Two fantastic days of racing await at Epsom, and it’s the turn of the Fillies’ first as the Oaks takes centre stage on Friday. The market is unsurprisingly headed by Savethelastdance, but with the likes of Soul Sister and Running Lion in the mix, we could be in for a cracker of a race.
GG Editor Tom Aldridge gives us his verdict on who he’s backing to finish 1-2-3, and he’s backing A P O’Brien to continue his incredible record in the race.
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1st – SAVETHELASTDANCE
(A P O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
As soon as I saw this filly destroy the opposition at Chester, I said “there’s your Oaks winner right there” and there’s no chance I’m going to desert her now. She might be untested on this ground but I don’t see it being an issue at all for her, and with A P O’Brien’s incredible record in this race, she looks banker material to me.
She might not have beat much in that Chester run but no horse finished remotely close to her. The runner-up There’s The Door was an astonishing 22 lengths behind, and the way in which she shot past her rivals in a matter of strides was just so eyecatching. I’m fully confident she’ll handle this drier ground and she can give her master trainer a tenth win in the race.
2nd – SOUL SISTER
(John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori)
It would be some story if Frankie Dettori could land a seventh Oaks victory in his final season, but I think he’ll just come up short with Soul Sister. She arguably has the best form in the race with that Group 3 Musidora victory at York, but I think she’s just unfortunate to bump into Savethelastdance here.
The ground is certainly in her favour, and I don’t see the step up in trip being an issue for her either. She was pulling further clear of her rivals when she reached the line in the Musidora so if anything I think the extra couple of furlongs could eke out further improvement in her. I just don’t see her being able to match that turn of foot that Savethelastdance has, it’s as simple as that really! She’s the best of the rest though and should be able to chase the favourite home.
3rd – ETERNAL HOPE
(Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
If the betting is anything to go by then it should be Running Lion chasing home the top two in the market, but I think Charlie Appleby’s Eternal Hope has a cracking chance of making the frame. She’s won two of her three races (loss coming when a close third on debut), including running out a cosy winner of the Oaks Trial at Lingfield last month.
The form of that race took a welcome boost when the fourth home Ghara won at Yarmouth earlier today (Thursday), and she had the re-opposing Be Happy comfortably beaten in second that day. I see no reason why the O’Brien runner can reverse that form, and at a double-figure price, she looks an excellent E/W option, with SkyBet offering four places.
VERDICT
It’s hard to see anything but a victory for SAVETHELASTDANCE, with the ground the only doubt surrounding her. Her electric pace should prove too much for Soul Sister, who can chase her home. Those two are well clear in here, but at a bigger price I like the chances of Eternal Hope to chase them home.
- Savethelastdance
- Soul Sister
- Eternal Hope
Check out our Weekend Watch podcast, where you can see who top tipsters Andrew Mount & Kate Tracey are siding with at Epsom on Saturday. They talk through their picks for all EIGHT races on the Epsom card, including one that Andrew is keen on in the Derby at a HUGE price!
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