Five big price tips for the Epsom Oaks and Epsom Derby

Tom Reed
31 May 2022

The Epsom Derby Festival is drawing near and Planet Sport have big price Oaks tips and Derby tips. The Oaks takes place on Friday, June 3 and the Derby on Saturday, June 4.

June racing is not the same without the Epsom Derby Festival which takes in two Classic races over as many days on the Epsom Downs.

Want to prove you have the best middle distance, three-year-old filly? Enter her into the Cazoo Epsom Oaks and see what she's made of.

Meanwhile, everything gears up for the "greatest show on turf", and the Cazoo Epsom Derby, which is considered the premier Classic race of British horse racing.

An historical epic event which was first run in 1780, the one mile, four furlong and ten yards Group 1 Epsom Derby is a true folk event that tests what a three-year-old colt is all about.

But don't worry, Planet Sport have tossed aside the short priced favourites and gone in search of real value in both races.

Click on Planet Sport's Live Race Centre for all you need to know about the Epsom Oaks and Derby, including racecards.

(All odds correct at time of article publication.)

The Oaks big price picks

With The Moonlight - 10/1

Charlie Appleby heads up one of the greatest training operations in world racing and his With The Moonlight may have gone under the radar for the Oaks.

The sister to Group 1 winner Dream Castle absolutely hosed up in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time out at Newmarket.

While much of the attention is on John and Thady Gosden's market leaders, With The Moonlight can put that power to good use and get her head in front at a tidy price.

An impressive victory by WITH THE MOONLIGHT (IRE) as she bolts up in the Listed Pretty Polly stakes at @NewmarketRace. 🏆

A terrific performance for Charlie Appleby, William Buick and @godolphin. 👏 pic.twitter.com/8TU1YoaBpw
— ITM (@IREthoroughbred) May 1, 2022

Thoughts Of June - 20/1

Aidan O'Brien lives for these sorts of classic races and has a team of four primed for the Oaks.

All can have cases made for them but Cheshire Oaks winner Thoughts Of June looks a lively outsider who likes to make the running.

That Cheshire Oaks win showed guts and tenacity on soft ground over one mile, three and a half furlongs which is no mean feat. The omens are all there for Thoughts Of June at a huge price.

The Derby big price picks

Nations Pride - 7/1

When Charlie Appleby, winning trainer of last year's Derby speaks, you stand up and listen and the Godolphin handler has said Nations Pride is his "best chance" for a win in 2022.

Supplemented late on by the boys in blue, Nations Pride's form looks solid, including a win in the Jumeirah Derby at Meydan and also the Newmarket Stakes at HQ.

That latter win at Newmarket came by seven lengths from fellow Derby entrant Hoo Ya Mal and it will be no surprise to see Nations Pride outrun those meaty odds.

🔵 Nations Pride - what a performance at @NewmarketRace for Charlie Appleby & William Buick

🏇 Five runs
🥇 Four wins
🏆 Listed Newmarket Stakes
⭐️ Another serious prospect for team @godolphin pic.twitter.com/7KQksUe1Ed
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 29, 2022

Star Of India - 22/1

Aidan O'Brien is no stranger to a shock Derby winner as we saw in 2020 with 25/1 Ballydoyle victor Serpentine.

If anything, Galileo colt Star Of India has stronger build-up form than Serpentine, taking the Dee Stakes at Chester a shade cosily under Ryan Moore.

That finishing speed will be useful and Star Of India can't be dismissed in the light of being the less fancied of the O'Brien trio. This one can shine at tasty odds.

Westover - 22/1

A training great in his own right, Hampshire handler Ralph Beckett doesn't get the column inches of his Newmarket and Lambourn rivals.

Yet, his good looking, well bred Frankel colt Westover won the Sandown Derby trial in the style of a colt that may have more in the tank.

Running green at times, the Juddmonte-owned Westover veered over on the Sandown straight and with a more considered ride, could sneak into a place or more.