Epsom racing tips: Forest Fairy and Dance Sequence in the mix for Oaks glory

16:30 Epsom:  Betfred Oaks (1 mile 4 furlongs)

With six of the last 10 Oaks winners having been saddled by Aidan O’Brien (the other four were all Gosden-trained), it’s no surprise to see Ylang Ylang at the top of the betting after her fifth place in the thrilling blanket-finish 1000 Guineas a month ago.

She should relish this longer trip, and with Ryan Moore again in the cockpit, she promises to bang there again at the business end of the race. 

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Such is the quality of the dozen fillies in this line-up that a case could be made for most of them, with O’Brien’s second string Rubies Are Red no forlorn hope, while Andrew Balding’s Secret Satire looks equally interesting with in-form Oisin Murphy at the reins.

It’s been over a decade since Ralph Beckett produced the second of his two Oaks winners, but his stable is in top form this term and our main pick is one of his four runners in the 12-strong field.

With no juvenile outings to her name, Forest Fairy cut her teeth on Wolverhampton’s all-weather track in February, when she made an immediate statement by romping home six lengths clear of the nearest of her six rivals.

On the strength of that performance, connections wasted no time pitching this exciting prospect into the Cheshire Oaks at Chester’s May Festival, where stronger opposition made her work for her hard-earned victory, edging ahead on the line after having to wait for a late opening.

Rossa Ryan was at the helm for both of those successes, and with his 50 percent place rate (16% win rate) from his 131 rides this term, he is well equipped to bring even more out of this talented filly.

Suggested best bet: Forest Fairy each-way in the 16:30 at Epsom

• Tip advised by Cinzano Kid on Tipstrr

There’s plenty of additional each-way value to be found elsewhere, with Caught U Looking, Treasure and War Chimes all meriting consideration, especially with many bookies happy to pay out on extra places.

Our pick of those available at double-digit odds, however, is Dance Sequence, who must be taken seriously for the Charlie Appleby/William Buick partnership, as she seeks to overcome a disappointing mid-division 1000 Guineas effort a month ago.

She has done all of her racing at Newmarket, winning there twice as a juvenile last year, and coming a close-up second behind an 18/1 outsider in the Nell Gwyn Stakes on her seasonal bow earlier this month.

This significant step up in distance obviously takes her into uncharted territory on an unfamiliar track, but we can assume that the Appleby stable must have seen something on the gallops that suggests this could bring the best out of her.

Suggested best bet: Dance Sequence each-way in the 16:30 at Epsom

• Tip advised by Big Odds Value on Tipstrr

 

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