STAR RACING PREVIEW: 2026 Oaks and Derby

The build-up to this year’s Oaks and Derby has been dominated by two things – weather and attendance, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

Organisers hope that a raft of measures aimed to boost attendance will see crowds of yesteryear return, whilst connections, punters and fans alike will have been constantly watching the weather around the downs, with downpours earlier this week softening the surface. At the time of writing it’s dry on the downs, with the Oaks and Derby course called good to soft, good in places at the time of writing and likely to tighten up all the time unless there is a change in conditions.

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🏆 4.00 Epsom – Betfred Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo) 1m4f (1m4f6y)

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Fiercely contested as one would expect, with the vote headed to Legacy Link after the way she knuckled down to win the Musidora at York, when she travelled into the race best of all before having to fight hard when repelling Felicitas, who had pushed ahead of her in the run to the line (K Sarra was an encouraging third there, and isn’t to be underestimated in this rematch for all that she’d had a run). Having drifted in the leadup to the race it’s fair to say that improvement was expected for the run, but the class and grit she showed in equal measure gives huge encouragement for a step upto 1m4f which she’s bred to appreciate (out of a 1m4f winning sister to Frankel). She looked to handle the course well in her warm-up gallop here, and with the ground unlikely to be as testing as feared earlier this week there’s little to worry about on that score. Some might point to Colin Keane’s lack of experience around Epsom as a negative – he’s 0-6 here – but he was third in the 2023 Derby on White Birch and that record is as much a matter of opportunity as anything else, with Keane now much more comfortable in his role as Juddmonte’s number 1 jockey.

Amelia Earhart was a commanding winner of the Cheshire Oaks who must be respected for the all-conquering Ballydoyle team, although A La Prochaine was an eye-catching third in that contest on only her second run for Ralph Beckett and it would be no surprise if she took another big step forward here. A strong gallop – which she should get – will bring her into things even more, as she took time to quicken at Chester, and she’s the most interesting of the three from the Beckett yard, with On Message expected to enjoy the step up in trip for all that for her form doesn’t match upto some others.

Ballydoyle have won seven of the last 11 runnings, so Amelia Earheart, Cameo and Sugar Island have to be taken seriously here. Cameo arguably took the biggest jump of any of their contenders when winning the Lingfield Trial comprehensively, although it looked a weak renewal beforehand and she was well behind Sugar Island on her final run of last year.

Venetian Lace has the best pieces of form in this field – her second in the Fillies Mile to Precise (had major experience advantage over Legacy Link on that occasion) and then a fine front-running third in the 1,000 Guineas. If this step up in trip suits – and she is by Derby winner Masar – then she’ll take some passing even if others are less exposed than she is. It’s no surprise that Thundering On, an impressive winner of the Salsabil Stakes out of a Pretty Polly winner for the same connections, has been very well backed and she should not be far away at all. However, Legacy Link gets the vote in what could be a compelling renewal.

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1:30 Epsom – Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3) (Formerly The John Of Gaunt Stakes) (Class 1) (4yo+) 7f (7f3y)

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This is a bang upto scratch renewal and dropping back in trip could be just the trick for Never So Brave, who took the upgraded City of York Stakes last summer and didn’t appear quite as happy upped to a mile in the QEII on Champions Day, nor in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown when he pulled too hard on his reappearance. This course should really suit and he’s arguably taking a drop in class despite this being a decent renewal, so he can kickstart Oisin Murphy’s Derby day in style.

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🏆 2:40 Epsom – Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1m4f (1m4f6y)

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This is a fascinating contest, with last year’s 1-2 Jan Brueghel and Calandagan rematching here after an epic tussle.

Since that encounter, Calandagan has since won five Group 1’s on the spin, including the King George, Champion Stakes, and Japan Cup, and he now arrives here as one of the world’s best racehorses. If the ground is deemed suitable, and Mikel Barzalona can keep a closer eye on Ryan Moore than he did last year, he can reverse the form although Convergent and last year’s Derby winner Lambourn are fascinating contenders in what is arguably the race of the meeting. With the ground as it is now, Calandagan is a fair price at even money but a keen eye should be kept on conditions.

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🏆 4:00 Epsom – Betfred Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings) (Class 1) (3yo) 1m4f (1m4f6y)

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This year’s Derby is sure to be a strongly run race, and plenty will look to Ballydoyle and, namely, strong favourite Benvenuto Cellini, an impressive winner of the Chester Vase on his return after getting stuck in the mud behind Hawk Mountain (second in Prix du Jockey Club) and Action in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. His claims are obvious, although connections will be praying for a dry Derby day (at the moment, rain is likely) for him to show his very best. His claims are obvious, but the Vase was weakened by non-runners, especially Water To Wine, and he’s arguably shorter than the right price.

That question arguably applies to Item as well, but the manner of his Dante win at York, mastering the race fit Action and powering away late on from both him and Leopardstown trial winner Christmas Day, suggests he’s a colt with top drawer potential and after just three starts, one of them a seasonal reappearance, he should have more to come. He would want to settle better today, although he was tractable enough as a juvenile and the manner of his York win suggests that extra distance wouldn’t be an issue either. Colin Keane doesn’t have a lot of Epsom experience but his ride on Legacy Link in the Oaks beforehand will hopefully have helped and he finished third in the Derby with White Birch.

Pierre Bonnard was the winter favourite for this after taking a smooth win in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and his trainer has kept the faith after two defeats this season, the first a no-show behind Christmas Day and then the second a close defeat to James J Braddock at Leopardstown last time. There’s no telling that this distance will suit him down to the ground and rain wouldn’t be an issue, but he was arguably best placed in the Derby Trial and was making heavy weather of getting past endorsement. The percentage call is to oppose him – James J Braddock would make more appeal of the pair.

Maltese Cross hasn’t put a foot wrong so far and showed a fine attitude to beat Bay of Brilliance in the Lingfield Derby Trial with Balzac well behind in third. Both are respected but the form of that contest looks weak with Isaac Newton and Maho Bay flopping and others are preffered.

Ancient Egypt isn’t far away from the aforementioned pair on a line through My Love Is King (second at Newmarket to him in a Listed contest, and beaten further than he was when just beaten by Maltese Cross). He’s an each/way player with the course not a problem based on his Goodwood and Newmarket wins. Rebel Rocker was second in the course and distance trial but that was a weak contest and other days await him. Alderman and Poker aren’t good enough and A Taste Of Glory has disappointed twice in group company, which makes him also look overmatched.

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RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Legacy Link in the Oaks (4.00 Epsom, Friday) 2pts win at 3/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Never So Brave in the 1.30 Epsom (Saturday) 3pts win at SP with starsports.bet
BACK Calandagan in the Coronation Cup (2.40 Epsom, Saturday) 3pts win at 10/11 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Item in the Derby (4.00 Epsom, Saturday) 2pts win at 4/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Legacy Link in the Oaks (4.00 Epsom, Friday) & Item in the Derby (4.00 Epsom, Saturday) 1.5 pts each/way Double at 19/1 with with starsports.bet

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PROFIT/LOSS (JUN 2026): 0.00 points

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