How to watch The Derby and The Oaks
The two Epsom Classics for colts and fillies are on this Friday and Saturday. The Oaks for fillies is on Friday and The Derby for colts on Saturday. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has the favorites for both in Ylang Ylang and City of Troy. The fields for both are rather substandard this year.
The Oaks
When: Friday May 31st, 16:30
Where: Epsom Downs
How:
UK – ITV 1
Ireland – Virgin Media One
Australia – Sky Racing Australia
Ylang Ylang is The Oaks favourite despite finishing fifth in her last race, the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Nothing really stands out, but go for another Irish runner, the Aga Khan’s Ezeliya trained by Dermot Weld.
Earlier in the afternoon, my selection is the outsider of five Time Lock trained by Harry Charlton and ridden by William Buick in the Group 1 Coronation Cup for older horses.
The Derby
When: day May 31st, 15:45
Where: Epsom Downs
How:
UK – ITV 1
Ireland – Virgin Media One
Australia – Sky Racing Australia
City of Troy was the red hot favourite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and flopped. Will he follow Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin who last year failed in the Newmarket Classic and came back to win the Derby? No I don’t think so this time as there is a question mark about his sire Justify’s progeny training on at three. Charlie Appleby’s horses are back in form this year after a dismal year in 2023, so Ancient Wisdom will give the trainer his second Derby winner and William Buick a second Epsom Group 1 at the The Derby meeting.
