Who To Follow On Day One Of Epsom's Derby Meeting 2022

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Wed 01 Jun 2022 14.17

Epsom 15:30

2(5)

Emily Upjohn

J: Frankie Dettori

T: John & Thady Gosden

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 9-2

OR: 110

Days: 23

The feature race of the afternoon at Epsom on Friday is the Group One Oaks Stakes over 1m4f for the fillies and we have a win and each way selection.

Our win selection for the Group One event is the strong favourite Emily Upjohn for training duo John & Thady Gosden and we think this daughter of Sea The Stars is extremely special.

Making her first start last year at Wolves over 9.5f she saw off a nice challenger for Godolphin in Secret Image, who then went onto frank the form.

Put away for this season, Emily Upjohn made her sole start this term at Sandown over 1m2f and in one of the most impressive performances in the division this season, she went on to win by close to 10 lengths under a penalty.

Stepping up into black type company for the first time in her career last time out she went to York for the Group Three Musidora Stakes and made it a hat-trick of wins, when dominating a good field by close to six lengths.

She looks to be a bit of a freak and should improve again for a step in trip to 1m4f.

William Muir & Chris Grassick send a strong team to Epsom on Friday that could see them in and out of the winners enclosure and for that reason are worth following.

One of their best chances of the afternoon comes in the Group One Coronation Cup with last year's winner Pyledriver looking to land back to back renewals.

In the final event of the afternoon they hold another leading chance with the talented Top Secret who has been largely consistent of late and still might not be in the grasp of the handicapper.

The maestro that is William Buick has a handful of smart rides on Friday starting in the opening race of the afternoon with Legend Of Xanadu looking to make it back to back wins.

In the World Pool Handicap he sits on the talented Totally Charming for Classic winning trainer George Boughey and then in the G1 Coronation Cup he has a leading chance with Manobo who tackles his first ever Group One on home soil.

Buick once again holds a leading chance with Cap Francais in the Class 2 Handicap over 10f, with the Ian Williams trained animal looking for his second win of the season.

Teaming back up with Charlie Appleby in the Oaks he should be in and around the frame with With The Moonlight who was an emphatic winner last time out.

In the Penultimate race he sits on Oscuala in the Listed Surrey Stakes and the filly will look to bounce back to form having not been seen since February.