Epsom Derby Festival betting preview for day one

THE second classic for the fillies takes center stage today as 12 of the best 3-year-olds line up in search of Epsom Oaks glory.

Can Aidan O’Brien claim yet another English Classic or will the Oaks be staying in the UK this season? Only time will tell, but there is one lurking at 8/1 who I believe is massively overpriced.

But before we get onto the showpiece on day one of the Epsom Derby Festival, I have three other races I want to preview including the including the Group 1 Coronation Cup.

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Epsom 2:00 – 6f Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stake

A tricky race to kick start the 2024 Epsom Derby Festival but a deep betting heat. Five come in here on the back of one start and the remaining have all had two starts bar one.

So, this is a question of who will have the most improvement to come.

After a pleasing debut behind the odds-on Mountain Breeze, New Chapter comes in here with obvious credentials but at 3/1 she is a bit short even in receipt of weight.

The one who is a standout each way bet is Teej A.

Having finished 2^nd over 5f first time up at Nottingham (4^th won since) she stepped up to 6f at Chester where she won with plenty in hand, pulling clear inside the final furlong.

Given the speed nature of Epsom she should have any problems laying up as she showed plenty of speed on both her starts.

She won that in the style of a horse going places, and at 8/1 she is one that I want to be on the right side of here.

One to also consider is Megalithic who showed nice promise of her first start.

• Selection: Teej A 8/1
• Danger: Megalithic 7/1

Current odds:

• New Charter 3/1
• End Of Story 7/1
• Megalithic 7/1
• Teej A 8/1
• Assertively 16/1
• Tanager 16/1, 28/1 bar

🐎 Bet on the Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes with Betfred 🐎

Epsom 2:35 – 1m ½f Trustatrader Handicap

It is 11/2 the field and that is just what you like to see in these flat handicaps.

The search for value begins with Blue For You who showed that he is running back into form with a good 4^th back at his beloved York. He has been dropped 1lb for that and though he has never run at Epsom before, I do not think he will have any problems with the track as when trained in Ireland he showed he can handle less conventional tracks when winning a Galway Festival maiden when trained by Dermot Weld.

I would expect him to go close on what is an attractive mark.

Finn’s Charm is one who I am not giving up on just yet. She made a pleasing comeback at Chester when she was a massive drifter on the day but did well to finish 6^th beaten 3¾ lengths after being out paced and losing a shoe.

Just like Blue For You, he has been dropped 1lb for his troubles. The step back up in trip is a plus here, and I would expect a bold showing here at 10/1.

• Selection: Blue For You 10/1
• Danger: Finn’s Charm 10/1

Current odds:

• Kay Kay 11/2
• Al Mubhir 6/1
• Dancing Magic 7/1
• Fantastic Fox 10/1
• Finn’s Charm 10/1
• Benacre 10/1
• Blue For You 10/1
• 12/1 bar.

🐎 Bet on the Trustatrader Handicap with Coral 🐎

Epsom 3:10 – Group 1 1m4f Holland Cooper Coronation Cup

This is as poor of a Group 1 that you will find this season. 

I am not one to put up odds on shots but at 5/6 right now she is miles ahead of these, and that's Emily Upjohn.

She won this race last season, and it was a much deeper race than what she faces here.

Last season’s running she came up against two Irish Derby winners in Westover and Hurricane Lane, and then throw in 3^rd on the day Point Lonsdale and that has last season race miles ahead of this year's renewal.

Her nearest rival this season is Luxembourg, who has failed to kick on as we might have hoped for when off second favourite for the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. And then you have French raider Feed The Flame who needs to find over a stone to get near what with Emily Upjohn has shown.

Time Lock may be the one to follow her home as she showed promise last season but was beaten by a 50/1 shot on her comeback at Newmarket. That run can be forgiven because Newmarket was a front-runner's paradise on the day, and she had to make up a lot of ground from the rear of the field to chance down the winner.

But overall, I will be shocked if Emily Upjohn cannot win back-to-back running's of the Coronation Cup.

• Selection: Emily Upjohn 5/6
• Danger: Timelock 14/1

Current odds:

• Emily Upjohn 5/6
• Luxembourg 7/2
• Feed The Flame 8/1
• Time Lock 14/1
• Hamish 25/1

🐎 Bet on the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup with LeoVegas🐎

Epsom 4:30 – Group 1 1m4f Betfred Oaks

The highlight of day one of the Epsom Derby Festival is the Betfred Oaks.

The second classic of the year of the fillies looks a deep renewal.

Aidan O’Brien holds has the key to the Oaks with English 1000 Guineas 5^th Ylang Ylang, choice of Ryan Moore in at 2/1 favourite, as well as the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies Stakes, Rubies Are Red in at 7/2 second favourite. 

Also throw in the winner of the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies Stakes You Got To Me, and the impressive Grade 3 winner Ezeliya, and we have the makings of a vintage Epsom Oaks.

All have their chances, but the one who I have taken a liking to ever since her impressive win at Wolverhampton is Forest Fairy.

You can see why she did not run as a 2-year-old as she is a big strapping daughter of Waldgeist.

She backed up her maiden win with and last-ditch win in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester, where she got up late to beat Port Fairy.

The winning distance does not tell the full story as she was trapped in and had to wait for a gap to make her challenge just over 1f out where the 2^nd and 3^rd got first run on her, but once the gap appeared she picked up like a good horse and won with plenty left in the tank.

That was only her second start of her career and her first on turf, and I have no doubt that we have not seen anywhere near the ceiling of her ability.

As you can tell I am really excited to see how far Forest Fair can go in her career and am hopeful she can get the job done here.

• Selection: Forest Fairy 8/1
• Danger: Rubies Are Red 7/2

Current odds:

• Ylang Ylang 2/1
• Rubies Are Red 7/2
• Ezeliya 9/2
• Forest Fairy 8/1
• Secret Satire 14/1
• You Got To Me 14/1
• 18/1 bar.

🐎 Bet on the Betfred Oaks with Ladbrokes 🐎

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