The Oaks predictions, betting tips, odds and free bets (Epsom - June 3, 2016)

Monday, 25 February 2019 22:45
Written by David Bet

The biggest race on the first day of the Epsom festival is the Oaks, held over the same 1m 4f course as the Derby but open only to three-year-old fillies. This article contains our 2016 Epsom Oaks betting preview with predictions, betting tips, enhanced odds, bookie promotions and no deposit free bets on the race.

EPSOM OAKS BETTING PREVIEW

MINDING was a brilliant winner of the first fillies' Classic of the season, the 1000 Guinea at Newmarket at the start of the month, but was narrowly denied by Jet Setting when chasing the Guineas double at the Curragh last weekend but it came to light after the race that she had banged her head in the stalls, injuring her sinus. Her price was largely unaffected despite the defeat, and there doesn’t look to be too much value in it, given that she is unproven beyond a mile, and she had quite a hard race that day on testing ground in the Curragh.

ARCHITECTURE has shown that she handles easy ground well and after her debut defeat at Sandown (8f sft) she made no mistake next time at Nottingham (8.5f gd/sft). She was stepped into listed company at Lingfield (11.5f gd) on her seasonal return and she lost no caste in defeat behind Seventh Heaven, who she faces again today.

HARLEQUEEN is the fourth highest rated filly in the race so on the figures she should go close to claiming a place, and the rain that is forecast should suit this daughter of Canford Cliffs. She showed on her debut that soft ground held no fears with an easy win at Goodwood (8f sft) last September.

SEVENTH HEAVEN got the better of Architecture in the Lingfield Oaks Trial. The pair were only separated by a neck with a five lengths gap back to Mountain Bell in third. This filly is still unexposed over middle distances and she might not be finished improving herself.

Ralph Beckett's DIAMONDS POUR MOI is a filly by Derby winner Pour Moi out of a Fantastic Light mare. She was a length behind Somehow at Chester but may be hard pushed to reverse the form.

SOMEHOW struggled to go the pace in the Cheshire Oaks but gradually got into the race before beating Moorside by half a length. Chester is an undulating turning track, which appeared to catch her out in the early parts of the race, but assuming she has learned from that experience, she could show the necessary improvement here. She is proven at the trip and acts on soft ground so she certainly has stamina on her side.

SKIFFLE on Goodwood’s Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood, and after that race Godolphin paid the £30,000 to supplement her for this. She needs to find further improvement to trouble the likes of Minding but has plenty of scope.

TURRET ROCKS won the May Hill Stakes last season which is usually a good trial for the Oaks. She found the mile too sharp in the Guineas but was not disgraced in sixth place and a better showing is anticipated on Saturday.

AUSTRALIAN QUEEN showed best form on the all-weather so far, and was behind Harlequeen in the Musidora at York. She is unlikely to appreciate soft ground either.