Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s best Friday bets on Epsom Oaks day

Top tellybox pundit Mick Fitz takes a deep dive into ITV Racing's card for the third Classic of the season.

*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

It’s the start of the two-day bonanza at Epsom and the all-important question on the opening day is what will the ground be like? It should dry out and be nice ground on Saturday, but what will we have for Oaks day?

14:00 Epsom – Self Praise

This son of Twilight Song did really well in the circumstances to finish second at Chester from an outside draw. Self Praise has pace, which is what you need at Epsom. I like the way he finished the race off at Chester and at the prices is definitely worthy of a look.

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14:35 Epsom – Corazon Espinado

Corazon Espinado is trained across the road from the racecourse and loves it here. He has won four times, been placed on several occasions and that’s very commendable as not every runner acts on  Epsom’s twists and turns. He is down to nearly the same handicap mark as when winning this last year and jockey Silvestre de Sousa is a positive booking too.

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Epsom Derby time and course length

3:10 Epsom – Pyledriver 

Frankie Dettori rode Pyledriver in Meydan for the first time on World Cup night last March. Now that he knows him, it will definitely be a help and he is proven at the track having won this contest last year. The ground is not a problem for him so there are lots of positives. The obvious danger is High Definition for the Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combo. He was narrowly beaten at the Curragh in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and comes here in good form.

3:45 Epsom – Caradoc

I am keen to give Caradoc a chance to redeem himself after he was stopped several times in the run  at Nottingham. This race has a lot of pace in it and will suit those coming from just off the leaders and this son of Camelot’s run style fits the bill. He ran OK here previously despite a bad draw and has a  kinder position this time. Solo Sizzler is the obvious danger as he’s proven at the track but has a career-high mark to overcome.

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4:30 Epsom – Emily Upjohn

I was at York when Emily Upjohn won the Musidora Stakes and it was the first time I had seen her in the flesh. Boy, did she leave an impression. A big, strong strapping daughter of Sea The Stars, she got a little excited beforehand in the parade ring and that is the obvious concern on a packed Oaks day.  I I was very taken with what I saw and she could be very good. Tuesday and Concert Hall are dangers from Aidan O’Brien’s stable. I loved the way Concert Hall came home in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (to finish third behind Homeless Songs & Tuesday) and her mother, Was, actually won the Oaks. She looks a solid each-way selection if the favourite underperforms.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Friday ITV Racing tips:

2.00 – Self Praise
2.35 – Corazon Espinado
3.10 – Pyledriver
3.45 – Caradoc
4.30 – Emily Upjohn

*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

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