Epsom Oaks Runners 2026: A guide to the nine-strong field

The Betfred Derby Festival gets underway at Epsom on Friday and the highlight is, of course, the Betfred Oaks (16:00). It's one of the five British Classics, first staged in 1779 - a year before the initial Derby, I've just learned. Every day's a school day...

I've had a good look at the Epsom Oaks Runners 2026, including their odds at time of publishing and a brief assessment of their chances.

Amelia Earhart (Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore) @ 9/4

The leading lady for Aidan O'Brien, who's won eight of the last 14 renewals of the Betfred Oaks. The daughter of Camelot didn't rip up any trees over shorter trips at two, but she ran out a comfortable winner of the Cheshire Oaks on reappearance last month. Ought to be a lot more to come over these distances, and she shouldn't be inconvenienced by the recent rain. Good draw in stall 4, too. Big player.

Legacy Link (John & Thady Gosden/Colin Keane) @ 7/2

Showed class and guts in equal measure to win the Musidora at York's Dante Festival on seasonal reappearance last month and the Dubawi filly is open to a significant amount of improvement, especially over further, for a yard that excels with such types. Stall 1 not a disaster, but not ideal either. Every chance if acting in conditions.

Thundering On (Joseph O'Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle) @ 5/1

Interesting contender for O'Brien Jr. Another daughter of the great Frankel, she opened her account in style at Navan a couple of months ago, winning a Group 3 by over three lengths. That was the fourth start of her career, but her first over 1m2+, so she remains a bit of an unknown quantity. One to take seriously from stall 5.

A La Prochaine (Ralph Beckett/James Doyle) @ 15/2

One of three for Ralph Beckett, a two-time Oaks winner. The Wathnan Racing-owned Lope De Vega filly, who cost 550k guineas, looked a top prospect on debut in bad ground at Newbury back in October, before a highly-encouraging run behind Betfred Oaks favourite Amelia Earhart at Chester. There's surely a lot more to come from her. Very much on the radar.

Cameo (Aidan O'Brien/Wayne Lordan) @ 8/1

O'Brien's second-string. Like stablemate Amelia Earhart, she looks a completely different horse at three. The Wootton Bassett filly improved about a stone for her reappearance in a Group 3 at the Curragh in April by winning the Oaks Trial at Lingfield by nearly five lengths. That was her first start over a trip similar to the Betfred Oaks and she's a danger to all if taking another step forward. I see no reason why she can't. Outside stall not ideal, but it shouldn't matter in this relatively small field.

Venetian Lace (Charlie Johnston/William Buick) @ 12/1

Her only success in seven starts came on debut at Chelmsford, but she's held her own, consistently, at a high level since - including when third in the Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May. If she can build on that, improving for the extra four furlongs, then she's got a fine chance under William Buick, which is a great booking. Ground a concern, her position in stall 8 isn't. Couldn't put you off.

K Sarra (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan) @ 16/1

...Sarra, we're going to Eppppsom! Sorry about that. Anyway, this daughter of New Bay, who was third behind the aforementioned Legacy Link in the Musidora at 20/1, is another for Mr. Beckett. She's got something to find, but she's unexposed, especially over this trip, so that's not impossible. Others appeal more, though.

Sugar Island (Aidan O'Brien/Ronan Whelan) @ 16/1

The outsider of O'Brien's trio. I suspect she'll be used to make the running, as she did for stablemate Amelia Earhart at Chester, but it's not an impossibility that she could stay there. She made all in the mud at the Curragh last October, beating the reopposing Thundering On and Cameo by nearly three lengths, so there's form in the book. Good each-way angle.

On Message (Ralph Beckett/Hector Crouch) @ 25/1

Beckett's third-string and the rank outsider of the Betfred Oaks field. An improved three-year-old who's coming into her own over intermediate trips, but she needs to take a huge leap forward to take this. Could sneak a place, but hard to see her coming out on top.

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