Day One Investec Derby Festival 2017 Best Bets On Oaks Day At Epsom

It’s all about Epsom and the Classics the Oaks and the Derby for the next couple of days. I have dealt with the Oaks on the Classics page and I am sitting happily (at the moment) on 13-8 about Rhododendron; they line-up for the big one at 4.30.

As for the rest of the card on Friday the Woodcote Stakes gets proceedings underway at 2.00. The Richard Hannon trained De Bruyne Horse led from start to finish over six at Ripon on his second start, reversing the form with Way of Wisdom on Newmarket debut, to win by a comfortable seven lengths. The colt is strongly fancied to take this step up in class in his stride. Get on at ‘earole 6-4.

It’s a clash of brothers, an equine version of J.R. Ewing vs. Bobby Ewing (that shows my age), as Highland Reel and Idaho head ten due to line-up for the Group One Investec Coronation Cup at 3.10. The older of the two, Highland Reel, is rated higher on OR’s and of course boasts four Group One successes including last year's King George and Breeders' Cup Turf. O’Brien also has US Army Ranger in the field. Godolphin have strength in numbers, too, as Charlie Appleby has Hawkbill and Frontiersman in the race, with Saeed bin Suroor set to run Prize Money. Journey makes her seasonal bow for John Gosden and has to be respected with the filly allowance. She missed a lot of last season but won the G.1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes when last seen in some style. At her best she could win this and as Highland Reel's seventh placed effort at Meydan in the Sheema Classic was poor, Prize Money fourth, at the prices I am on the filly at 5-1.

Be lucky