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Epsom Oaks Day Betting: All the races previewed by Graham Cunningham

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Betting.betfair columnist and Racing UK analyst goes through Friday's Epsom card with suggested bets for every race

1.40 - Juddmonte Diomed Stakes
The first big question of Oaks day relates to whether they will come to the stand rail or stay far side. Philip Robinson holds the key on Dunelight, who is tough to peg back granted an easy lead and promises to relish Epsom based on his fine record on switchback tracks like Goodwood. Clive Cox's chestnut is in top form after a fine effort at Windsor and, given that he might well have things his own way, he makes clear appeal as a back to lay option. Blythe Knight hasn't gone backwards since winning this last year and is weighted to reverse recent York form with Mia's Boy, while Don't Panic has turned in several solid efforts of late and looks bound to run his race. Majestic Roi's Group 1 penalty and lack of recent form suggests she is best avoided, while the Godolphin pair Young Pretender and Alexandros have something to prove after failing to fire over middle distances on their most recent start.

Suggestion: Back Dunelight to win and lay to recover the stake in-running at [2.5].


2.10 - Jeep Mile
This looks the toughest handicap of the day and the best advice is to keep stakes small and hope for luck in-running. Vitznau is a proven force round Epsom and his high cruising speed will always catch the eye of in-running backers, but will his stamina hold out? It can't be guaranteed with the ground on the easy side, while the fact that Unshakable won this last year is tempered by the fact that he is nine now and that his trainer hasn't had a runner this year. Dream Lodge rates a positive mention given that he ran so well at Chester and has Moore aboard for the first time. His keen style suggests he will trade shorter than his pre-race price in the run, while Emerald Wilderness also warrants respect for his gutsy Great Leighs success. In short, this looks very tricky. Don't go overboard, but a place lay of Vainglory looks the value call. David Simcock's colt has run well at Chester and Great Leighs recently, but he was off the bit a long way out and could struggle for pace at this shorter trip.

Suggestion: Lay Vainglory for a place.


2.45 - totesport betXtra Rose Bowl
Emirates Skyline has plenty in his favour here. First, he plainly goes very well fresh; second, he is still relatively lightly-raced; and third, he followed an impressive York success last spring with solid efforts in two of the hottest handicaps of the season at Royal Ascot and Goodwood. Ten furlongs with give underfoot suits and he looks primed to go very well indeed. Eradicate is in fine fettle but won't find it as easy to dictate as he did at Hamilton last time, while Mr Aviator has thrived on the sand but now needs to carry that progress back to turf from an inflated mark. Escape Route is in top form, but Smart Instinct looks the one for a saver. Richard Fahey's gelding is knocking hard at present and would have gone close granted a clear passage in Redcar's Zetland Gold Cup last time.

Suggestion: Back Emirates Skyline win and place and save on Smart Instinct.


3.25 - Juddmonte Coronation Cup
It is all a question of price with Getaway. Granted, he thrived last year and bolted up at Newmarket on his reappearance, but should he really be [2.3] to extend Fabre's fine record here in a race featuring an Irish Derby hero, an Arc runner-up and several other high class performers? Not in my book he shouldn't, and Youmzain looks the value alternative. Mick Channon's charge boasts a string of fine efforts in defeat against the very best and, following a solid reappearance in Dubai, he simply looks overpriced at double figure odds. Soldier Of Fortune was just behind Youmzain and Getaway in the Arc but has plenty in his favour, while stablemate Macarthur bolted up in Group 3 company at Chester and is well worth his place in this much stronger contest. Papal Bull is quirky but could outrun his long odds. By contrast, Red Rocks was only workmanlike at Lingfield on his reappearance and looks a place lay if he can be taken on at [5.0] or under.

Suggestion: Back Youmzain win and place and lay Red Rocks for a place.


4.05 - Juddmonte Oaks
A big field by Oaks standards and, given that at least two of the Ballydoyle massive will probably force the pace, it could develop into a searching stamina test. Lush Lashes brings the best form to the start after her runaway York win and sets a solid standard, but she faces a clutch of fellow Irish raiders who could really blossom now that they step up to a mile-and-a-half. Educated guesswork is involved in assessing them, but Chinese White has looked the real deal in winning two from two and her pedigree has mile-and-a-half shot through it. The same applies to Katiyra, who has been trained with this one day in mind by the canny John Oxx, while Murtagh has opted for Adored ahead of Sail and company in the belief that she will look a different horse for the extra two furlongs. Clowance, Michita and Cape Amber spearhead the British challenge, but none of them come without reservation. Indeed, Cape Amber and Clowance catch the eye as potential place lay material. The former has it all on to reverse York form with Lush Lashes, while the latter has been well backed since the booking of Frankie was announced but faces far sterner opposition than she has ever encountered before.

Suggestion: Back Chinese White and Katiyra to win and lay Clowance and Cape Amber for a place.


4.50 - Help For Heroes Surrey Stakes
Sylvester Kirk has done a great job with Fathsta, who produced yet more improvement to forge clear at York, but that handicap success came off a mark of just 85 and he needs to progress again to score at Listed level. Dream Day would have appealed as a viable alternative but for her subdued effort in the French Guineas, so Iguazu Falls looks the one to be on. Granted, he hasn't quite lived up to early expectations, but he ran very well in a similar contest at Sandown recently and left the strong impression he could prove well suited by this step down to seven furlongs. His high cruising speed gives him clear potential as a back to lay proposition. Film Maker has much more on his plate than when winning a Redcar maiden, but Nacho Libre will be a danger to all if he can build on his staying-on fourth in Newmarket's Free Handicap.

Suggestion: Back Iguazu Falls and lay to save the stake in running at [2.1].


5.25 - Tattenham Stakes
Improvers from the Michael Jarvis yard always attract plenty of support on Betfair and East Drive is plainly on the up after his Goodwood maiden win. The fact that the trio he beat haven't done much for the form since probably shouldn't be held against him, but he needs to progress again here and the safest options are probably Slugger O'Toole and Opera Prince. Slugger O'Toole came out best in a rough race at Newmarket and looks fairly treated again having been raised 4lb, while Opera Prince looked very unlucky after a very slow start at Leicester and is plainly well treated off the same mark here. Nezami improved with Dettori up for the first time at Haydock. Bellomi was just behind him there and seems to be returning to form, while Dubai Meydan looks a slightly tricky ride but has plenty of ability judged on the way he overcame a little trouble in-running in a Catterick maiden.

Suggestion: Back Opera Prince win and place and save on Slugger O'Toole.