The Oaks at Epsom is the third of the five British Classics.
Before it's even June punters are treated to the third classic of the season in the Epsom Oaks.
Taking place less than four weeks after the 1000 Guineas, it is no surprise to see the previous Guineas favourite Ylang Ylang at the top of the betting.
Whether or not the daughter of Frankel will provide trainer Aiden O'Brien with an 11th success in the race is yet to be seen.
Epsom Oaks Odds
| Oaks Winner | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Ylang Ylang | 11/4 | 2/1 |
| Rubies Are Red | 4/1 | 10/3 |
| Ezeliya | 9/2 | 10/3 |
| Forest Fairy | 10/1 | 8/1 |
Epsom Oaks Runners
We should find out more at the five-day confirmation stage on Sunday, but the top four favourites at the time of writing are:
Ylang Ylang
Previously favourite for the 1000 Guineas just a few weeks ago, it is no surprise to see Ylang Ylang retain her place at the top of the betting for the Oaks.
Indeed, whilst she finished 5th, she was only beaten a length and stayed on powerfully in the closing stages to indicate that this step up in trip could see her to better effect.
Her Fillies' Mile win on soft ground at the end of last season suggested the same and her Dam, Shambolic, had black type form over the trip. Moreover, the fact she is able to handle Newmarket's undulations so well gives a positive sign that Epsom's topography will prove no hindrance.
She's race fit with a run under her belt and can go very close. The only concern is that, whilst 10 furlongs seems well within her reach, a step up in trip of over half a mile is significant and an unknown.
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Rubies Are Red
Next up in the betting is another Aiden O'Brien filly in Rubies Are Red. Interestingly for a Oaks second favourite, she remains a maiden having been beaten in all three starts to date.
Being an end of April foal she wasn't seen until the end of October for her sole juvenile appearance. This came over a mile at Galway on heavy ground where she found herself short of room before running on again to be the eyecatcher of the race.
She's been seen twice this year already, firstly at Leopardstown in another maiden where she was beaten by Galileo Dame after trying to make all. Although that was over the 10 furlong trip, the finishing speed of 108.8% suggested that it was a lack of speed, not a lack of stamina, that caught her out that day.
Last time out she stepped up to the Oaks trip of 1m 4f in the Lingfield Oaks trial. Although she was beaten again, she was green and looked unlikely to get involved turning for home before running on very strongly for 2nd. She didn't seem to handle Lingfield's downhill run into the straight that day, however, something that doesn't bode well for Epsom.
It's unlikely that Ryan Moore will get off Ylang Ylang and whilst there can be a case made for Rubies Are Red, one things that if she was trained in another yard and owned by other connections, she wouldn't be 4/1.
Ezeliya
The first non-Ballydoyle contender is Dermot Weld's Ezeliya who comes here off the back of her win in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan. Purple Lily was sent off a warm favourite that day at even money having won her first two starts, but was run down late on by Ezeliya.
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race were all prominent whilst Ezeliya was last at the three furlong pole. The finishing speed of 103.3% suggests the race was truly run and she looks likely to relish the step up in trip to 12 furlongs.
Whilst her sire Dubawi never ran over a mile, her Dam Eziyra was a multiple Group winner over the 1m 4f trip to alleviate any stamina concerns. Navan is a fairly undulating track so Epsom should prove no problem and she can go very well.
Forest Fairy
The first English trained runner in the betting is Ralph Beckett's Forest Fairy who has shot up to the head of the market recently. Unraced at two, the daughter of Waldgeist wasted no time this year having won a Wolverhampton maiden by six lengths before winning the Cheshire Oaks this month.
She had the plum draw of stall one that day, something vital for tight turning Chester, and came out in the straight to run down Port Fairy late on. Those closing sectionals were impressive and last year's winner Savethelastdance went on to be second in the Oaks.
Indeed, in 2017 Enable won it before winning at Epsom so the race is no forgone trial. Saying that, Forest Fairy has achieved much less than either Ylang Ylang or Ezeliya but her unbeaten profile shows she hasn't reached her ceiling yet, something that will attract many backers.
Epsom Oaks Date
The 2024 Epsom Oaks will be run at 4.30pm at Epsom Downs racecourse on Friday 31st May. The race is scheduled to be broadcasted live on ITV.
Epsom Oaks Tips
Whilst Ylang Ylang looks ready for this step up in trip, four furlongs is drastic and EZELIYA is the selection instead. She was impressive last time out at Navan and it is also a positive that she looks to cope well with fast ground and undulations.
Although Dermot Weld hasn't won the race since Blue Wind in 1981, that could all be about to change come Friday.
