Epsom Oaks Day 2023 Betting Tips and Predictions – Race by Race Preview for Friday

The Second classic meeting of the year begins at Epsom this week and we have picked our day 1 betting tips for Epsom Oaks Day on Friday 2nd June.

With the exception of Royal Ascot, this is the most prestigious horse meeting in the UK as we build up to Saturday’s 2023 Epsom Derby.

See our preview and tips for each Friday race below, including the Epsom Oaks at 4.30pm.

 

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14.00

The meeting kicks off with the 2-year-olds in the Woodcote Stakes over 6f, the winner of this race usually goes on to Royal Ascot so keep an eye out for later in the month. Balon D’or is the rightful favourite after running a very good race when third over 5F at Chester from a wide draw which isn’t ideal there. He had to use a lot of gas up and was racing wider than most, kept on at the same pace and then weakened into 3^rd at the end.

Although the second that day has let the form down slightly, he looks a good horse and the step-up trip looks to be no bother either.

Next is Haatem for Richard Hannon who has won the race two times in the last 20 years. He was 3^rd over 5F at Goodwood, then won next time out at Bath when stepped up to 6F.

The other notable runner is VALOUR AND SWAGGER (11/2 with BetUK), a Blue Point Colt who won very easily on debut for Karl Burke, then was second over 5f at Ascot on soft. He bounced out and was headed inside the final 2f then lost 2^nd but fought back to regain it and for a young horse to do that shows guts and determination and he obviously knows his job.

The step up to 6f will be no problem and will even be better at it, I imagine the ground will be no issue as I’m sure he will be as versatile with the ground as his Dad was. For me, he’s the bet at the prices and would be surprised if he’s not nearer the top of the market come off the off

Selection – VALOUR AND SWAGGER (11/2 with BetUK)

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14.35

The Racehorse Lotto Handicap is up next at 11/2 the field does look like a lotto of a race, you have last year’s second and third in Revich (3lbs higher) and Fanstastic Fox (5lbs lower) returning and although not on the same horse, last year’s winning combo of Buick and Boughey head the market on All The Kings Men,who has been the model of consistency this season running 4 times, winning one and being placed the other 3 times. He has gone up 10lbs in those 4 runs and they are chucking the blinkers on him for the first time to try and eek out some improvement.

My selection is HODLER (11/1 with bet365 4 places) for local trainer Jim Boyle who steps up to 1m for the first time after 17 races. However, on his last run when he won at Chester he ran on well to lead inside the final furlong and will appreciate the step up, as long as the ground is lightning quick. He won’t have any problems as he has won on good, and more importantly around Epsom and was 2^nd the time after at double figure odds. He represents value and with  4 places available at bet365 he should run into a place at the very least.

Selection – HODLER (11/1 with bet365 4 places)

 

15.10

The first of the Grade 1s for the week is only 5 runners but you can make a case for why any of these could win. Westover was 3^rd in the derby before winning the Irish equivalent and then second over in Dubai to the beast that is Equinox and should be in the mix here.

Hurricane Lane has the headgear back on that saw him win at Newmarket, landing the Jockey Club and could be a shout to follow it up now he’s back to winning ways.

Point Lonsdale, who is 2/2 this season and seems to be improving too, he’s stepping up in trip for the first time and looks to bring on further improvement from him.

EMILY UPJOHN (11/4 with Betfred) in my opinion, is the one beat. She was very unlucky in the Oaks last year when stumbling at the start and then was forced to race a lot wider than ideal. She won on her final start in the Fillies and Mares at Ascot. She retains the hood today and gets 3lbs off the boys which for them will be no easy feat and she looks the typical filly to keep improving at 4.

Selection – EMILY UPJOHN (11/4 with Betfred)

 

15.45

Another very competitive handicap where if you ran the race 10 times you would get a different winner every time.

Honiton heads the market after winning assertively at Newmarket last time out and is only 3lbs higher for that win and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in again.

My selection, SAVVY VICTORY Each-Way (6/1 with William Hill) heads the weights and has been a model of consistency including when probably running his best race yet when second at Chester 3 weeks ago, has the booking again of Ryan Moore who rode him at Chester. He’s only gone up 2lbs for that second and a similar effort should see him go very close indeed.

Selection – SAVVY VICTORY Each-Way (6/1 with William Hill)

 

16.30 – Epsom Oaks 2023

The main event of day 1 is the Epsom Oaks. where the winner will surely come from one of the top two in the market on what they have shown this year, they are far more superior than the field.

The favourite is SAVETHELASTDANCE (5/4 with bet365) for Aiden Obrien who won by 22L at Chester in the Cheshire Oaks but it was on heavy ground, very opposite conditions to what she is likely to come up against here. However, her breeding suggests she should handle the good ground, her Mum was trained by Kenneth McPeek over in the US, who funnily enough brought her over for this exact race but things didn’t go to plan when thunderstorms hit and she bolted to the start and was then scratched from the race.

The second favourite is Soul Sister for Dettori and Gosden who didn’t go on the ground on debut in the Fred Darling but back on a sounder surface, she bolted up in the Muisdora at York when showing a sound turn of foot to win by 4 lengths. She steps up in trip for this race, being by Frankel she will have no stamina doubts at all and will serve it up to the favourite.

However, my selection is the Savethelastdance who could just be something very special and the next O’Brien Superstar filly and gain compensation for her Mum.

Selection – SAVETHELASTDANCE (5/4 with bet365)

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17.10

The listed Nyyetimber Surrey Stakes is next with 9 runners, but it’s hard to look past the favourite HOLGUIN (11/8 with Betfred) for the duo of Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding, He was second in the 2yo trophy at Redcar on his last start last season, then confirmed he still has the ability when second at Newmarket and then followed that up with another second in a listed race at Haydock losing by a neck to previous Group 1 winner Angel Bleu. He very much looks the one to beat and should finally get his nose in front

Selection – HOLGUIN (11/8 with Betfred)

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17.45

A lottery of a handicap rounds off Day 1 with 12 runners. The shortest price is 5/1 and the outsider is 28/1 – I am going for MARLAY PARK (13/2 with bet365), a 3-time C&D winner with the last win from only 2lbs lower. He has had a trio of runs this season, the last when making late, late headway at Goodwood when finishing 5^th of 9 but that would have put him spot on for this and  I imagine this has been the plan with the three runs leading up to this. He obviously loves the track, and a much better run will be no surprise.

Selection – MARLAY PARK (13/2 with bet365)

 

Epsom Oaks Day Betting Tips

• 2pm – VALOUR AND SWAGGER (11/2 with BetUK)
• 2.35pm – HODLER EW (11/1 with bet365 4 places)
• 3.10pm – EMILY UPJOHN (11/4 with Betfred)
• 3.45pm – SAVVY VICTORY EW (6/1 with William Hill)
• 4.30pm – SAVETHELASTDANCE (5/4 with bet365)
• 5.10pm – HOLGUIN (11/8 with Betfred)
• 5.45pm – MARLAY PARK (13/2 with bet365)

 

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