Group One Oaks Epsom Downs Guide 2023

Aiden O’Brien sends three of his runners to the Epsom Oaks in the form of Be Happy, Savethelastdance and Red Riding Hood. The latter was able to win at the third time of asking after finishing runner-up on her first two starts, despite veering sharply towards the end when 2/7fav at Dundalk in April. Followed that with a third-place finish in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas last month before heading here for her first taste of group one company.

She seems to be behind Savethelastdance in the stable pecking order but not totally out of this if handling group one company well. Steps up in trip which may or may not suit, others make more appeal but it would be silly to rule her out.

Aiden O’Brien has three hopefuls in this year’s Epsom Oaks with the favourite Savethelastdance, Red Riding Hood and Be Happy. The latter seems to be the stable’s least-fancied runner in this, she arrives here in ok form having won on debut at Cork last September, finished fifth at Curragh in a group three, third in Group Three Penelope Stakes at Saint-Cloud and second to Eternal Hope at Lingfield in Listed Oaks Trial last time out.

Has a stiffer test here and although not ruled out, others make more appeal.

Jack Channon has one runner in this year’s Epsom Oaks with his three-year-old Caernarfon. The 99-rated filly has done well since being sent into better company after winning once in a class four and placing a few times at the lower levels during 2022. She finished a good third in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract as well as winning Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket and finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas on 2023 reappearance.

Steps up some extra furlongs now and it remains to be seen whether this trip will suit and others make more appeal on form, but she is not taken lightly.

John and Thady Gosden have two runners in this year’s renewal of the Epsom Oaks in the form of Soul Sister and Running Lion. The latter arrives at Epsom Downs on the back of four straight wins at Lingfield (C5), Chelmsford City (C5), Kempton (C2) and Newmarket (C1). Career-best coming in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last month, when winning by over four lengths to runner-up Sumo Sam.

The three-year-old filly is one of two big chances for the Gosden’s in this and it would be no surprise to see her go well again. Oisin Murphy is booked to ride, with Frankie Dettori on Soul Sister.

Richard Hannon has one runner in the Epsom Oaks on Friday with lightly raced three-year-old Maman Joon. The Sea The Stars filly has had just the one career run so far, showing promise on debut at Newbury in a 16-runner maiden to finish nine lengths behind winner Gather Ye Rosebuds and record second. Very much pitched in at the deep end for this one.

More improvement is expected of her but at this level it will be tough, given she hasn’t raced above class four level or at this trip. Others make more appeal. Kevin Stott is booked to ride.

Karl Burke sends one to the Epsom Oaks in the shape of his filly Bright Diamond. The three-year-old has done ok in her early career, winning 7f Newmarket maiden back in August last year before back-to-back third-place finishes in Group Three Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood and Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Returned in 2023 by finishing fifth in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield last month before heading to Epsom for the Oaks on Friday.

Needs another career-best run if she is to figure here, despite some good efforts in this sort of company in the past. Others make more appeal.

Andrew Balding sends one runner to the Epsom Oaks in the form of Sea Of Roses. The three-year-old has made a good start to her career so far, finishing second on debut in Ffos Las class four before winning class five maiden at Doncaster. She managed a runner-up finish in the Group Three Penelope Stakes at Saint-Cloud (ahead of Be Happy) before finishing fifth in the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York, won by Soul Sister, last month.

Tough test for her here on Friday and she is one that would be an unlikely winner. Rob Hornby is booked to ride.

Charlie Appleby sends one runner to this contest at Epsom on Friday with his three-year-old Eternal Hope. The filly has made a good start to her career, building on a third-place finish on debut at Wolverhampton in February novice by winning her next two starts at Chelmsford City (C4) and most recently beating Aiden O’Brien’s Be Happy in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield last month by just over a length.

Should be more to come from this Appleby filly now on turf for the first time, and is certainly not discounted in this. Regular jockey William Buick will do the steering.

John and Thady Gosden boast two in the Epsom Oaks with two strong hopes for success in the form of Running Lion and Soul Sister. The latter won on debut at Doncaster last October, ahead of Doom, before finishing a disappointing last of 12 in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury. Bounced back in emphatic fashion when landing the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York last month, by a winning margin of four lengths to 10/3 shot Novakai when priced at 18/1.

Moves up a bit in trip here and if staying the extra two furlongs, more is expected of this filly. Frankie Dettori is on board, with Oisin Murphy on stablemate Running Lion.

David Menuisier sends his filly Heartache Tonight to the Epsom Oaks for her first taste of English soil, having had all three runs on the flat in France. The three-year-old has made a decent start to her career, winning 11-runner ParisLongchamp maiden by just over two lengths to Indian Gold before finishing third in Group Three Cleopatre Stakes at Saint-Cloud in April.

She then stepped into group one company, finishing a respectable fourth in the Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp last month and now heads into the same company in the UK. Could have more to offer so is not dismissed in this contest.