Today the Oaks, Tomorrow the Derby!
Along with Cheltenham, Ascot and one or two other great race meetings, the Derby festival at Epson is the highlight of the year for racing fans and we take a look at the latest news and betting information ahead of the Oaks today and the Derby tomorrow.
Gleneagles, Found and Zawraq to Miss Derby
Gleneagles, who did the 2000 Guineas English and Irish double will miss the Derby, with trainer Aiden O’Brien preferring to send the son of Galileo straight to Royal Ascot later in the month instead. Gleneagles would have been a serious contender and has won six of his last seven races but O’Brien’s decision has to be respected and only serves to enhance the chances of Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs, who head the betting at 2/1 with Tote and 9/2 respectively.
O’Brien is also saving one of his top fillies, Found, for Ascot, with the Coronation Stakes the target, having decided not to enter the impressive Irish horse, also out of Galileo, in either the Oaks or the Derby.
Finally to Zawraq, who misses out not through choice but through injury. Zawraq, trained by Dermot Weld, was unable to recover from a minor injury suffered earlier in the week and so has been withdrawn. They hoped the colt would be ok but time has worked against him.
The full confirmed list of Derby runners is now:
Giovanni Canaletto, Hans Holbein, Kilimanjaro, Success Days, Carbon Dating, Golden Horn, Jack Hobbs, Elm Park, Rogue Runner, Epicuris, Moheet and Storm The Stars.
For our thoughts on the Derby check out our betting tips.
Oaks
Before the biggest of the Classics takes place on Saturday, the fillies will do battle in the Epsom Oaks, with Jessica Harrington seeking to become the first ever woman trainer to deliver in the fillies-only classic. Her hopes rest with Jack Naylor, currently priced at best betting odds of 15/2, having been at 14s not so long ago. Harrington said “I thought the Guineas would bring her on and it looks like it has (she finished a strong fourth). You never know with fillies, it just depends how good they are on the day, but we’ve beaten a couple of the others before and we’re looking forward to it.”
Fran Berry will be on board and whilst Jack Naylor has a very real chance, much of the money is sure to go on the favourite Legatissimo, with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Jack Naylor did actually beat the current favourite, back in August 2014 but since then the Irish bay has won two of her three races, including, of course, the 1000 Guineas last time out. Odds of 3/1 with a number of firms, including BetVictor, look decent value, whilst the second favourite Crystal Zvezda should also go close at 4/1.
Again, check out our Oaks betting tips for our thoughts and predictions.
