It’s day one of the Epsom Derby Festival on Friday, which means Oaks Day. So, here are my ITV Epsom racing tips for all the live races on Friday 5th June.
Recent winners for Andy Newton include Washington Heights (9/2), Sportingsilvermine (7/2), Opportunity (11/10), Estrange (8/11) and Blue Courvoisier (5/1).
Epsom Horse Racing Tips: Quickfire Best Bets For Friday
- 1:30 Epsom: TEMPLE OF ATHENA (e/w)
- 2:05 Epsom: POSSESSIVE
- 2:40 Epsom: PERSICA (NAP)
- 3:15 Epsom: ALPHA CRUCIS / BOLSTER
- 4:00 Epsom Oaks: A LA PROCHAINE (e/w)
- 4:40 Epsom: MR WINSTON / MIRSKY
🎙️You can also catch Andy’s Epsom Friday views on the Final Furlong Podcast here.
Andy Newton Epsom Horse Racing Tips: Take Beckett To Land a Third Oaks
1:30 Epsom – Win With Zyn 3yo “Dash” Handicap Cl2 (3yo 0-100) 5f ITV
A tricky race to kick things off, but my first Epsom horse racing tip comes at a decent price, with the vote going to the Brian Ellison-trained TEMPLE OF ATHENA.
This three-year-old has been competing in stronger races than this, so dropping back into handicap company after running in Listed class looks a positive move.
She’s also back down to a mark that’s 2lb lower.
A draw in stall five looks perfectly workable and any rain that arrives won’t bother her either, having already shown she handles both good-to-soft and soft ground.
Although there have only been three previous runnings, it’s worth noting that every winner carried between 9st and 9st 7lb. Temple of Athena falls neatly into that bracket.
Of the others, She’s Got A Brother and Wedonttellies are respected, but I’ll be hoping the Temple delivers.
🥇 TEMPLE OF ATHENA (E/W)
🥈 She’s Got A Brother
🥉 Wedonttellies
2:05 Epsom – Oddschecker British EBF Woodcote Stakes (Conditions Race) Cl2 (2yo) 6f ITV
With the 6f start positioned on a bend, low draws have traditionally enjoyed an advantage in this race.
The stats certainly back that up, with 19 of the last 23 winners emerging from stall six or lower.
Even more interesting is the fact that each of the last three winners came from stall six – exactly where POSSESSIVE finds himself.
Karl Burke’s youngster caught the eye when scoring on debut at York. The form is difficult to assess fully at this stage, but visually it was a pleasing first effort.
Burke’s juveniles also tend to improve significantly for their initial run, which adds further confidence.
Ardad Steve would have appealed more from a better draw than stall 14, although he’s still worth noting.
Dandyman Dan, drawn alongside the selection in stall seven, was arguably a little unlucky at Sandown last time and also commands respect.
Still, I’m siding with Possessive to take ownership of this one.
🥇 POSSESSIVE
🥈 Dandyman Dan
🥉 Ardad Steve
2:40 Epsom – Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m½f ITV
Last year’s first, second and fourth are all back for another crack at the Diomed Stakes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if history repeats itself.
PERSICA won this race 12 months ago and clearly thrives around Epsom, boasting a perfect two-from-two record on the Downs.
His preparation has followed a similar route to last year, including a run in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, and that outing should have brought him nicely forward.
Stall one shouldn’t pose any problems given his versatility, and ground conditions are unlikely to be an issue.
This race has clearly been a target once again, so I’m backing Persica to make it three wins from three starts at Epsom.
🥇 PERSICA
🥈 Ice Max
🥉 Seagulls Eleven
3:15 Epsom – Betfred “Nifty 50” Handicap Cl2 (4yo+) 1m2f ITV
Roger Varian has an excellent record in this race, having won four of the last 12 runnings, so Sallaal is respected following his recent Epsom second.
Respond arrives after a good Chester win but has been hit with a 9lb rise. Hand Of God also enters calculations for a Harry Charlton yard that continues to fire in winners.
Quai De Bethune hasn’t been seen since Royal Ascot and may have bigger targets ahead later in the season.
The two that appeal most are BOLSTER and ALPHA CRUCIS.
Bolster won this race in 2024 from a mark of 102. He’s now 6lb higher but has been gelded since his last run and has spent much of his recent career competing in stronger company.
Alpha Crucis also has a solid Epsom record, with two runner-up finishes here, including on this card 12 months ago.
Softer ground holds no fears and he’s now 1lb lower than this time last year.
🥇 BOLSTER
🥈 Alpha Crucis
🥉 Sallaal
4:00 Epsom – Betfred Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies) Cl1 (3yo) 1m4f ITV
Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden have dominated this race in recent years, sharing 11 of the last 12 renewals between them.
O’Brien relies on likely favourite Amelia Earhart, who was an impressive winner of the Cheshire Oaks and will bid to emulate last year’s Cheshire Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk by following up at Epsom.
However, the addition of both a hood and blinkers raises a slight question mark.
Legacy Link arrives after winning the Musidora and could become the ninth filly to complete that double. The concern is whether that hard-fought York battle has left a mark.
Venetian Lace may be the forgotten horse in the race.
Third in the 1,000 Guineas and the highest-rated filly in the field, she’s certainly entitled to plenty of respect.
Whether she stays the trip remains to be seen, but being by Derby winner Masar offers encouragement.
Cameo impressed in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and could give Wayne Lordan a first success in the race.
The value, though, may lie with A LA PROCHAINE.
Third in the Cheshire Oaks, she stayed on strongly that day and looks likely to benefit from both the longer trip and any ease in the ground.
Trainer Ralph Beckett has won this race before with Look Here and Talent, and I’m hoping he can add another Epsom Oaks to the collection.
🥇 A LA PROCHAINE (E/W)
🥈 Legacy Link
🥉 Cameo
Also see Andy Newton’s Epsom Oaks trends and stats ahead of Friday’s big race.
4:40 Epsom – HKJC World Pool Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 1m½f ITV
A fiercely competitive race rounds off the ITV coverage from Epsom.
Sterling Knight did me a favour when winning at Newmarket last month and now has Ryan Moore aboard. However, he’s 5lb higher and may find life tougher from a mark of 92.
Last year’s winner Mirsky returns and remains a major player despite being 6lb higher than when successful in this race. His recent Thirsk win suggests he’s still in good heart.
The one I’m prepared to give another chance to is MISTER WINSTON.
He disappointed as favourite at Newmarket last time but circumstances didn’t really help.
Racing in a small group, he became trapped along the rail just as the race developed and never got a clear chance to challenge.
Andrew Balding has a respectable record in the contest, while Oisin Murphy, booked for the ride, won this race last year and also in 2016.
With 16 of the last 22 winners coming from stall nine or lower, gate eight looks another positive.
🥇 MISTER WINSTON
🥈 Mirsky
🥉 Sterling Knight
