SOFT TOUCH OR HOPES DASHED? The opening race at Epsom on Oaks Day today is a big-field 5f Dash for three-year-olds, a minefield handicap for punters, yet they will be glad of it to check out the going and whether there is an advantage in the draw, as they split near side, middle and maybe even far rail.
FOLLOW MURPHY: Daqman looks for opening Proof at 30.0 on BETDAQ, assumes softening of the ground and picks Oisin Murphy and Colin Keane as jockeys to follow.
OAKS HAS FRANKEL LEGACY
đ© 4.00 Epsom (The Oaks) The Ralph Beckett filly A La Prochaine (âSee you soonâ) can improve to challenge the best Oaks-trial winner, Legacy Link, whose big, powerful stride won her the Musidora. Form with official ratings:
110 VENETIAN LACE Charlie Johnstonâs top-rated seems âthe one least likely to.â Not proven on soft, not bred for it: but 1,000 Guineas third and by a Derby winner.
107 THUNDERING ON By Frankel but, like her dam, has excelled at 1m 2f and, though has done well on most surfaces, her stamina for an Oaks is not tested, particularly on soft. See Sugar Island.
105 AMELIA EARHART Followed the route of last yearâs winner, Minnie Hauk, in taking the Cheshire Oaks, with A La Prochaine running on third and Sugar Island five-lengths fourth (led, weakened). But surely a sorry sight for breeders if a Classic is won by one in a hood-and-blinkers combo.
105 LEGACY LINK (pictured below) All starts on good to firm: battled to win the Musidora but going away at the finish as if needing further; that and her breeding (Dubawi out of a sister to Frankel) suggest slow ground would be beneficial.
104 CAMEO Has won on soft-heavy and was an impressive Lingfield trial winner but Ryan Moore prefers Amelia Earhart.
104 SUGAR ISLAND Dubawi out of a Galileo mare, in her element in heavy-ground success from the front at the Curragh in the autumn, when she beat Thundering On with Cameo 10 lengths fourth.
100 K SARRA Musidora third, just over two lengths behind Legacy Link. Sire a soft-heavy winner and trainer, who excels with fillies, also runs A La Prochaine and On Message.
099 ON MESSAGE Well beaten on soft in class-4 filliesâ maiden in the autumn but strong at the finish when close third in Goodwood trial.
098 A LA PROCHAINE Sire won French Derby, damâs sire won Arc and King George. Soft-ground winner in the autumn. See Amelia Earhart.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 4.5 Legacy Link, 18 A L Prochaine
SEAGULLS TO STEAL DIOMED
â 2.40 Epsom (Diomed Stakes) Last yearâs one-two-four of Persica, Ice Max and Royal Playwright meet again.
But itâs a stronger field this year, with the one for the money, Seagulls Eleven, and Cambridgeshire winner, Boiling Point, in form at Goodwood the last day but with no winning form on the soft.
Group-3 scorer on the soft at Goodwood in August under todayâs rider, Oisin Murphy, Seagulls Eleven made all over a mile in a recent Listed at Longchamp.
But Qirat is a Goodwood specialist who could also take them on from stalls to stands under Colin Keane on this similar track: BETDAQ 13.0.
HE KEEPS ON RESPONDING..
â 3.15 Epsom (âNifty 50â) Another Goodwood specialist, Alpha Crucis, second twice at Epsom, goes well on the soft but heâs a 8-9f winner, whereas this race is 1m 2f.
Conversely, Beylerbeyi is a 2m 2f Cesarewitch winner (10lb higher now) but what they have in common is age (six) in a race which goes to younger animals (four and five) only.
Iâm always on the look-out for improvers and Respond has risen 23lb in seven races since his opening mark, winning easily last time on a turning track like todayâs at Chester. Oisin Murphy keeps the faith.
Karl Burke has thrown everything at getting one ready for a repeat of his 2024 success. Bolster is now a gelding, with a wind op and first-time cheekpieces. BETDAQ 22.0.
DAQMANâS BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.30 Epsom (win-50 total bullâs-eye bet)
BET 1.5pt win and place PROOF
2.40 Epsom (win 25 each)
BET 7pts win SEAGULLS ELEVEN
BET 2.25pts win QIRAT
â
3.15 Epsom (win 25 nap)
BET 6pts win RESPOND
BET 1pt win and place BOLSTER
4.00 EPSOM (win 25 each, The Oaks)
BET 7pts win LEGACY LINK
BET 1.25pt win and place A LA PROCHAINE
(with AMELIA EARHART for forecasts, tricasts)
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