Aidan O'Brien is the most successful current trainer in the Investec Oaks, having produced seven winners of the £525,000 fillies' Classic to date. He has four runners in today's race - Delphinia, Fleeting, Peach Tree and Pink Dogwood. However, he has some way to go to reach Robert Robson's record of 13 Oaks winners, which he achieved between 1802 and 1825.

 

Among the nine trainers with runners in the 2019 Investec Oaks, five have won the race before. As well as O'Brien, John Gosden, handler of Anapurna and Mehdaayih, took it in 2014 with Taghrooda and in 2017 with Enable. William Haggas, trainer of Frankellina and Maqsad, won the Oaks in 2011 with his first runner, Dancing Rain. Manuela De Vega's trainer Ralph Beckett already has two victories in the Classic to his name with Look Here in 2008 and Talent in 2013. Dermot Weld, represented today by Tarnawa, scored in 1981 with his first Oaks challenger, Blue Wind.

 

The most successful jockey with a ride in this year's Investec Oaks is Frankie Dettori, who has four wins under his belt (Balanchine, 1994, Moonshell, 1995, Kazzia, 2002, Enable, 2017). Today he rides Anapurna, trained by John Gosden - trainer of Enable.

 

The only jockey having their first Investec Oaks ride today is Chris Hayes, who will be in the saddle on Tarnawa, trained by Dermot Weld and owned by the Aga Khan. Despite the Aga Khan's great success in other Classics, including the Investec Derby, he has never won the Investec Oaks. His father, Prince Aly Khan, scored with Petite Etoile in 1959.

 

The favourite or joint-favourite has won the Investec Oaks seven times since 2000, when Love Divine took the race for trainer Henry Cecil and jockey Richard Quinn at 9/4. The most recent favourite to pass the post first was Minding, who won at odds of 10/11 for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

 

The only filly in today's Investec Oaks whose dam also ran in the race is Lavender's Blue. Her dam, Beatrice Aurore, finished sixth behind Dancing Rain in 2011, trained by Ed Dunlop. Lavender's Blue, home-bred by owner Benny Andersson of ABBA fame, is trained by Amanda Perrett.

 

Frankel is the most represented sire in the 2019 Investec Oaks, with three runners - Anapurna, Frankellina and Mehdaayih - and is looking for a first win in the race. Frankel's sire Galileo, whose daughters Delphinia and Peach Tree represent him this year, has three victories in the mile and a half fillies' Classic to his name, courtesy of Was (2012), Minding (2016) and Forever Together (2018).

 

2.00pm INVESTEC WOODCOTE EBF STAKES no5. RAYONG (Vet's Certificate, Lame)

 

2.35pm INVESTEC MILE HANDICAP     no10. HAYADH (Self Certificate (cast in box))

 

3.10pm INVESTEC CORONATION CUP   no9. CORONET (Self Certificate (not eaten up))

 

TOMORROW        

3.10pm INVESTEC DIOMED STAKES                            no2. MASTER THE WORLD (Vet Certificate (bad scope))

 

5.50pm INVESTEC ASSET MANAGEMENT HANDICAP       no14. PADDY POWER (Self Certificate (stiff))

 

 

The G1 Investec Oaks takes centre stage at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon and bookmakers have reported brisk business ahead of the £525,000 fillies' Classic, which takes place at 4:30pm.

 

The market is headed by the progressive Mehdaayih for John Gosden and Robert Havlin, who backed up a pair of victories at Yarmouth and Chelmsford with a convincing four and a half-length success in the Listed Cheshire Oaks on May 8. The three-year-old Frankel filly is the 11/4 market leader with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival.

 

Newmarket trainer Gosden also runs Anapurna, who is ridden by Frankie Dettori. The daughter of Frankel ran out a ready six-length winner of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial on May 11 and is solid at 6/1 in the betting with Unibet.

 

Aidan O'Brien is chasing an eighth victory in the Investec Oaks and his quartet of runners are spearheaded by the exciting Pink Dogwood (3/1), the mount of Ryan Moore. The daughter of Camelot annexed a 10-furlong Listed contest on her seasonal debut at Navan in April and more is expected when she steps up to 12 furlongs for the first time.

