Friday’s racing tips: Best bets and odds from Epsom on Oaks Day – UK Times

The third Classic of the season takes place at Epsom on Friday with a field of nine assembled for the Oaks. I’m ready to take on the favourite in that race with my Epsom Oaks tips as part of my best bets for the card.

I do think people often get too carried away with the draw in sprints at this track and a quick glance at the winners of this race over the past decade suggest that it is negligible here.

There are, of course, plenty in with chances but I do think the market has probably got this right with WEDONTTELLLIES put in as the ante-post favourite on betting sites. His best form has, admittedly, been on a sound or fast surface and with the ground turning soft, it’s possible he won’t be able to do his best work.

However, countering that, his dam’s best efforts came on slow ground. Richard Hughes has booked the man of the moment Billy Loughnane for the job and with this three-year-old having shown good form on the similarly downhill run at Goodwood when winning there over 5f last time out, he looks good enough to successfully defy a 6lb rise.

Epsom tips: Wedonttelllies (Epsom, 13.30) – 1pt win @ 5/1 (bet365)

A cracking contest that involves last year’s winner of this race, Persica, who has to be able to put a below par effort behind him to win again but is 2-2 here. Also in the line-up is last year’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat and although that success has been passed off as a fluke by many, he is 3-3 at Goodwood, which is a similar ‘switchback’ track to this.

However, at the prices, the Karl Burke-trained BOILING POINT looks worth an each-way wager on horse racing betting sites. He’ll have to prove he can cut the mustard in slower conditions and his pedigree doesn’t offer many clues, except that his sire Too Darn Hot won on good to soft on his debut.

The selection won last year’s Cambridgeshire, a top 1m1f handicap and his best piece of form is the pick in this field. At 5/1 at the time of writing, we can take him each-way to three places.

Epsom tip 2: Boiling Point (Epsom, 14.40) – 1pt each-way @ 5/1 (Betfred)

A big field for this 1m2f handicap and the leading players in the market all have points to recommend them. Sallaal went well over C&D last time on good ground but has a bit to prove on soft; Respond won with something in hand at Chester but the handicapper has not missed that; Tycoon has begun to show ability in handicaps; while Hand Of God is proven on good to soft and won going away last time.

The last-named has to prove he handles this track, which is no concern with ALPHA CRUCIS, who has recorded all of his wins on soft or heavy ground and has finished runner-up on both his starts here, including over a slightly shorter trip at this meeting last year.

He ran well on his reappearance in the Lincoln at Doncaster and at double-figure odds, he looks a cracking each-way bet.

Epsom tip 3: Alpha Crucis (Epsom, 15.15) – 1pt each-way @ 9/1 (Paddy Power)

The build-up to this Classic has been centred around Amelia Earhart, after her devastating burst of pace to win last month’s Cheshire Oaks (1m3½f, good) at Chester. That’s a tried and tested route for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who did the same with last year’s winner of this race, Minnie Hauk. The favourite is clearly very good and her trainer has won seven of the last 11 runnings of this, so merits huge respect.

Only two favourites have won this in the last ten years, both trained at Ballydoyle, but that stat is well worth considering and there is potential for some significant improvement from others in this field, not least LEGACY LINK.

The Gosdens saddle this Dubawi filly, who won one of her three juvenile starts and was fourth behind O’Brien-trained Precise in last year’s Fillies’ Mile. She stepped up on that on her reappearance at York, when showing a great attitude to dig deep and win the Group 3 Musidora (1m2½f, good), a traditional trial for this race.

The point here is that I think she is open to further improvement now stepping up again in trip. The stable is no stranger to success in this race either, having landed it four times in the past 12 seasons and I think their filly represents a bit better value at twice the price of the favourite at the time of writing.

Those looking for bigger odds for an each-way flutter, there are reasons to believe that both the Ralph Beckett runners could outperform their odds. A La Prochaine is the shorter in the market but K Sarra did little wrong last time and either may be capable of making the frame.

Epsom Oaks tip: Legacy Link (Epsom, 16.00) – 2pts win @ 9/2 (William Hill)

Betfred are offering bettors a £10 free bet on both days of the Epsom Derby meeting this year. Head to the Betfred promotions page and find the Epsom bet £10, get £10 page, where punters can opt in.

Next, wager £10 in total on the opening race of the day at 13.30. Punters can place a single or each-way bet, so long as they stake at least £10 in total.

In return, Betfred will credit bettors with £10 in free bets to use on the same day of the meeting.

The free bets can only be used on any race at Epsom that day, but will expire after the final race of the day at the venue.

Betting can be addictive, and it’s important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you’re using online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites or any other gambling platform.

Gambling is for those aged 18 and older, and should never be treated as a way to make money. Never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.

Gambling sites offer punters tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options to help you stay in control. Try not to get carried away by any free bets or casino bonuses available on gambling apps.

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