Horse Racing Betting Tips – Channel 4 Tips For Epsom Day 1

Horse racing betting tips for each race shown live on Channel 4 from Epsom on Friday.

 

Friday sees the third English Classic of the season – The Oaks, kicking off two fantastic days of racing at Epsom.

 

 

 

Sign up HERE with Betfair to get Australia at 5/1 to win The Derby

 

 

 

1.35pm Epsom

 

A very interesting Group 3 to begin the day with a couple in here boasting form at a much higher level than this.

 

JUST THE JUDGE (9/2 SkyBet) had a successful campaign last year as a three year-old, winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas along with placed efforts in the English equivalent and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.  She has a pair of wins on good to soft ground so conditions shouldn't be a problem but her return at Newmarket was ordinary to say the least.

 

Odeliz (5/1 Betfred) also has form with plenty of cut in the ground so any further rain wouldn't be any hindrance to her chances.  This will be her fourth outing this campaign so she has been busy already and, with form over further, she won't mind if this turns into a slog.

 

Thistle Bird (11/4 William Hill) is best in on official ratings and, as the winner of this contest last season, merits serious consideration.  She was well below par in her York comeback when behind Odeliz which is a concern, given that is her worst effort when fresh, and as a six year-old she may not be open to as much improvement as others.

 

1.35 Betting Tip – JUST THE JUDGE (WIN) (9/2 SkyBet)

 

 

 

Sign up HERE with Ladbrokes using promo code F50 to receive a matched bet up to £50

 

 

 

2.10pm Epsom

 

A really competitive mile and a quarter handicap next up with plenty of in-form horses running off inflated marks.

 

Tres Coronas (8/1 Coral) has shown career best form this season at the age of seven.  He was given far too much to do when seen over C&D earlier this year but his two excellent efforts at Chester and York the last twice were top class.  Genuinely soft ground would help his cause but that looks unlikely.

 

Clon Brulee (9/1 SkyBet) is likely to find this a little easier than the handicaps he contested over the winter in Meydan.  He ran well despite being poorly drawn on a couple of those occasions and with a good record fresh, and on softish ground, he should have plenty in his favour.

 

Gworn (16/1 bet365) wouldn’t mind a drop more rain but is interesting nevertheless stepping back up in trip.  He looks fairly handicapped still and has run well to a point in efforts this season but most of his top form comes in the Autumn.

 

For a five year old, AIR PILOT (8/1 William Hill) is incredibly lightly raced, having just the three runs to his name.  His form with Clever Cookie at Doncaster would make a mark of just 83 very appealing and, having looked as if a mile and a half was far enough both starts this season, a step down to this distance is no surprise.

 

2.10 Betting Tip – AIR PILOT (WIN) (8/1 William Hill) 

 

 

 

Sign up HERE with Coral and bet £5 to receive a free £20 bet

 

 

 

2.45pm Epsom

 

The Diomed is another Group 3 on the card, looking tightly knit and very competitive despite just the seven runners.

 

Penitent (7/1 Betfred) bounced right back to form at Haydock last weekend, sticking to his guns really well to hold off the strong challenge of Breton Rock.  Despite the advancing years, he was runner-up in this contest last year and should go well again.

 

French Navy (9/2 Coral) made hard work of what had looked a relatively straightforward task at Goodwood last time.  He needed all of that mile and a quarter to get on top so this step down in trip probably isn't in his favour but any further rain would bring him into contention.

 

Graphic (3/1 SkyBet) was one of the most improved horses in training in 2013, climbing 30lbs in the weights from mid season onwards.  He returned with a battling Doncaster win before finding the penalty for that success a bridge too far at Ascot last time.  Back on a level footing with all his rivals here will make his task easier and he warrants plenty of respect.  

 

With an excellent record fresh, plenty of form under similar conditions and victory in this race last season, GREGORIAN (5/2 bet365) gets the vote to triumph again.  He competed at a higher level than that afterwards, escaping a 5lb penalty in this race for a Group 2 Newbury win by a fortnight which should help his cause.  

