Friday ITV racing tips: Best bets for day 1 of Epsom's Derby Festival on May 31

The second-oldest Classic, The Oaks, is the highlight of Friday's meeting at 1630, but don't forget there's another Group 1 in the form of the Coronation Cup (1510) and three other hotly contested races.

We begin with a quick run through our ITV tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Friday quick tips from Epsom:

14:00 (Epsom) New Charter

14:35 (Epsom) Koy Koy

15:10 (Epsom) Emily Upjohn

15:45 (Epsom) Bolster

16:30 (Epsom) Secret Satire

 

14:00 (Epsom) New Charter

New Charter followed home a promising Godolphin horse when second on debut at Newmarket. Stall three looks a major positive for the Richard Hannon trained filly and is considered.

Megalithic shaped as though the step up to 6f would suit when a keeping-on third debuting at Salisbury. End Of Story made a winning start to his career over 5f at Thirsk. Must be feared representing a stable in good form.

 

14:35 (Epsom) Koy Koy

Koy Koy caught the eye with a promising effort when sixth over 7f at Newmarket. Booking William Buick is a definite plus and can be considered back up in trip receiving a nice draw in gate six. There are plenty of dangers to the main selection in this typically competitive handicap with recent

Chester runner-up Dancing Magic perhaps the chief one raised 1lb. Ground conditions look to be in favour of Al Mubhir who was a good second over 1m on reappearance at Leicester before finishing a fair sixth of seventeen at York.

 

15:10 (Epsom) Emily Upjohn

Emily Upjohn is fancied to become the first mare since Triptych in 1988 to win back-to-back Holland Cooper Coronation Cups.

The five-year-old was held up last year under Frankie Dettori before being asked for an effort two furlongs out and went on to beat Westover by one and three-quarter lengths.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of Sea The Stars was fifth on her reappearance in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, beaten three and a half lengths behind Charlie Appleby’s Rebel’s Romance.

Fully entitled to improve for what was her first run since last year’s King George, she is more than proven over the undulations of Epsom and rates a very solid option.

 

15:45 (Epsom) Bolster

It could pay to concentrate on the two Karl Burke horses Bolster and Liberty Lane. The former appeared to relish conditions making a successful stable debut over 1m2f at Pontefract and with further progress expected a 5lb rise in the weights might not prevent the follow-up while the latter won with authority over 1m1f at Newmarket last time and looks to be heading in the right direction.

City Streak continued enjoying racing at Chester with a battling success three weeks ago. Can remain competitive off a 3lb higher mark.

Irish raider Derry Lad shaped as though going back up to 1m2f would suit when a close third at Naas. 

 

16:30 (Epsom) Secret Satire

Secret Satire can follow up her impressive Musidora victory by galloping to glory in the Oaks.

The Andrew Balding-trained daughter of Advertise will hope to follow a tried-and-tested path of winning at York before going on to frank the form in the mile-and-a-half fillies’ Classic.

Soul Sister did the double last season and Snowfall also backed up victory on the Kanvesmire by going on to win at Epsom in 2021, while Emily Upjohn, hampered by a slow start, was only denied a short head by Tuesday in the 2022 renewal.

Secret Satire was two and a half lengths behind Siyola on her seasonal debut at Sandown in April and came on for that run in fine style at York.

Sent off at 22/1 in the hands of Oisin Murphy she stayed on strongly up the straight to see off Francophone – a Listed winner at Goodwood last weekend – by two lengths.

While her stamina could be a question mark over an additional two furlongs, she is well worth chancing at the likely prices.