Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from day 1 of the Epsom Downs Betfred Derby & Oaks Festival on 31 May 2024.
EPSOM DOWNS DERBY FESTIVAL DAY ONE
Race 1 No9 NEW CHARTER (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
Hannon has a good record in the Woodcote Stakes and that can be further boosted by a win from New Bay filly NEW CHARTER. Her opening salvo to chase home Royal Ascot-bound Mountain Breeze at Newmarket stacks up well in the context of the form on offer in the traditional opener, and from a perfect draw three off the fence, she can open her account. END OF STORY represents a Thirsk contest that has worked out and needs to be included in all exactas, trifecta and quartets on this race.
Race 2 No7 DANCING MAGIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Teal could witness a good omen for Dancing Gemini in the Derby in the form of DANCING MAGIC. The Camelot gelding has some very solid form in two starts this season, being beaten less than five lengths by winner Metal Merchant in the Newbury Spring Cup before chasing home Percy’s Lad at the Chester May Festival. He’s almost certainly better than he was, and with Rossa Ryan on board for the first time can give his connections a big earning run.
Race 3 HOLLAND COOPER CORONATION CUP (Group 1)
No4 EMILY UPJOHN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
While this isn’t the strongest Coronation Cup of recent years it could see EMILY UPJOHN returning to near her best form for owners the Lloyd-Webbers. The Sea The Stars mare was a decisive winner of the corresponding race in 2023 only to be restricted to a select campaign. She was not at her best when down the field in the Champion Stakes on the final of just three starts, and needed her comeback run behind Rebel’s Romance in Dubai. The vibes from Clarehaven Stables speak well for her chance and she can take the spoils at the main expense of FEED THE FLAME, whose trainer Pascal Bary rarely saddles runners in England, but needs respecting when he does. Both Luxembourg and Hamish are opposable for different reasons, and TIME LOCK could be one to raise her game and contend for a minor placing ahead of that pair.
Prediction: 1st EMILY UPJOHN, 2nd Feed The Flame, 3rd Time Lock
Race 4 No6 CITY STREAK (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
For sheer consistency I STILL HAVE FAITH is one to banker in your exotics in this Class2 over a mile and a quarter. His good turn at Nottingham will have put the cutting edge on him but one with equally strong claims from a yard that does well at this fixture is CITY STREAK whose form on turf is very solid and who has looked to have progressed this year. He followed home a Group class rival when second to Tasman Bay at Bath, and was gameness personified when thwarting Box To Box at Chester. He has the balance and brawn to handle the undulations on this first run on a switchback course.
Race 5 BETFRED OAKS (Fillies’ Group 1)
No4 FOREST FAIRY
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Beckett is by saddling four fillies for this third domestic Classic doing something that only Aidan O’Brien has tried in the past. The Cheshire Oaks winner defends a two-race unbeaten record after looking better the further she travelled on the Roodee. Furthermore, she is Rossa Ryan’s choice of mount, with the prospect of her getting the trip and giving her hungry-for-success jockey what would be a deserved first Classic triumph. Interestingly Ryan spoke well of the King’s TREASURE after riding her into fourth in the Lingfield Oaks Trial. His suggestion that the daughter of Mastercraftsman could ultimately be better than the fillies that beat her that day resound in my ear. It seemed Treasure would head for the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, but the trainer’s change of heart on that score needs to be respected. O’Brien’s challenge this year comprises the favourite YLANG YLANG and RUBIES ARE RED. Ylang Ylang was staying on at the end of the 1,000 Guineas and over this longer trip has strong claims to give Coolmore its seventh Oaks win since 2015. Rubies Are Red came from the next parish in the Lingfield trial and can reverse placings with YOU GOT TO ME from that contest.
Prediction: 1st FOREST FAIRY, 2nd Treasure, 3rd Ylang Ylang, 4th Rubies Are Red
Longshot: Secret Satire
Race 7 No7 DARKNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jason Watson
DARKNESS has gradually found his form in three outings this season and looks poised to deliver in a tricky nightcap. He finished second to SPANISH STAR in this race 12 months ago and is weighted to turn the tables. His run when just out of the money at Newmarket earlier in the month was eye taking, and has readied him for what I hope will prove D-Day.