 

2.45 Betting Tip – GREGORIAN (WIN) (5/2 bet365)

 

 

 

Sign up HERE with Betfred to receive a matched bet up to £25

 

 

 

3.20pm Epsom 

 

A competitive mile handicap up next with a large field but is lacking a little in class with the topweight rated 9lbs below the handicap ceiling.

 

Fury (12/1 SkyBet) has kept better company than this in the last year, plummeting down the weights after a string of ordinary efforts in a variety of headgear.  Sent off a well backed favourite on his only run this year, he was disappointing once again but he surely retains enough ability to claim a race similar to this.

 

ABSEIL (9/4 Coral) looks a likely type given connections, running really well on his handicap debut at Chester when catching a tartar.  That winner was stepped up to Group 3 level last time and ran fairly well in a tough race at Haydock at the weekend.  The draw doesn't look ideal but he did well from a poor draw in that Chester race and should go well with the slight step-up in trip and longer straight likely to play to his strengths.

 

Farlow (11/1 Coral) began the season in good heart in some competitive races.  He should have ideal conditions underfoot but 1m has appeared to stretch his stamina in the past and he will need some luck in running if ridden to get the trip.

 

Llanarmon Lad (12/1 bet365) is a lightly raced five year-old who, judging on his Thirsk win when last seen, has improvement in the tank still.  He goes well with cut in the ground, is Brian Ellison's sole representative at the track, and has Kieron Fallon on board.

 

It's been a considerable amount of time since we saw Jacob Cats (40/1 bet365) at his best but he is tumbling down the weights at a fair pace.  He has run no better than ok in two turf runs this year but he might be worth a little each-way tickle in the hope a first time visor can spark him back into life.  

 

3.20 Betting Tip – ABSEIL (WIN) (9/4 Coral)

 

 

 

Sign up HERE with bet365 to receive a deposit bonus up to £200

 

 

 

4.00pm Epsom

 

The highlight of the card concludes the coverage, the second fillies classic of the season in the form of The Oaks.

 

Honor Bound (25/1 Coral) was last seen when successful in a trial race at Lingfield, giving her valuable experience for what Tattenham Corner is likely to throw at her.  It was a distinctly moderate race given the grade but Ralph Beckett won this last year with a similar type in Talent.

 

Ihtimal (9/1 Betfred) ran a massive race in the 1,000 Guineas when a close up third.  Having run so well over 1m2f in Meydan the drop down to a mile looked questionable but it didn't prove to be so.  She acts with cut and should have a role to play if lasting home with the step-up in trip.

 

The yards of David Simcock and Hughie Morrison will be hoping for further rainfall for their fillies Madame Chiang (12/1 Ladbrokes) and MARSH DAISY (12/1 SkyBet).  Both look lively each way candidates with the former staying on best to win the Musidora at York while the latter has been supplemented for the race having won at Goodwood.  This race was ruled out by Morrison immediately after Goodwood so the change of heart is interesting.

 

Marvellous (7/2 Betfred) has been to the fore in the market for this race since winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas.  This is a massive step-up in trip and from a tough draw she is worth taking on just 12 days after her classic triumph.   

 

It is impossible not to have been impressed by Taghrooda (4/1 William Hill) in the Pretty Polly Stakes, decimating the field there to win by six lengths.  The concern though is that despite the impressive win, nothing in behind has done anything to frank the form and on a line through those rivals she would be fairly level with the likes of Marsh Daisy who is three times the price.  

 

Given her pedigree it was no surprise to see TARFASHA (15/2 SkyBet) improve massively for the step up to 10 furlongs on her Naas reappearance.  More improvement is likely to be forthcoming now and she gets the vote at what looks a generous price.

 

4.00 Betting Tip – TARFASHA (WIN) (15/2 SkyBet)

                          – MARSH DAISY (E/W) (12/1 SkyBet)

 

 

Sign up HERE with William Hill to receive a free matched bet up to £25