DAY one of The Derby Festival at Epsom features the Oaks and an excellent renewal of the Coronation Cup. Firstly, the Oaks, in which it is hard to see a big priced winner, with the first three in the market Savethelastdance, Soul Sister and Running Lion respectively all having strong claims. Savethelastdance for Aidan O’Brien won the Cheshire Oaks by 22 lengths on testing ground and with some strong speed figures too, however you question what she has beaten, as well as how effective she will be on quicker ground. In contrast Soul Sister, won a deep looking renewal of the Musidora for John and Thady Gosden and is my selection here, whilst stablemate Running Lion stepped up very nicely when winning at the Guineas Festival.
Secondly, the Coronation Cup, which is a true Group 1, as Westover, Emily Upjohn and Hurricane Lane all line-up, as well as Point Lonsdale and the German raider Tunnes. This is going to be some race to watch and Emily Upjohn Unibet 5/2 may just come out on top here.
I’m looking forward to being at Epsom and enjoy watching whether on course or #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
2.00 Epsom – British EBF 40th Anniversary Woodcote EBF Stakes (6f)
Haatem for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon was third on debut at Goodwood last month and then built on that performance when surging clear at Bath to win by six lengths. Haatem will be suited by the step up to six furlongs and interestingly holds an entry in a Group 2 at the Curragh next month.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
2.35 Epsom – Handicap (1m)
Maysong is thought to need plenty of cut to show his best form, however he has finished runner-up on both his starts at Epsom, including on good to firm, when second to Intercessor over this trip last season and he has won on good too. Maysong won easily at Redcar back in April and has excuses for his two starts since, with no chance from a wide draw at Chester last time. He looks far too big an each-way price for the Alice Haynes yard, who are having a good time of it this year.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
3.45 Epsom – Handicap (1m 2f)
Majestic (nap) came from the back of the field at York last time out to finish a close late challenging fourth to Mahaba The Champ (reopposes here) and this looked much more like the form he showed when winning last season’s Cambridgeshire. He is 6lb higher than when victorious at Newmarket, however he has his ground, and you can expect a big run.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
4.30 Epsom – Oaks Group 1 (1m 4f)
Soul Sister can give Frankie Dettori his seventh Oaks success in his final season on the back of an impressive trial performance when winning the Musidora at York, after showing a sharp turn of foot to beat the smart Novakai in a race with plenty of depth. On her penultimate performance Soul Sister finished last in the Fred Darling at Newbury after Frankie Dettori decided early on that this filly wasn’t suited by the truly testing conditions. It is worth noting that with the attritional conditions that day the first four home all finished unplaced on their next appearances. The quicker ground conditions will certainly be in Soul Sister’s favour and this Frankel filly out of Dream Peace looks sure to stay this trip.
Be Happy for the Aidan O’Brien team looks a stayer already and this daughter of Camelot will certainly get the trip, whilst many of this field may struggle here. Be Happy was totally unsuited by the way the Oaks trial panned out at Lingfield, turning into a speed test on the all-weather when second to Eternal Hope, and this should be much more up her street. The inform Aidan 0’Brien team have won the Oaks with a supposed second (or third, with Qualify in 2015) string in recent times and simply because she’s a bigger price than her more illustrious stablemate Savethelastdance this ought not put you off because she looks the each way selection.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
5.45 Epsom – Winners Wear Cavani Handicap (7f)
Marlay Park takes his chance in what is a weak renewal of this Class 2 Handicap; having mostly raced in Class 4 company and on his last appearance in a Class 3. Marlay Park has a full Epsom record that reads 221321521 but that is all in Class 4 company, and initially this looked a bit too classy for him but this renewal is essentially somewhere between Class 3 and 4 and his overall Epsom record allays any worries I have. Looked to have been teed up nicely for this at Goodwood last time, when challenging from off the pace to finish fifth to Ropey Guest and is surely refinding his form this year.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
The Wine Tipster’s Acca
Rolling The Wine Tipster’s selections into a fivefold, and including Be Happy in the mix, could leave you delirious with joy! The fivefold potentially returns 100326/1…
Fancy it? Click HERE to add directly to your betslip.
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