This year's Epsom Oaks look set to be as exciting as ever with Aidan O’Brien’s powerful duo Amelia Earhart and Precise, with strong challenges from Legacy Link, Thundering On and Cameo in a deep, wide-open renewal.
The Epsom Oaks is one of British racing’s most historic Classics, first run in 1779 and now staged over 1 mile 4 furlongs on the unique, undulating Epsom Downs. It is the premier middle-distance test for three-year-old fillies, demanding a blend of stamina, balance and class on one of the sport’s most distinctive tracks. This year’s renewal is set to be fiercely contested, with Aidan O’Brien’s trio led by Amelia Earhart and Precise dominating the market, while Legacy Link, Thundering On and Cameo head a strong supporting cast of progressive trial winners and Classic contenders.
Epsom Oaks Winner Trends
- 9/12 top 3 in betting.
- 8/12 winners won last time out, 11/12 placed,
- 12/12 ran within 34 days.
- Irish 1000 Guineas – 3/12 ran there, 0/3 won, 2/3 placed.
- Cheshire Oaks – 3/12 ran there, 2/3 won, 1/3 placed.
- Musidora Stakes – 2/12 winners came from there, both won.
- 8/12 had run over 10–12f.
- 7/12 had won over 10–12f.
- 11/12 had 3+ flat runs, 11/12 had 1+ win, 9/12 had 2+ wins.
- 10/12 rated 102+.
- 6/12 had a Group 1–3 win.
- 12/12 had a run that season.
- 10/12 had a win that season
Epsom Oaks 2026 Runners Guide
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart heads to Epsom as the market leader and arguably Ballydoyle’s number one hope after cementing her Oaks credentials with an impressive victory in the Cheshire Oaks. A daughter of Camelot, she showed clear improvement once stepped up in trip, following up her maiden success with a dominant Chester performance that propelled her to the head of the betting.
Aidan O’Brien revealed the filly had previously been carrying “a kink” and the addition of a hood and blinkers helped her settle and unlock her potential, a move that appeared to transform her. The strength of market support in recent weeks has been significant, with bookmakers shortening her into clear favouritism ahead of stablemate Precise, and much of that confidence stems from her proven stamina. Entered in the Irish Oaks and Irish St Leger, she looks tailor-made for the Oaks test and arrives seeking a hat-trick of victories for a yard that has won six of the last ten renewals of the race.
Legacy Link
Legacy Link has emerged as Britain's leading Oaks hope after maintaining her unbeaten record this season in the Musidora Stakes, a race John Gosden successfully used as a springboard to Oaks glory with Soul Sister in 2023. The beautifully bred Juddmonte filly is the first foal out of a sister to Frankel and Noble Mission and shaped as though the York trial would bring her forward both physically and mentally. Despite being challenged late, she showed plenty of determination to regain the advantage and score convincingly, strengthening the belief that a step up to a mile and a half will unlock further improvement.
Gosden has long viewed her as an Oaks filly, having been encouraged by her strong-finishing fourth in last year's Fillies' Mile, while rider Colin Keane believes Epsom's stamina test will bring out the best in her. With proven Group-race form, an excellent attitude and a trainer seeking a fifth Oaks success, she looks a major contender if building on her Musidora performance.
Precise
Precise brings the strongest established form into the Oaks after bouncing back from a below-par seasonal debut to land the Irish 1,000 Guineas in emphatic fashion, beating Newmarket Guineas winner True Love by two and a half lengths. A dual Group 1 winner at two, including success in the Fillies' Mile, she already holds form over several of her Oaks rivals and has lost just once in five starts.
The major question is stamina, with the daughter of Starspangledbanner stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time, but there are reasons for optimism given her strong finishing effort at the Curragh and the influence of Galileo on her dam's side. Aidan O'Brien has won the Oaks a record 11 times and has left the door open to a quickfire Classic double, although connections are weighing up whether to tackle Epsom or remain at a mile for the Coronation Stakes. If she stays the trip, her class alone makes her a serious threat despite the possibility she is only Ballydoyle's second string on paper.
Thundering On
Thundering On has emerged as one of the more intriguing contenders after a commanding breakthrough success in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan, where she relished the step up to 10 furlongs and pulled clear by over three lengths. A daughter of Frankel, she had already shown useful form when chasing home Sugar Island in Group company as a juvenile and was narrowly denied on her seasonal return before taking a significant step forward last time.
Her form ties in closely with several of the leading contenders, having finished ahead of Emmeleia and previously crossed paths with both Cameo and Sugar Island, while the Salsabil has proved a productive Oaks trial in recent years. Significant market support has seen her odds shorten dramatically, although Joseph O'Brien is yet to confirm whether she will head to Epsom or the Prix de Diane. If she takes her chance, her proven progression, prominent racing style and strong staying pedigree make her a serious each-way contender.
Cameo
Cameo confirmed herself as a live Oaks contender when powering clear in decisive fashion in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, a performance that underlined the contrast between the major Classic camps on the day. A daughter of Wootton Bassett, she travelled strongly and produced her best work in the final quarter-mile, quickening five lengths clear under Ryan Moore and handling Lingfield’s undulations with real authority. That effort built on an encouraging reappearance in the Park Express Stakes and suggests she is still progressing, particularly now stepping up in trip where she looks well suited.
Although she is likely to be viewed as a second string within the Aidan O’Brien team given jockey bookings, history shows that perception can be misleading in Classics from Ballydoyle. The form of the Lingfield trial is open to question, but the manner of her win was impressive, and she arrives at Epsom with proven stamina, improving profile and the backing of a stable that regularly dominates the Oaks.
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
Epsom Oaks 2026 Odds
| Horse | Highest Odds |
|---|---|
| Amelia Earhart | 2/1 |
| Legacy Link | 10/3 |
| Precise | 9/2 |
| Thundering On | 7/1 |
| Cameo | 12/1 |
| Venetian Lace | 14/1 |
| K Sarra | 14/1 |
Epsom Oaks 2026 Betting Tips
Amelia Earhart looks the most complete package in this year’s Epsom Oaks. She arrives off a dominant Cheshire Oaks win that underlined her clear stamina improvement since stepping up in trip, and the market support has steadily pushed her to the head of the betting for good reason. Aidan O’Brien has already refined her with headgear to help her settle, and the response was a decisive performance that suggested there is still more to come. While Precise brings the standout Group 1 form and Legacy Link is a strong, improving trial winner, both have unanswered stamina questions at 1m4f, whereas Amelia already looks tailor-made for the test. With proven staying ability, peak recent form, and a trainer who dominates this race, she sets the standard and rates the one to beat.
Best price 2/1 with bet365.
