ITV Racing Friday Tips and Previews

IT’S THE EPSOM OAKS LIVE ON ITV RACING ON FRIDAY! We have previews for every race on the card which includes main dangers to our selections.

Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.

ITV Racing Friday Schedule

2.00 Epsom Cazoo Woodcote British EBF Stakes (Class 2) 6f
2.35 Epsom World Pool Handicap (Class 2) 1m1/2f
3.10 Epsom Dahlbury Coronation Cup (Group 1) 1m4f
3.45 Epsom Cazoo Handicap (Class 2) 1m2f
4.30 Epsom Cazoo Oaks (Group 1) 1m4f

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Epsom 2.00

We kick off Oaks day with a competitive renewal of the Woodcote. Commander Straker showed solid form on his first two starts and certainly wasn’t winning out of turn at Bath. He is probably the right favourite in here but I want to play something at an each way price and KEEP BIDDING makes plenty of appeal. This filly by Ribchester was sent off a huge price on debut (28/1) but with the penny dropping late she ran on strongly to finish second and looked like she would definitely improve for the experience. If she steps forward I think she can mix it with these and she is potentially a nice type.

Blatant also deserved to get his head in front last time and will find this tougher. I don’t think anything will be able to dictate throughout here so that has to be a concern for him. Legend Of Xanadu won easily at Redcar but again this is tougher and while he can improve there isn’t a great deal of juice in his price.

Epsom 2.35

With 16 set to head to post for this fiercely competitive handicap it won’t surprise you that I’ve taken two against the field. I’ve looked away from the top of the market with my main play in the race REVICH for Richard Spencer. This 6yo is 1-1 at the track having beaten Sir Busker here as a 3yo making all the running. He failed to threaten in the Lincoln on return but took a big step forward from that to go down just half a length at Chester last month. He didn’t get the best position early so it was a good effort to go so close. The fifth that day Boardman has franked the form since winning his next two starts. He runs off the same mark and 10/1 looks too big to me.

The danger to me could emerge from CAROLUS MAGNUS who still looks to be well handicapped. He signed off last season with a convincing win at Newmarket off a mark of 90 and I thought he looked as though he’d strip fitter for the run when only fifth on return. He definitely stepped forward last time but bumped into Legend Of Dubai who looks a nice colt for Roger Varian. The third Eilean Dubh has gone on to win his next two starts and is held in quite high regard by his trainer. He is off the same mark so if building on that again could have a bit in hand. Of the rest Excel Power has to be respected in current form but he is a further 6lb higher and this looks tougher again. Variyann and Totally Charming also have to be feared as they could have more to offer yet especially the latter.

Epsom 3.10

A decent renewal of the Coronation Cup and I’m looking forward to seeing MANOBO back on these shores. This son of Sea The Stars has won 5 of his 6 starts to date and only lost his unbeaten record going down half a length into second in Dubai when last seen. He was thoroughly progressive last year and still has potential to do better again. If he handles the track I think he is the most likely winner and I’m surprised he isn’t favourite over Pyledriver. The latter dug deep to hold off Al Aasy in this last year but has a bit to prove this time around.

High Definition found plenty before going down just a neck to Alenquer at the Curragh last month and if that hasn’t left a mark he should also get competitive here. Living Legend has beaten a couple of good horses the last twice and while this is tougher again he is likeable and will probably run his race again. Hukum also deserves a mention but might fare better for the outing.

Epsom 3.45

Another tough handicap to work out and another race where I’m swaying away from the head of the market. Moktasaab obviously has to be respected arriving on a hat-trick but a further 5lb rise in what looks to be deeper company is certainly going to test him. At an each way bet I like the chances of CAP FRANCAIS for Ian Williams. This son of Frankel does have experience of this track having finished a good second here as a 3yo. He made a winning reappearance at Newmarket in April and backed that up with a good run beaten just a length after being slowly away at Chester. He is off the same mark here and I think he’s going to go close under William Buick.

At an even bigger price CARADOC catches the eye too. He is mega consistent and deserves to win a prize like this. He was an encouraging fifth on return at Newbury over a mile before stepping forward to finish second at Goodwood. He bumped into Moktasaab on that occasion but only went down just over a length and gets a 5lb swing in the weights now. He wasn’t at his best at Nottingham but he should bounce back at this track as he has run well here on sole visit in the past. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t get involved. Soto Sizzler loves it here and also has to be feared but he is off a career-high mark now so this is a big ask off 105.

 

Epsom 4.30

Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden have dominated this race in recent years with Ralph Beckett the only other trainer in the past decade to have won it and that was with Talent way back in 2013. Gosden certainly holds the key this time around with the front pair in the betting. Emily Upjohn is likely to go off a warm order having made it a perfect 3-3 in the Musidora last month. She clearly has a great chance but to me she doesn’t look the most straightforward and Epsom is certainly a different test. If she races keenly again it may well count against her on this undulating track and I have a suspicion she may she prove a bit vulnerable in the closing stages. Given her price I’ve got to oppose!

The one I like is stablemate NASHWA with Hollie Doyle riding. This Frankel filly left her sole start as a 2yo well behind to make an impressive winning return at Haydock. She quickened away effortlessly that day so it was no surprise to see Gosden want to get some more education into her sending her out at Newbury last month. She really lengthened her stride quite takingly in the closing stages and looks a filly to me improving all the time. I can see her relishing this test and at 9/2 she has to be the value play against a favourite who just doesn’t convince.

Of the rest With The Moonlight was impressive at Newmarket but I think she’ll struggle up into this company. Tuesday looks the best of O’Brien’s having chased home Cachet in the Guineas and then Homeless Songs in the Irish equivalent. Tranquil Lady impressed with how strongly she hit the line at Naas and might be the value to hit the frame.

Epsom 5.10

With 2 wins from his last 3 Churchill colt DAWN OF LIBERATION looks a good bet to go in again for Richard Hannon. He is progressive and deserves a crack at Listed level again. The drop back to 7f should be in his favour if anything and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Ryan Moore positive on him here. He has a nice mix of speed and stamina and looks the mos obvious winner to me so it surprises me there is as much between him and Oscula.

The latter has some good form to her name from her 2yo season but she has failed to show her form recently and is quite hard to weigh up now. I certainly wouldn’t want to be taking a short price. Ever Given won impressively at Chester but that tight track suits him well and he disappointed at Haydock so a bounce back is called for.

Epsom 5.45

A really tough handicap to close out on Oaks day and I have unsurprisingly backed two against the field in the hope to end on a high. My main play in the race would have to be DARKNESS for David O’Meara. This 4yo has failed to fire since coming over from France but down to a mark of 91 I think he could be set to take a big step forward. He was a bit of an eye-catcher at Ascot in the Victoria Cup and if he builds on that and gets luck in-running here he should go close.

I’m also going to chance POCKET THE PROFIT at around 16/1 at the time of writing. He has been luckless since winning at Pontefract but I thought Hector Crouch was particularly easy on him at Newmarket last time and that race has worked out well since. He may well have gone under the radar here.

ITV Racing Each Way Lucky 15

With a cracking days racing from Epsom on Friday we have included an Each Way Lucky 15 which includes some of our best bets. If 3/4 win/place we will make some nice profit. Pays 3,000/1!

ITV Racing Each Way Lucky 15

Epsom 2.00 Keep Bidding

Epsom 2.35 Revich

Esom 3.45 Cap Francais

Epsom 4.30 Nashwa

Pays 3,000/1!