Nine fillies will take their chance in the 2025 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs on Friday afternoon, as the premier middle-distance three-year-olds do battle in the iconic Group 1 Classic. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the 1m 4f 6y showpiece and picks out his 1-2-3 for the race here.
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Charlie Appleby will go in search of his first Oaks crown on Friday afternoon and the Godolphin trainer has a huge chance of etching his name into the illustrious roll of honour when he unleashes imperious 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower, who is a warm order for Friday’s contest.
Astonishingly, you have to go back to 2002 and Kazzia claiming Oaks glory for the last time Godolphin owned the winner of the Oaks, but in Desert Flower they have a filly that is unbeaten in her five career starts and she heads into this contest as the one to beat. An emphatic one-length winner of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Night Of Thunder will now step up to a mile-and-a-half for this contest and will be looking to claim more Classic glory.
However, a massive thorn in the side of the Appleby team will be old adversary Aidan O’Brien, who will saddle a three-pronged attack, as he attempts to land an incredible 11th win in the race. The triumvirate of Giselle, Minnie Hauk and Whirl all warmed up for the Oaks with eye-catching wins in some of the premier trials and all three will head to Epsom with a huge chance.
Giselle only had two rivals to beat in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, but she dispatched her brace of opponents that day with aplomb to win by nine lengths, while Minnie Hauk bounded to Listed glory in the Cheshire Oaks at their iconic May meeting and she showed stamina won’t be an issue. Arguably the most impressive trial came from Whirl, who stormed to victory in the Group 2 Musidora Stakes at York’s Dante meeting and she shaped like another step up in trip would bring on even more improvement.
2025 Oaks Trends
Outsiders
Saeed bin Suroor and the Shadwell Estate team join together to unleash a fascinating contender in the shape of Elwateen, who has only been seen on the track twice, but was last seen running a mighty race to finish fourth in the 1000 Guineas. Sent off at big odds that day, the Dubawi filly is likely to be available at double-figured odds here, but she could be one that relishes the step up in trip.
It’s been 12 years since Ralph Beckett saddled Talent to victory in the Oaks, but he has a lively outsider in Revoir, who was just touched off in a Listed event at Newbury last time out. She will need to improve on that effort, but she’s another lightly-raced contender and open to improvement.
Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen was the filly that beat Revoir at Newbury last time out and is looking to frank the form here. A Group 3 winner last time out, Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway is looking to build on that effort and cause a shock here, while Go Go Boots completes the line-up for John & Thady Gosden and she was last seen finishing way back in third in the Musidora won by Whirl.
2025 Oaks Betting Offers & Free Bets
We pick out some of the best betting offers and free bets available to use on the 2025 Betfred Oaks at Epsom.
| Bookmaker | Offer | Claim Offer |
| Sky Bet | Bet 5p Get £30 in Free Bets | Claim Sky Bet Offer |
| Paddy Power | Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets | Claim Paddy Power Offer |
| bet365 | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | Claim bet365 Offer |
| Betfred | Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets | Claim Betfred Offer |
| Betano | Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets | Claim Betano Offer |
2025 Betfred Oaks Tips
Desert Flower is entitled to be favourite for the Oaks and she will be tough to beat, but with possible rain showers set to soften the ground then she could prove vulnerable to a better stayer. Yet to race beyond a mile she could find herself treading water in the closing stages and she could get beaten by a couple of Aidan O’Brien-trained runners. The one to side with is WHIRL, who was imperious in the Musidora Stakes at York and looked like a 1m 4f would bring on more improvement. Already proven over the trip Minnie Hauk can chase her home and land a 1-2 for the Ballydoyle team, with Desert Flower back in third.
- Whirl
- Minnie Hauk
- Desert Flower
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