Epsom Oaks tips and runner-by-runner guide as Emily Upjohn faces 10 rivals in Friday’s 4.30

Who wins the third Classic of the year?

By / Horse Racing Tips / 2 years ago

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Oaks favourite Emily Upjohn is set to meet 10 rivals in her bid to win the third Classic of the season in Friday’s 4.30pm at Epsom.

The Sea The Stars filly extended her unbeaten record with a dominant victory in last month’s Musidora Stakes and Frankie Dettori is booked to ride once again.

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John & Thady Goshen also saddle Listed winner Nashwa, Aidan O’Brien fires four darts at the race including Irish 1000 Guineas 2-3 Tuesday and Concert Hall, while Frankel filly With The Moonlight sports the Godolphin colours.

You’ll find horse-by-horse analysis of the 11 runners and Epsom Oaks tips from Paddy Power’s horse racing experts below.

Epsom Oaks runners

Concert Hall

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Seamie Heffernan Draw: 10

Group 3 winner at 2 yrs and made a winning return in listed race at Navan (10f). Ran well considering the drop back in trip was against her when third (½ length behind Tuesday) in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh 12 days ago. This trip should prove to be much more suitable so must be respected.

Emily Upjohn

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Frankie Dettori Draw: 5

Sea The Stars filly who made a winning debut with something to spare at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in November and defied a penalty in some style at Sandown on return. Further enhanced her reputation when winning the Musidora at York by 5½ lengths and this step up in trip is sure to suit. Leading claims.

Kawida

Trainer: Ed Walker Jockey: Jim Crowley Draw: 4

Ended her 2-y-o campaign with a win at listed level over 1m at Newmarket. Ran well when a close third in Group 3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud (10f) 5 weeks ago but this is a tough ask.

Moon De Vega

Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rossa Ryan Draw: 11

Continued theme of race-by-race progress when landing maiden at Doncaster (1m) in October. Shaped much better than the distance beaten suggests when fourth behind Thoughts of June in the Cheshire Oaks on return, badly hampered by weakening rivals over 2f out. Still has plenty to find, however.

Nashwa

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Hollie Doyle Draw: 6

Frankel filly who confirmed debut promise when bolting up in a Haydock novice (1m) on return. Took another big step forward when following up in a listed event at Newbury (10f) in impressive fashion 3 weeks ago, showing a good turn of foot from off the pace. Claims if this trip doesn’t stretch her.

Rogue Millennium

Trainer: Tom Clover Jockey: Jack Mitchell Draw: 7

Made a successful debut at Wetherby before overcoming inexperience when a narrow winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial last month. Bare form is nothing special so she needs to improve markedly, but she remains with potential at least.

The Algarve

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Colin Keane Draw: 2

American Pharoah filly out of Irish 1000 Guineas/Oaks winner Imagine. Got better with each run at 2, making all in 1m heavy-ground maiden at Galway final start. Couldn’t live with Emily Upjohn in Musidora Stakes at York on return for all she might have needed the run. Plenty to find.

Thoughts Of June

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Wayne Lordan Draw: 9

Surpassed 2-y-o form when second in maiden at Leopardstown on return and took a huge leap forward when beating subsequent Group 1 winner Above The Curve in the Cheshire Oaks last month, though very much having run of the race. Will find this much harder to dominate.

Tranquil Lady

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: Tom Marquand Draw: 3

Runner-up in a listed event at the Curragh on final 2-y-o start and proved all the better for return when 4-length winner of a Group 3 at Naas (10f). That performance earnt her a tilt at this and likely to stay this far.

Tuesday

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Draw: 1

Sister to 1000 Guineas/Oaks winner Minding who landed the odds with a good deal to spare in 17-runner maiden at Naas on return. Much improved when placed in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Curragh next 2 starts, shaping more like a middle-distance filly. Big run expected.

With The Moonlight

Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Draw: 8

Very much the sort to make a better 3-y-o than 2-yo and she duly found plenty of improvement to put herself into the Oaks picture when a clear-cut winner of the Pretty Polly at Newmarket on her return last month, pulling away as if this trip will be well within reach. Not to be underestimated.

Epsom Oaks tips

Matt Chapman: TUESDAY is a massive price and I’ll be backing her eachway for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. The trainer described her to me as the female Luxembourg before she finished third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in that she has always needed a mile and a half. She was well beaten in the Irish equivalent behind Homeless Songs but still ran second and I’m hoping she laps up going this distance.

Timeform: EMILY UPJOHN created an excellent impression when winning both starts this season, notably when producing a very good timefigure in the Musidora at York last month. Her form isn’t that much better than some of her rivals’, but she remains a filly with huge potential and she’s likely to be well suited by this extra distance. Tuesday shaped is if this stiffer test will very much suit when placed in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Curragh so rates the main threat ahead of With The Moonlight.

Jason Weaver: CONCERT HALL is going to be the value pick against a red-hot favourite in Emily Upjohn. She ran an eye-catching race although was beaten by six lengths by Homeless Songs in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last time. The way she powered through the line would suggest that this trip is going to bring about more improvement and she can cause a minor upset in the Fillies’ Classic.

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