The Epsom Oaks is the first of the Classics run at the 2010 Derby Festival at Epsom Downs in June. Scheduled to be run on the 4th of June 2010, this year’s race looks to be a very open event, with at least a dozen fillies in with a real chance of claiming the biggest fillies’ prize in English flat racing.

An Open Epsom Oaks Field

As is the case with the 2010 Epsom Derby, the Epsom Oaks is not set to feature the fillies’ winner at the Newmarket Guineas. 1,000 Guineas champion, Special Duty, will not be in action at Epsom on the 4th of June, which means another filly will have the chance to claim top honours in a Classic this season.

Marcus Tregoning’s Rumoush heads the betting markets for the 2010 Epsom Oaks. This filly’s claim to favourite status is dubious at best, as she has never won at Group level and finished a very undistinguished 7th at the 1,000 Guineas in May. Trading below 6/1 at the exchanges she looks like one of the best lay betting opportunities of the year.

Henry Cecil’s Aviate, priced a distant second in the 2010 Epsom Oaks betting markets, appears to have far better Oaks credentials than Rumoush. This filly is unbeaten in a career spanning three races, and won one of the most important Epsom Oaks trails, the Group 3 Musidora Stakes, ahead of her trip to Epsom. Trading above 8/1 at most bookies, she’s a superb each-way betting option for the Oaks.

Timepiece completes the top three in the betting. Another Cecil entry, Timepiece has had alot more time on the turf than most of her opponents in the 2010 Oaks. Her record includes two wins and two places, including a second place in the Oaks Trial Stakes at Lingfield. This filly has a knack for placing, and with her odds offered at over 10/1 at many bookies, is a decent each-way punt.

Outsiders

It is not unusual for fillies’ priced well over 10/1 to take the Epsom Oaks. Finding a winner from amongst the outsiders is a tough proposition, and using a spread of each-way bets on long odds outsiders is one way to capitalise on an upset. The only filly we’ve found who looks like she has what it takes to place at Epsom is Dyna Waltz, winner of Lingfield’s Oaks Trial. She’s priced as high as 19/1 at the exchanges, but can be an inconsistent performer.

2010 Epsom Oaks Betting Tip:

There are times to stay away from big back bets and instead have a good look at the lay betting markets, and the 2010 Epsom Oaks is one such occasion. We’re going to go with a meaty lay bet on Rumoush in this race, as we can’t see her doing better than a place. Once the field is finalised, we’ll spread some small bets amongst the entries price over 80/1, looking to profit off the unpredictable nature of this race.

2010 Epsom Oaks Odds

The 2009 Epsom Derby was one of the racing highlights of the year, as 2,000 Guineas winner, Sea The Stars, defeated well-backed Fame & Glory to take a rare Derby/Guineas double.

On Saturday the 5th of June the finest 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the United Kingdom will be at it again as they compete in the 2010 Epsom Derby at Epsom Racecourse.

See those Stars?

The winner of the 2010 2,000 Guineas, Mafki, is conspicuous in his absence from the 2010 Epsom Derby field. The colt has been preferred for shorter distance races in France, leaving the door open for another top colt to score Group 1 Classic success at Epsom in June.

St Nicholas Abbey was an initial favourite to win the 2010 Epsom Derby before being withdrawn from the race. He was replaced by another Aidan O’Brien entry in the form of Jan Vermeer. Jockey, Johnny Murtagh, backs Jan Vermeer to the hilt, however his biggest win came at the Criterum International in France last year, and he’s only taken a Grade 3 in 2010.

Workforce is the second in the betting following the withdrawal of St Nicholas Abbey. He’s not the most experienced of colts, with just two races beneath the belt. One of those races was the Derby ‘trial’, the Dante Stakes, where he finished second behind Cape Blanco.

He also has a win in a non-Group event to his credit, but there’s just too little information on this entry to suggest that he’s worth a back bet.

Midas Touch was bumped to third in the betting markets by the departure of the original race favourite. He’s an interesting candidate with a 10 furlong win beneath his belt, and as a winner in the Group 2 Derby Trial Stakes, could be worth an each way punt.

Can their be an Epsom Derby betting upset?