 

Newmarket trainer William Haggas captured the 2011 renewal with Dancing Rain and he is doubly represented in the fillies' Classic. The one for money this morning is the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Maqsad (Jim Crowley). Successful on her seasonal reappearance in a mile maiden at Newmarket, the Siyouni filly entered plenty of notebooks when slamming her rivals by five lengths in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on May 5. She is a 5/1 shot from 6/1 with Unibet.

 

Haggas also saddles Frankellina (James Doyle, 16/1), an eye-catching second in the G3 Musidora Stakes at York in May.

 

Ralph Beckett has won the Investec Oaks on two occasions courtesy of Look Here (2008) and Talent (2013), and Manuela De Vega (Harry Bentley)is set to represent the Andover handler this time around. Unbeaten as a two-year-old, including a Listed contest against colts at Pontefract in October, the Lope De Vega filly shaped well on her comeback when second behind Mehdaayih at Chester and is a 16/1 shot with Unibet.

 

It is 22/1 bar for the remainder of the field. Unibet are paying 1/5 odds on the first three with Best Odds Guaranteed.

 

Investec Oaks - Unibet prices: 11/4 Mehdaayih; 3/1 Pink Dogwood; 5/1 Maqsad; 6/1 Anapurna; 16/1 Frankellina, Manuela De Vega; 22/1 Lavender's Blue; 28/1 Peach Tree, Tarnawa; 33/1 Fleeting; 50/1 Delphinia; 66/1 Tauteke; 100/1 Blue Gardenia, Sh Boom

Each-way 1/5 1,2,3

The G1 Investec Oaks is the feature contest on day one of the Investec Derby Festival, but the £445,000 G1 Investec Coronation Cup (3.10pm) spearheads an excellent undercard at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon.

 

2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, is the 11/4 market leader with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, for the 12-furlong contest. He made a satisfactory return to action when second to Morando (Andrew Balding/Silvestre De Sousa, 12/1) in the G3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester on May 9.

 

Godolphin's Old Persian (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle)was supplemented for the G1 contest at a cost of £25,000 on Saturday and makes his first start in Britain this year. He scored twice at Meydan in March, latterly in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic over today's trip. The four-year-old son of Dubawi is a 7/2 chance from 4/1 with Unibet.

 

Sylvester Kirk's stable star Salouen (Oisin Murphy) was agonisingly beaten in last year's renewal of the Investec Coronation Cup by a head to Cracksman. He made the perfect return to action in Listed company at Ascot in May with a ready seven-length win in the Buckhound Stakes. He has attracted each-way support, constricting in price to 6/1 from 8/1 with Unibet.

 

In today's opening contest, the £60,000 Investec Woodcote EBF Stakes (2.00pm) over six furlongs, Godolphin's Pinatubo (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) is all the rage after making a stylish winning debut on the All-Weather at Wolverhampton earlier this month. The two-year-old son of Shamardal is now the 11/10 favourite from 11/8 with Unibet.

 

Appleby, Doyle and the boys in blue are also responsible for Setting Sail, a notable market mover in the £60,000 Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap (3.45pm). Dropped back to 10 furlongs this afternoon after a fourth-placed effort over a mile and a half at Ascot on May 11, he had previously scored by six lengths at Wolverhampton on the All-Weather on his return to action in April. Setting Sail is a 7/2 shot from 4/1 with Unibet.

Godolphin also hold strong claims later in the card with Space Blues (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) who is the solid 11/8 jolly from 15/8 for the £50,000 Listed Investec Surrey Stakes (5.15pm). An eye-catching winner of a handicap at York's Dante Meeting, the three-year-old son of Dubawi looks a Group horse in the making and is fancied by punters to pass this sterner test on the Downs.

