Oaks Day +One For Tomorrow

Good morning all,

Quick post this morning with my Epsom selections, including a couple at big prices.

I'll be doing my best to get a video up tomorrow morning but as ever, I'm reliant on hotel wi-fi to upload it, so it's ll be touch and go.

But there is an early selection for the Dash tomorrow with one that I think is far too big, and I can see one or two of the bigger name tipsters putting it up. So we'll get in first….

2.00

After a good run from Ropey Guest in the maiden at Yarmouth yesterday, I'm going to be backing Oh Purple Reign here. That Nottingham race he won looked full of talent beforehand and the winner did it nicely. Ropey Guest finished last there but was by no means the worst in the paddock, according to reports, so to see him finish fourth at a big price yesterday gives the form a decent boost. The yard have won this three times in the last six years too, so don't send no-hopers for it.

2.35

Looks wide open but I'm trying two small win bets on Wahash and Breanski. With no real pace on here I wonder if they might try to make all with Wahash, who was placed on his only start at the track (a couple of seasons ago) and the handicapper is now starting to give him a chance.

Breanski probably needs a mile these days, and is now now 1lb lower than last win (Doncaster last August), should will strip a lot fitter for recent outing at Thirsk and isn't out if this at a big price for a yard 1-8 with their runners here.

4.30

Two e/w bets for me here on Manuela De Vega and the outsider of the field, Blue Gardenia.

Manuela De Vega (Ralph Beckett)

The former has plenty of ground to make up on Mediyaah on Chester form but two things to remember – one, Mediyaah was fit after a run out at Chelmsford and Manuela De Vega was giving her 3lb too. She suffered no run at crucial stages and I think she could get a lot closer today. Will appreciate quicker ground too.

If there’s a shock in here then Blue Gardenia makes more appeal than a few. Crying out for 12f both on what you see on the track and, for me, on pedigree, likely to be ridden for places by Spencer, she keeps taking small steps forward and acts on all grounds. The Oaks throws up some strange results and we could get another today. Skybet (and one or two others) are four places, which will do for me.

5.15

Those just wanting one good win bet on something short today need look no further than Space Blues. When you look at how much went wrong for him at York, having to basically switch around the entire field before still winning hard held, it wasn’t hard to conclude you’d probably seen a Group horse in a handicap. Can win this Listed contest on the way to better things, as long as he handles the track.

I do like Sunday Star but she's not really going forward as I would like, and if Space Blues has his A-game with him, he'll be hard to beat.

Tomorrow then – and the Dash at 3.45 is the race I looked at yesterday. After pricing it up myself, I couldn't make Just Glamorous any more than 20-1 at best, so the 50-1 (and 40s, if you can't get the 50s) looks overpriced to me. He's got blazing speed when he's on song, and he did look back to something like his better form when just chinned at Goodwood last time out (beaten a nose) so maybe his new trainer has already turned him around. If that's the case, he's still very well handicapped on old form and he could lead these a merry dance from stall 12, which looks a decent draw to lead these out from. 50-1 4 places (Ladbrokes, Coral) or 40-1 5 places (Unibet).

Today's selection – Manuela De Vega (4.30)

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.