Get all of today’s tips and picks for day 1 of the 2023 Epsom Derby Festival
Race 1 – Woodcote Stakes (Class 2) – BALON D’OR 7/2
BALON D’OR can be marked up for his last run at Chester so he rates the best bet in the Woodcote EBF Stakes.
Hugo Palmer’s Kodiac colt won on debut and then went to Chester with the hopes of Michael Owen resting on his shoulders but he was undone by being drawn in stall 11. He showed blistering early speed, but those exertions took their toll and he gave way late to be beaten a length and a half by Ziggy’s Phoenix.
Race 2 – Racehorse Lotto Handicap (Class 2) – DUTCH DECOY 11/2
DUTCH DECOY holds solid claims in the Racehorse Lotto Handicap. Charlie Johnston’s six-year-old is nothing if not consistent but that has been to his detriment this season, as he has only been dropped 2lb in four defeats. He is back down to his last winning mark and has Neil Callan on for the first time having responded favourably to a change of hands in the past.
Race 3 – Coronation Cup (Group 1) – WESTOVER 9/4
The Dahlbury Coronation Cup may only have five runners but all five have legitimate claims.
HURRICANE LANE’s career looked to be drifting out to sea before he bounced back at Newmarket last time out, while POINT LONSDALE appears to be delivering on the promise he showed at two. German raider TUNNES is a half-brother to Arc winner Torquator Tasso and adds an overseas element, with EMILY UPJOHN suffering defeat by a nose in the Oaks last year.
However, WESTOVER brings very solid claims to the table having finished third in last year’s Derby, won the Irish version and run respectably in the Arc on ground he would not have liked. Arguably his career-best effort was his most recent when he chased home Japanese superstar Equinox in Dubai.
Sometimes Meydan form does not translate back in the UK, but WESTOVER has a decent enough body of work already so we can probably take it for what it was.
Race 4 – Betfred Handicap (Class 2) – MAJESTIC 9/2
Cambridgeshire winner MAJESTIC looked like he was not far away from returning to the number one spot at York. Beaten just a length by MARHABA THE CHAMP, he made plenty of late ground and is 2lb better off with the winner in the Betfred handicap.
Obviously, the lightly-raced MARHABA THE CHAMP will be in the mix after showing the benefit of his latest wind operation at York. The son of Galileo has a live chance of following up and another big run can be expected.
HONITON also won in good style last time out and is feared most, while the locally-trained BAD COMPANY is the pick of the remainder.
Race 5 – Betfred Oaks – (Group 1) – SOUL SISTER 3/1
Frankie Dettori has already tasted Classic glory in his farewell season and it could get even better as SOUL SISTER looks to tick all the right boxes in the Betfred Oaks. The Italian pilot was successful on his last-ever ride in the 2000 Guineas with Chaldean, and SOUL SISTER can provide him with a fourth Oaks win since 2017 and a fifth overall.
Winner of her only outing at two over a mile at Doncaster, it was quite surprising to see her reappear in the Fred Darling. That 1000 Guineas trial is over seven furlongs at Newbury and this year took place on bottomless ground. A combination of that and the Gosden string being a little slower coming to hand than usual caught her out.
She then went to York for the Musidora, which tends to be among the best trials for the Oaks, so clearly her connections had retained the faith even if the punters did not, allowing her to go off at 18/1 in a field of eight. Ridden confidently by Dettori, she moved smoothly into contention before sprinting clear to win by four lengths from a filly with Group One form at two.
There is no doubting her stamina as her sister won over a mile and three-quarters and Frankel has plenty of winners over a mile and a half in any case. Savethelastdance may be the freak she looked at Chester but that was, by Classic trial standards, a very poor race and if something looks too good to be true, it generally is.
