesting after an eye-catching effort in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, when running on powerfully from the rear, but there are two ways to read that race and, at the prices, her conqueror YOU GOT TO ME gets the vote.
The daughter of Nathaniel, sire of brilliant Oaks winner Enable, was making her seasonal return that day and was very fresh, quickly scooting into a clear lead at a pace that looked unsustainable.
When the pack closed on her over a furlong out, she looked certain to be swallowed up and weaken out of it.
However, she proved incredibly tough in the closing stages, finding reserves from somewhere to fend them all off.
It was a performance that should not have been possible and it has been a little lost with many people focusing on the runner-up.
She should prove more tractable with that run behind her, and can give her fine trainer a third Oaks success.
Selection: You Got To Me @ 12/1 with Betfred
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