 

2.00pm Investec Woodcote EBF Stakes - Pinatubo 11/10 from 11/8

3.10pm Investec Coronation Cup - Old Persian 7/2 from 4/1 & Salouen 6/1 from 8/1

3.45pm Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap - Setting Sail 7/2 from 4/1

5.15pm Investec Surrey Stakes - Space Blues 11/8 from 15/8

 

The 240th running of the £1.625 million G1 Investec Derby (4.30pm) takes place at Epsom Downs Racecourse tomorrow, day two of the Investec Derby Festival and the betting market for Britain's premier Classic and richest race remains lively.

 

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Sir Dragonet has been the clear market leader for the 12-furlong contest since he captured the Chester Vase on the Roodee by eight lengths on May 8.

 

He was drawn in stall 13 at Thursday's Investec Derby draw held at Epsom Downs, but punters remain sweet on the son of Camelot's chances in the contest. Sir Dragonet, who is the mount of Ryan Moore, is the 11/4 market leader with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival.

 

The master of Ballydoyle is saddling seven runners in this year's renewal as he bids to become the joint winning-most trainer in the race's history with seven victories alongside John Porter, Fred Darling and Robert Robson. Amongst the rest of his septet, Broome holds live claims having captured a pair of G3 events this term at Leopardstown.

 

Winner of the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in April, the three-year-old son of Australia followed up that success with a convincing victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May. He will be ridden O'Brien's son Donnacha and is a solid 5/1 shot from 11/2 with Unibet.

 

Similarly, Circus Maximus, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, is a 12/1 chance with Unibet, having been backed in from 20/1 overnight. The son of Galileo captured the Dee Stakes at Chester on May 9.

 

Away from O'Brien's string, the unexposed Madhmoon (Chris Hayes), a creditable fourth for veteran Irish trainer Patrick Prendergast in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4, has attracted each-way support into 11/1 from 12/1 with Unibet.

 

Investec Derby - Unibet prices: 11/4 Sir Dragonet; 5/1 Broome, Telecaster; 15/2 Anthony Van Dyck; 9/1 Bangkok; 10/1 Japan; 11/1 Madhmoon; 12/1 Circus Maximus; 20/1 Norway; 33/1 Line Of Duty; 66/1 Humanitarian; 80/1 Sovereign; 250/1 Hiroshima Each-way 1/5 1,2,3

Oisin Murphy is relishing the opportunity to partner the Hughie Morrison-trained Telecaster (5/1 with unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival) in tomorrow's £1.625 million G1 Investec Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

 

The son of New Approach did not race as a two-year-old and finished second to fellow Investec Derby contender Bangkok (Andrew Balding/Silvestre De Sousa) on his debut this season in a maiden at Doncaster.

 

Telecaster followed that up with a striking nine-length success at Windsor in April, before annexing the G2 Dante Stakes at York on May 19, defeating subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas second Too Darn Hot.

 

Morrison's charge has been drawn in stall 2 for tomorrow's renewal of Britain's premier Classic and richest race. No horse has ever won the G1 contest that draw since starting stalls were introduced in 1967. However, Murphy is hopeful of a bold show from the colt.

 

Speaking at Epsom today, he said: "Telecaster is in good form and we're looking forward to running him in the Investec Derby. He is bred to stay

 

Discussing the draw, Murphy continued: "I have to deal with the card I've been dealt. I would love to be drawn where Sir Dragonet is (13), but I'm not.

 

"I have Line Of Duty (stall 1) & Hiroshima (stall 3) either side of me ands hopefully they will both be ridden towards the back of the field. I'm happy enough with the draw as long as I can get the horse in a good rhythm.

 

"After that I will know very early on what my fate is going to be. I think he is going to run a big race.

 

Murphy partners Sylvester Kirk's stable star Salouen (6/1 with Unibet) in today's £445,000 G1 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs.

 

The five-year-old son of Canford Cliffs was beaten a head by Cracksman in the 2018 renewal and made an excellent return to action when landing the Listed Buckhound Stakes at Ascot earlier this month.

 

The rider added: "I'm looking forward to riding Salouen, but I would be very surprised if I am able to get an easy lead on him today.