Epsom Derby betting trends tell us that major upsets in this race are the exception rather than the norm. It has been over a decade since a colt price over 10/1 took the Derby, however, this year’s race does have an open look to it. One colt to keep an eye on is Henry Cecil’s Bullet Train. He won the 2010 Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield earlier in the season and is trading as high as 12/1 at some bookies.

2010 Epsom Derby Betting Tip:

The betting picture for the 2010 Epsom Derby looks fairly clear-cut, even though we do scent an upset in this year’s race. We’re happy to lay Jan Vermeer in the Derby and to go each-way on Bullet Train. More ambitious punters may want to spread their money around some real long shots on race day in the hopes of scoring a big each-way payout if a rank outsider places.

2010 Epsom Derby Betting Odds:

Sir Michael Stoute’s Ask emerged as the surprise winner of the 2009 Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday, defeating heavily backed antepost favourite Youmzain to claim the first group one race of the 2009 Derby Festival.

The result provided the 6 year old with the first group one win of his career, and was achieved by the tightest of margins as he finished the race a nose ahead of Youmzain. 2008 Epsom Oaks winner, Look Here, finished the Coronation Cup in third place.

“Things just went wrong last year and we never got the rub of the green,” Stoute told Sky Sports after the race. “This wouldn’t be his ideal track but we thought we had to take our chance.”

“We were prepared to just go and sit in front and from my angle passing the post I thought he’d won but we’ve been caught a few times recently so thank goodness it went our way this time. Where he runs next will be ground dependant as he doesn’t want the ground too quick.”

Following the race Mick Channon suggested that he’d be sending Youmzain to the King George Stakes at the Goodwood Festival in an attempt to secure a first group win for his horse on British soil.

John Oxx’s Sea The Stars became the first racehorse of the 21st century to complete the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby double on Saturday, beating Fame and Glory to claim the richest purse in English flat racing.

Aidan O’Brien’s hopes of becoming the first trainer to see his entries close out the top five places at the Derby came to nothing, as only Fame and Glory placed in the race, followed home by Masterofthehorse. O’Brien’s Rip van Winkle finished the race in fourth place.

The victory gave Oxx his second Epsom Derby triumph, following on Sinndar’s victory in 2000. Following the race Oxx suggested that he would most likely not enter Sea the Stars into the St Leger in the pursuit of the English Triple Crown.

Jockey Mick Kinane used all of his experience to steer Sea The Stars to victory, claiming his third Epsom Derby title. Following the race Kinane paid tribute to his mount.

“I was going so easy all the way, it was as if we were going in slow motion,” Kinane told the BBC. “That’s the key to him - he has serious tools, over any trip. When this lad came along last May I thought I’d better hang around a bit longer!”

Epsom Oaks antepost favourite, Sariska, rewarded her backers with a nail-biting victory on Friday, defeating Henry Cecil’s Midday by a nose. High Heeled finished in third, leaving antepost joint-favourite Rainbow View to settle for fourth place.

Sariska looked to be well in control in the final furlongs of the Epsom Oaks, leading a breakaway trio that included Midday and High Heeled.
The filly then appeared to slow going into the final furlong, allowing Midday into the race, and a stewards enquiry was ultimately required to decide the winner of the race.

“She’s always shown us huge potential at home and ever since the day she started working I thought she was a star,” Bell told the BBC after the race. “She fulfilled all my expectations and we’re so thrilled to have her. It is a huge thrill to win this race and I’m very lucky to have been given the chance to train her.”

The win handed Michael Bell his first Oaks title, and the second Classic win of his career. The trainer had previously won the Epsom Derby with Motivator.

The 2009 Epsom Derby has produced three strong antepost favourites over recent weeks.

Sea the Stars has headed the betting since winning the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. While he’s a form horse, and should not be ignored in the Epsom Derby betting markets, it’s important to realise that the last thoroughbred to successfully navigate the 4 furlong step up from the Guineas to the Derby did so two decades ago.

With history suggesting Sea The Stars is more likely to place than to win, Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes winner Fame and Glory looks a very strong bet. Aidan O’Brien’s entry is unbeaten and is a proven stayer with three wins over 1 mile 2 furlongs to his credit.

Rip Van Winkle has powered up the Epsom Derby betting markets since being selected by O’Brien’s first-choice jockey Johnny Murtagh. This backing seems a bit irrational given the fact that he’s untested over distance greater than a mile and has finished outside the top three in both of his races this season.

Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island looks to be a high-value bet at an average SP of 8-1. Not only is O’Brien’s colt coming into the Derby on the back of a group two win, but he is also proven over distances greater than a mile. If there’s to be a surprise winner in the Derby, Black Bear Island is our candidate.

Our 2009 Epsom Derby tips are therefore: Fame and Glory to win it, followed home by Black Bear Island and Sea the Stars.

The 2009 Epsom Derby is set to be run in perfect conditions, with good to firm ground expected for the weekend’s Derby Festival.

Watering at Epsom Racecourse has stopped, and with no more heavy rain expected at Epson Downs until after the weekend, course staff are confident that a perfect turf will be delivered for two of the greatest thoroughbred races in the world.

“The going is very much good in the main and just on the quick side in a few places, between the 10-furlong and the mile starts and little bits elsewhere,” Epsom director of racing Andrew Cooper told the Press Association.

“There is no watering planned. The weather outlook is dry until possible showers overnight Friday into Saturday - we could get no rain or up to a maximum of five millimetres.”

The rails at Epsom Racecourse have been moved out 6 yards for Friday’s races at Epsom, and will be moved back on Saturday morning to ensure that the Epsom Derby is run on fresh ground.

Trainer Brian Meehan has opted to supplement Crowded House for the £1.25 million Epsom Derby on Saturday.

Last year Crowded House emerged as the early antepost favourite for the 2009 Epsom Derby following an impressive victory in the Racing Post Trophy. His odds then drifted during a sustained period of indifferent form, and he is currently trading at over 20/1 at most bookmakers.

Meehan, however, believes that his horse can do better than the 8th place he achieved in his last outing – the Dante Stakes. Providing Epsom does not soften further ahead of the weekend, Meehan says that Crowded House could surprise his critics.

“After the Dante we monitored him closely. He worked on Monday and we were pleased with him,” Meehan told the BBC. “More importantly, he seems to have taken it very well. He will breeze again tomorrow, but the plan is now to let him take his chance at Epsom.”

Meehan has also entered Crowded House into the French equivalent of the Derby, the Prix Du Jockey Club.

“The only issue may be if there is heavy rain on Friday,” Meehan said.
“For that reason we will hold the entry in Sunday’s Prix Du Jockey Club as an alternative.”

Venue: Epsom Downs Racecourse
Time: 16:00BST
Date: 06/06

The biggest purse in English flat racing is up for grabs at this weekend’s Epsom Derby, as England’s most talented 3 year old thoroughbreds take the step up to the 1.4 mile trip over Epsom Downs.

A tussle has emerged at the top of the Epsom Derby Betting markets between Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes winner, Fame and Glory and 2,000 Guineas winner Sea the Stars, with both strongly backed to win the race.

However, Johnny Murtagh’s selection of Rip van Winkle as his mount suggests that Aidan O’Brien’s entry may be the one to watch at Epsom on Saturday, and his price has shortened significantly since Murtagh announced that Rip would be his choice for the race.

Punters who learned their lesson from the surprise win of New Approach last season will not be putting all their eggs in one basket, and there could be excellent value to be had in the longer priced entries in the 2009 Epsom Derby field.

Leading contenders for an upset include Jim Bolger’s Irish raider Gan Amhras and the unpredictable Crowded House, both of whom are priced high enough to provide good value on each-way punts.

If actions speak louder than words, then Rip Van Winkle is Aidan O’Brien’s strongest entry in the 2009 Epsom Derby.

This information can be inferred from Johnny Murtagh’s decision to ride Rip rather than saddle antepost favourite, and Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes winner, Fame and Glory in the 2009 Epsom Derby.

As O’Brien’s first choice stable jockey Murtagh had the pick of any of the 6 Ballydoyle entries in the 2009 Epsom Derby, and decided to hand Fame and Fortune’s reins to Seamus Heffernan – who won the Irish Derby on Frozen Fire in 2008.

“Johnny Murtagh’s chosen mount was always going to be of great interest to punters, and his presence on board Rip Van Winkle would ensure that horse was popular on race day, but maybe not enough to head the betting,” said a bookmaker’s spokesperson.

All jockeys at the 2009 Epsom Derby will wear black armbands on Saturday to acknowledge the passing of legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien earlier this week. Rated the greatest trainer in history, O’Brien achieved considerable success in both flat and national hunt racing during his career.