Oaks tips and runner-by-runner guide to Epsom 4.30 on Friday

11 fabulous fillies take their chance in the third Classic of the season.

Savethelastdance wins the Cheshire Oaks

*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

John and Thady Gosden boast a strong hand in the Oaks after a final field of 11 were declared for the third Classic of the British season.

Soul Sister, the mount of Frankie Dettori, is bidding to emulate 2021 heroine Snowfall by following up success in the Musidora Stakes while stablemate Running Lion is unbeaten in her last four starts including a facile victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Oaks glory could be heading across the Irish Sea, however, as Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien has the market principal for Friday’s 16:30 in the form of Savethelastdance, who destroyed her rivals in the Cheshire Oaks last month.

The latest Oaks odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.

Oaks tips

Timeform: The Aidan O’Brien and Gosden stables have shared the last 9 runnings of this and may dominate again, with wide-margin Cheshire Oaks scorer SAVETHELASTDANCE taken to show she’s as effective on a quicker surface and see off Soul Sister and Running Lion, who were also impressive winners of their trials last month.

Oaks runners

Be Happy

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6

Improved when third (Sea of Roses second) in 10.5f Saint-Cloud Group 3 on reappearance and backed that up when 1¾ lengths second of 9 to Eternal Hope in Lingfield Oaks Trial (1½m, AW) 3 weeks ago. This stiffer test at the trip should see her in a better light.

***

Bright Diamond

Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3

Useful at 2 (third in Prestige at Goodwood and Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket). Creditable 2¾ lengths fifth of 9 to Eternal Hope in Lingfield Oaks Trial on reappearance but will need a big career best to play a significant role here.

**

Caernarfon

Trainer: Jack Channon Jockey: Connor Beasley Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9

Big improver last autumn, bagging a 1m Newmarket listed race. Nearest at the finish when a respectable 10¼ lengths fourth of 20 to Mawj in 1000 Guineas back at Newmarket (1m, soft) on reappearance. Steps up markedly in trip now.

**

Eternal Hope

Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5

Promising individual who built on her 1¼m Chelmsford maiden win in February when following up in the Lingfield Oaks Trial (1½m, AW) by 1¾ lengths from Be Happy. Tackles turf for the first time here. Capable of better again.

***

Heartache Tonight

Trainer: David Menuisier Jockey: Cristian Demuro Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11

All 3 starts in France, winning a 9f Longchamp maiden last autumn. Placed in Saint-Cloud Group 3 on return and took another step forward when 1½ lengths fourth of 10 to Jannah Rose in Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary back at Longchamp (1¼m) last month. Could be more to come now stepping up to 1½m

***

Maman Joon

Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Kevin Stott Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7

400,000 gns Sea The Stars filly who made a promising start to her career when second of 16 in a 1¼m Newbury maiden (heavy) 6 weeks ago. Definitely capable of better but she’s very much pitched in at the deep end here.

**

Red Riding Hood

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8

AW maiden winner. Posted a useful effort when third in Group 3 Blue Wind at Naas (1¼m) last month, doing quite well considering she was lit up in first-time blinkers (retained). Needs to make significant improvement for the step up to 1½m.

**

Running Lion

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2

Most progressive Roaring Lion filly who readily completed a 4-timer when seeing off Sumo Sam by 4½ lengths in the 1¼m Pretty Polly at Newmarket last month. Up in trip. One of 2 strong contenders for a stable with a good record in this.

****

Savethelastdance

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4

Rapid improver who won last month’s Cheshire Oaks by a remarkable 22 lengths. The heavy ground no doubt played a part in the huge winning margin but it was still hard not to be very impressed and she’s the one to beat.

*****

Sea Of Roses

Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Rob Hornby Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1

Useful filly. Second in a Saint-Cloud Group 3 on her reappearance but 7¾ lengths adrift of Soul Sister when fifth in the Musidora at York since. Hard to make a case for after that.

**

Soul Sister

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10

Got stuck in the mud in the Fred Darling on her reappearance but a totally different proposition back on a sounder surface when quickening 4 lengths clear in the Musidora at York (1¼m). Should stay 1½m and there’s almost certainly more to come from this scopey filly.

****

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