Horse Racing Tips: Paddy’s ultimate Cheat Sheet for Epsom Oaks day on Friday

Karl Burke’s Teej A won well at Chester last time over this 6f trip and appeals to me at an each-way price.

New Charter can go one better than her debut second to Mountain Breeze at Newmarket just under a fortnight ago and should handle Epsom’s notorious undulations which don’t suit everyone.

Megalithic was expected to win on his racecourse debut at Salisbury over the minimum 5f trip. The step up in trip to 6f should see him more in his comfort zone on his second run.

TEEJ A impressed me at Chester and must have at least an each-way chance for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee.

New Charter shaped well when chasing home  Mountain Breeze at Newmarket and her stable that has a good record in this contest. End of Story had three subsequent winners behind him when landing a Thirsk maiden so rates the main threat.

Finns Charm ran on well on his seasonal reappearance at Chester earlier this month. A mark of 95 is more than workable. This is his second run since having a wind op so he can show more improvement.

Epsom handicap regular Orbaan looks a bit of value with Silvestre De Sousa booked to ride. He’s finished placed in the last two editions of this contest and races off a similar mark of 85 this time.

Fantastic Fox (each-way) hit the line strongly at Ascot last time and and the step up in trip to 1m 1/2f will suit. He looks booked to hit the places at least.

FINN’S CHARM has been high in the handicap for much of his life but he has a win at Musselburgh off 3lb lower than this in similar conditions. An each-way play for the Johnstons and Joe Fanning.

Stablemates Bopedro and Blue For You finished third and fourth respectively. The latter has Jamie Spencer in the hot-seat but Bopedro is taken to uphold that form and emerge on top.

I can see Time Lock bolting out and pushing Luxembourg on. Last year’s winner Emily Upjohn, Feed The Flame and Hamish will like that as they’re hold-up horses. Emily Upjohn can strike again.

The Coronation Cup is the first Group 1 contest of the two days and Emily Upjohn sets the standard. She won this contest last year on good to firm ground but the slower ground shouldn’t be against her now.

Emily Upjohn is going to be favourite but she’s not a million miles clear on official ratings. In what could prove a tactical event, the French raider Feed The Flame may take advantage.

EMILY UPJOHN is the only horse in this line-up with a turn of speed and if she’s at anywhere near her best I hope Kieran Shoemark will pull her out and charge down the middle of the track.

Emily Upjohn created a big impression when landing this last year and she seemed as good as ever when a never-nearer (met trouble) fifth in the Sheema Classic earlier this year. She’s a straightforward choice to defend her crown.

A tricky handicap where both of mine are tentative picks. Derry Lad impressed at Naas but has struggled to kick on before. Liberty Lane could defy a penalty and win again after his Newmarket victory earlier this month.

A 10f handicap where Liberty Lane can continue his ascension through the ranks after a smooth success at Newmarket last time. Soft ground and a test of stamina should help now.

The booking of Silvestre De Sousa is a positive for Sweet Reward (each-way) who has some decent form at this venue.

LIBERTY LANE was second to Royal Ascot winner Waipiro over this trip as a novice so I have no worries about a step up in distance for the recent impressive Newmarket winner who wants ground that is good or softer.

I Still Have Faith enjoyed a thoroughly productive 2023 campaign, and with his reappearance second at Nottingham  – the winner that day has gone in again since – he looks sure to go close now.

I’m finding it hard to oppose Ylang Ylang. She’s screamed ‘Oaks horse’ to me after finishing fifth in the 1,000 Guineas earlier this month. Secret Satire could be over-priced as an each-way play.

Ylang Ylang  is a very good filly who got outpaced over 1m in the 1,000 Guineas on seasonal debut but should be sharper now for this 1m 4f test of the Epsom Oaks. She doesn’t need to improve too much in her form, she just needs to handle the track. Ezeliya could be one for each-way backers.

Ylang Ylang put up a great performance in the 1,000 Guineas over a mile at HQ where she finished fifth on seasonal debut. She never really travelled well in the race though and this 1m4 trip should help her settle into a better rhythm.

I’m confident YLANG YLANG will be too good fo this field for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. She was the best of these as a juvenile and she should prove hard to stop.

Ylang Ylang looked ready for further when a promising fifth in the 1000 Guineas and can provide her yard with a seventh Oaks win since 2015. Forest Fairy looks the pick of Ralph Beckett’s quartet.