Top Daily Mail racing pundit Sam Turner has all the best ITV bets on Investec Oaks day.
2.00 Epsom
The Hannon stable have won this race three times in the last four years and DE BRUYNE HORSE (Best price 13-8) could enhance that handsome record even further. The step up to six furlongs looked to work the oracle for the selection at Ripon, who sauntered clear of his rivals to score in impressive fashion. The fact he handled Ripon’s undulations should assist him in dealing with Epsom’s contours today and he is fancied to see off Brighton scorers Cardsharp and Holdenhurst.
2.35 Epsom
This race resembles something of a rogues’ gallery with talented trio G K Chesterton, Mutarakez and REMARKABLE (Best price 4-1) all looking to have their kinks as well as their abilities. Remarkable is hardly straightforward but he ran well at Ascot on his return considering he was in completely the wrong place in the track given how that the main action was played out on the stands’ side rail. That well-contested handicap is already working out well and John Gosden’s four-year-old could be the answer to a tricky race if he handles the track.
3.10 Epsom
Given the superiority exercised by the Ballydoyle juggernaut this season, Highland Reel will be confidently expected to improve for March’s rather subdued showing in Dubai. A warm favourite in the ante-post market for this race for a while, he has solid Group One form and boasts a fine silver medal from his efforts in last autumn’s Arc so will take some beating. However, JOURNEY (Best price 5-1) is also a winner at the highest level and it is hard to believe his trainer won’t have her ready for this event first time up. She looked a class act last term and could be a shade more value than the market leader so is preferred for punting purposes.
3.45 Epsom
The course and distance form of BROROCCO (Best price 11-2) means that Andrew Balding’s gelding narrowly gains the nod at the expense of Fidaawy here. The Balding stable won this race a couple of seasons ago and this race looked the perfect target for a horse that has already won at the track this season in a strong time. The selection was undone by a lack of pace at Chester and is likely to appreciate the likelihood of a truer gallop and a return to the undulations of the Surrey venue which appear to suit him so well.
4.30 Epsom - Investec Oaks
Trainer John Gosden could have run the talented Shutter Speed in today’s feature, but relies on Enable and Coronet, both of whom look nailed on to relish Epsom’s mile-and-a-half. I was severely tempted to put one of the duo up each-way against RHODODENDRON (Best price 10-11) who is clearly a very prohibitive price for a filly that has never come close to tackling today’s distance. However, Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Galileo displays a relaxed temperament and her breeding suggests the trip should be no issue. She looked more than a shade unlucky not to lay a glove on stablemate Winter in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket when rider Ryan Moore was temporarily halted in traffic as the winner quickened and can gain compensation this afternoon.
Classics often feature a horse that finds the frame at a huge price and I can’t resist having a small wager on POCKETFULLOFDREAMS (Best price 66-1) in the markets without stablemate Rhododendron. If the favourite is placed then the selection could be fourth and we would still collect the place part of the bet which doesn’t seem a bad play for a filly that is likely to be ridden forward and looked all over the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner until losing concentration.
Read Sam Turner's tips in the Daily Mail every day or at www.dailymail.co.uk/racing
