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It's time for 2021 Epsom Oaks betting tips for the second fillies only British Classic of the year. The feature contest over a mile-and-a-half on Epsom Downs during day one of The Derby Festival this Friday (16:30) should not disappoint. Read on and see who makes our expert shortlist for The Oaks below!
There was lots to like about the way Snowfall made all and landed the Musidora Stakes at York when last in action. She is one of five in The Oaks trained by Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race eight times before and four of the last six renewals. Snowfall is not the stable's first string, however, but there are clear signs of progress from her juvenile form.
Connections have always thought a lot of this daughter of Japanese super sire Deep Impact. As Snowfall is also out of a Galileo mare, stamina for the thorough test Epsom Downs provides looks assured. She only once in seven outings at two but was in all the top races. They simply were not over far enough.
The way in which Snowfall ran on so well at York in one of the official trials last time out suggests she won't be easy to peg back if given her own way out in front. Those punters reading this who bet on last year's Derby may remember Serpentine being left alone at the head of affairs and making all.
A Ballydoyle inmate has done it before in one of these major Classics and may do so again. Snowfall now has Frankie Dettori in the saddle, and he teamed up with this stable to land the 1000 Guineas aboard Mother Earth last month. He has ridden The Oaks winner in two of the last four years. That makes Snowfall the value bet at 5/1 with BetVictor for Classic glory here.
The choice of O'Brien stable jockey Ryan Moore from the quintet, meanwhile, is Santa Barbara. She is another highly regarded Coolmore owned and bred filly that our 2021 Epsom Oaks betting tips say cannot be ignored. What Santa Barbara lacks in experience may be more than made up for with potential.
It is just potential, though. Santa Barbara has only had two career starts, winning a maiden in Ireland and then finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance. She was as green as grass approaching the final furlong at Newmarket, but as a daughter of Camelot should do better over further.
You can see why connections persevere with Santa Barbara. She is the 5/2 favourite with Betfair on what she could be and the possible improvement there is in her from what little we have seen on the track. Given the huge scope for further progress, it would be foolish to dismiss the claims of Santa Barbara.
The leading British contender, Zeyaadah, needs marking up on her effort last time out. She brought an unbeaten tag in three previous starts into the Cheshire Oaks, but found herself denied a clear run at a key stage of the race. The Roger Varian trained Shadwell filly is 11/2 with Betfred for compensation here.
There is no obvious reason why those in-behind Snowfall from York should turn the tables. Instead, the each-way play with bookmakers paying four places, could well be Cheshire Oaks winner Dubai Fountain. Trained by Mark Johnston, this daughter of Teofilo was always keeping on in her juvenile races.
Like Snowfall, she may simply have wanted further. Now that Dubai Fountain gets that, it's no surprise that she has made improvement. Her fourth in the Fillies' Mile on her final start at two reads well. While Doncaster May Hill conqueror Indigo Girl confirmed previous form, Dubai Fountain was only a neck behind Mother Earth.
That one has gone on to land a Classic with that 1000 Guineas triumoh at Newmarket. Zeyaadah may be the one to take out of the Cheshire Oaks, but Dubai Fountain came home in front and was a cosy length winner. There could be even more to come from her as well as the re-opposing runner-up.
As the front two pulled almost five lengths and upwards clear of the remainder, the form has a good luck to it. On that basis, it doesn't make sense that Dubau Fountain is twice the price of Zeyaadah. General odds of 12/1, including at William Hill, look a good each-way bet and round off our Epsom Oaks betting tips for this year.
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