Epsom Derby Festival: Day 1 Tips, best bets and odds
To kick off the month of June we head to Epsom Downs for one of the most prestigious races in the world – the Epsom Derby Festival
Renowned tipster and Journalist, Ed Quigley aka 'Longshot Ted' looks ahead to what should be a cracker - it's Oaks Day at Epsom. Ed provides tips for all 7 races on the card.
Epsom Derby Day 1 Tips
Friday, June 2nd
Epsom 2.00 - Haatem
Epsom 2.35 - Rhoscolyn e/w
Epsom 3.10 - Point Lonsdale
Epsom 3.45 - Savvy Victory e/w
Epsom 4.30 - Soul Sister
Epsom 5.10 - Olivia Maralda
Epsom 5.45 - Clochette e/w
Read our full betting preview and list of the best epsom derby betting sites
Full race card for Oaks Day at Epsom Downs
Epsom 2.00 betting odds winner - Haatem
A tricky task to get things underway, with 12 runners heading to post for the Woodcote over 6f. A case can be made for quite a few of these unexposed speedsters, and the tentative vote goes to HAATEM representing one of the two entries by Richard Hannon. Pat Dobbs takes the ride on the colt who made light work of his rivals at Bath in a minor event last time out and looks worth his place in the line-up here.
Bet on Haatem to win at 4/1 at bet365
Epsom 2.35 betting odds winner - Rhoscolyn e/w
A trappy Class 2 Handicap to get stuck into, and I am going to chance my arm with the 5-year-old RHOSCOLYN. The David O'Meara representative has been a bit frustrating in recent times and has been on a long losing run, but as a consequence, he has started to drop down the weights. Off a mark of 95, he looks fairly handicapped now, and it is worth noting that he won on his only previous to the track, so having that valuable winning course form in the locker should hold him in good stead.
Bet on Rhoscolyn each way at Coral
Epsom 3.10 betting odds winner - Point Lonsdale
This is an absolute belter with a quintet set to line up for this Group 1 over 1m4f. Westover, Emily Upjohn, Hurricane Lane, Tunnes, and POINT LONSDALE make up the field in what should be a thrilling encounter. My preference is for the Ballydoyle-trained 4-year-old who really seems to have got his act together in recent times. Arriving here on a hat trick, I think there could be even more to come now upped to 1m4f. He is a brother to smart stayer Broome, so logic would dictate that he can take his form to new levels in this environment. This is a race you don't want to miss.
bet on Point Lonsdale to win at 5/1 at William Hill
Epsom 3.45 betting odds winner - Savvy Victory e/w
I wouldn't be shocked if SAVVY VICTORY ran a stormer off-top weight for the Ryan Moore and Sean Woods combination. The 4-year-old is a model of consistency and was a bit unlucky not to get the job done at Chester last time out when a little bit sluggish from the gates at a track where you can't afford to be hesitant from the get-go. Savvy Victory holds each-way claims here.
bet on Savvy Victory each way at Ladbrokes
Epsom 4.30 betting odds winner - Soul Sister
It's the Oaks, and 11 runners are due to make it to post. A lot has been discussed regarding the performance of Savethelastdance at Chester, in which she pulverized the opposition and rightly was propelled into a market leader on the back of that stunning display. However, I just wonder if her perceived superiority was exaggerated due to really testing underfoot conditions. Stopwatch gurus wax is lyrical about the performance, but she looks like a powerful unit that will have to prove she can handle Epsom's undulations on what will be much faster ground here. She is a short price to find out if she can replicate that run, and at the prices, I much prefer the claims of the John & Thady Gosden representative SOUL SISTER. She caused an upset when spread-eagling the field in the Musidora, in a manner which really made everyone sit up and take note. She looked a different filly on quick ground and left her soft-ground Fred Darling flop well and truly behind her. Frankie Dettori couldn't pull her up as she powered through the winning line on the Knavesmire. Providing we don't get a deluge at Epsom in the build-up, I think she may just have too many raw gears for her rivals representing the yard that has won this three times in the last 10 years.
bet on Soul Sister to win at 12/5 at BetVictor
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Epsom 5.10 betting odds winner - Olivia Maralda
The penultimate race on the card can go the way of OLIVIA MIRALDA, who is still settling into her new surroundings with Roger Varian, but should have stripped fitter for her seasonal/yard debut in the 1000 Guineas, and can make an impact eased into calmer waters here. The drop back to 7f looks ideal, the quicker ground should suit, and with that aforementioned run under her belt at Newmarket she is a major player on these terms in this Listed encounter.
Bet on Olivia Maralda to win at 6/1 at Coral
Epsom 5.45 - Clochette e/w
We conclude proceedings with 7f Handicap action, and this looks fairly wide-open. CLOCHETTE looked a non-stayer over 1m in a Listed race at York last time out, so the drop back to 7f looks ideal for the filly. She looks one to take note of for the Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding combination and is an each-way option as she delves into a handicap for the first time off a mark of 93.
bet on Clochette each way at Ladbrokes
Don't forget to check out Ted's Tips on Saturday, as the attention turns to the big one - Derby Day at Epsom!
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