 

"He won well at Ascot. The horse I'm most worried about however is Old Persian who won well in Dubai in the Sheema Classic. He comes into the race the highest-rated horse and he is probably the main protagonist."

 

 

Brett Doyle, who will be aboard the John Ryan-trained Hiroshima in Saturday's Investec Derby, may have only had one previous ride in the world's greatest Classic - Lundy's Lane in 2003 - but he knows what it feels like to ride a Derby winner.

 

He was the work rider for last year's Epsom hero, Masar, trained in Newmarket by Charlie Appleby and owned by Sheikh Mohammed. William Buick was in the saddle for the Investec Derby, and scored by a length and a half at odds of 16/1, but Doyle rode the chestnut son of New Approach every day at home, including during his winter spell in Dubai.

 

Doyle, 46, rode big-race winners in Britain in the 1990s - including the 1995 Group One Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Sayyadati and the Group Two Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot with Amfortas, both for Clive Brittain. But he then spent many years riding abroad, principally in Hong Kong and Bahrain. He returned to Newmarket to work for Charlie Appleby in 2016.

 

Doyle has ridden two winners from 28 rides in Britain so far this season. One was for Appleby, and the other was his Investec Derby ride Hiroshima in the Nathaniel colt's maiden victory at Southwell on May 1.

 

Hiroshima is named for the Japanese city where his owner, Graham Smith-Bernal, has enjoyed much success in the koi carp showing world. The colt is available at odds of 250/1 with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival.

 

Aidan O'Brien is the most successful current trainer in the Investec Oaks, having produced seven winners of the £525,000 fillies' Classic to date. He has four runners in today's race - Delphinia, Fleeting, Peach Tree and Pink Dogwood. However, he has some way to go to reach Robert Robson's record of 13 Oaks winners, which he achieved between 1802 and 1825.

 

Among the nine trainers with runners in the 2019 Investec Oaks, five have won the race before. As well as O'Brien, John Gosden, handler of Anapurna and Mehdaayih, took it in 2014 with Taghrooda and in 2017 with Enable. William Haggas, trainer of Frankellina and Maqsad, won the Oaks in 2011 with his first runner, Dancing Rain. Manuela De Vega's trainer Ralph Beckett already has two victories in the Classic to his name with Look Here in 2008 and Talent in 2013. Dermot Weld, represented today by Tarnawa, scored in 1981 with his first Oaks challenger, Blue Wind.

 

The most successful jockey with a ride in this year's Investec Oaks is Frankie Dettori, who has four wins under his belt (Balanchine, 1994, Moonshell, 1995, Kazzia, 2002, Enable, 2017). Today he rides Anapurna, trained by John Gosden - trainer of Enable.

 

The only jockey having their first Investec Oaks ride today is Chris Hayes, who will be in the saddle on Tarnawa, trained by Dermot Weld and owned by the Aga Khan. Despite the Aga Khan's great success in other Classics, including the Investec Derby, he has never won the Investec Oaks. His father, Prince Aly Khan, scored with Petite Etoile in 1959.

 

The favourite or joint-favourite has won the Investec Oaks seven times since 2000, when Love Divine took the race for trainer Henry Cecil and jockey Richard Quinn at 9/4. The most recent favourite to pass the post first was Minding, who won at odds of 10/11 for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

 

The only filly in today's Investec Oaks whose dam also ran in the race is Lavender's Blue. Her dam, Beatrice Aurore, finished sixth behind Dancing Rain in 2011, trained by Ed Dunlop. Lavender's Blue, home-bred by owner Benny Andersson of ABBA fame, is trained by Amanda Perrett.

 

Frankel is the most represented sire in the 2019 Investec Oaks, with three runners - Anapurna, Frankellina and Mehdaayih - and is looking for a first win in the race. Frankel's sire Galileo, whose daughters Delphinia and Peach Tree represent him this year, has three victories in the mile and a half fillies' Classic to his name, courtesy of Was (2012), Minding (2016) and Forever Together (2018).