Lucky 15 Tips: Daughter of Camelot can soar to Betfred Oaks glory

ITV cameras are present to bring us the first SIX races on Epsom's stellar Friday card; the highlight of which is the Betfred Oaks, a G1 over the Classic trip of a mile-and-a-half, for three-year-old fillies. The first race of Oaks/Derby weekend is at 13:30, and there are eight contests in all to savour.

Absolute certainty then that our Lucky 15 tips for Friday will come from the Downs, as we see who will follow in the famous hoofprints of the likes of Petite Etoile, Dunfermline, Oh So Sharp, User Friendly, Ouija Board, Show Fairy and Enable.

Horse Racing odds

The Oaks was first contested in 1779; a year before the Derby. Betfred are delighted to be involved this afternoon, as another page is added to racing's rich history. The Betfred Oaks takes place at 16:00. Enjoy.

14:40 - Seagulls Eleven @ 4/1

The G3 Betfred Diomed Stakes, over 8.5f.

Eight are scheduled to face the starter, and it looks competitive. Hugo Palmer's string have been in fine fettle of late and he saddles SEAGULLS ELEVEN, a four-year-old Galileo Gold gelding, and has booked champion jockey Oisin Murphy to do the steering.

The selection is in career-best order, and his two runs since reappearing for the season have been outstanding. Last month he ran twice, both at a mile, in France. Went down by a neck in a St Cloud G2, then comfortably landed a Listed heat at Longchamp.

He comes here then with his tail up and as one of the highest-rated participants too. He's won at Goodwood, a quirky venue, and if he can thrive there then hopefully he can handle Epsom's idiosyncrasies too.

Terrific contest.

15:15 - Tycoon @ 10/1

It's the Betfred Nifty 50 handicap, a Class 2 heat over 10f, for older horses.

A big field will hurtle around Tattenham Corner, and a low draw could be very handy. Our selection however comes from the 12 box, and is another in the form of his life right now. I'm referring to the four-year-old Kingman gelding TYCOON.

Kevin Philippart De Foy trains this Amo Racing-owned, former Team Gosden inmate (left John & Thady's Clarehaven yard in September). When last seen 34 days ago in a similar contest at HQ he failed by just 0.75l in a field of 12 and 'won' his particular battle over on the far side.

That was a career-best and if Amo's retained jockey David Egan can work out a decent trip from just worse than mid-division in terms of that draw he must have a very bright chance.

If you're perhaps contemplating a standalone each-way tickle we're paying FIVE places, 1/5 odds.

16:00 - Amelia Earhart @ 9/4

Now for the big one - the Betfred Oaks, G1, 1m 4f.

Looking above at some of the names on the roll of honour gives me goosebumps, and this renewal looks very decent indeed. We've got Group and Listed scorers from the Musidora, Lingfield's Oaks trial, the Salsabil in Ireland, the Cheshire Oaks, and the 1000 Guineas third; some very talented and promising fillies indeed.

My particular favourite advertised her credentials on seasonal reappearance 30 days ago, securing the Cheshire Oaks in taking fashion at Chester for Aidan O'Brien, under Ryan Moore.

AMELIA EARHART was highly tried at two in four starts including a G2 before signing off for 2025 with an emphatic 7l maiden success at Leopardstown. Those initial runs were all over 7f, then a mile for the runaway win, and on stepping up to close to this classic journey last time in Cheshire she appreciated it enormously and took her form to a whole new level.

By Derby winner Camelot out of a Duke Of Marmalade mare she's bred for exactly this sort of test and I can see her improving considerably again today for having had that outing, which was very smooth, measured, and quietly impressive.

Minnie Hauk followed this route successfully for Aidan last term and Amelia Earhart bids to do exactly the same this afternoon. I think potentially she's very smart, and hope to see her prove it on the Downs this afternoon.

16:40 - Asmen Warrior @ 8/1

A Class 2 handicap over 8.5f, for older horses.

The selection is ASMEN WARRIOR, a four-year-old Saxon Warrior gelding trained at HQ by James Owen. Fabulous Brazilian jock Silvestre De Sousa takes the mount, and indeed was on board for the first time 11 days ago at Windsor.

Asmen Warrior produced a career-best on that occasion in failing by just a head over a mile in a class below, and ran respectably here the time before that, possibly not quite getting home over 1.5f further. He's on the same mark as Windsor, 88, and Silvestre is brilliant around here.

Cherry-ripe now, nicely drawn in the five box, and with SDS maintaining the partnership, there's an awful lot to like. James has consistently been among the winners this campaign and this is another where we're paying FIVE places, 1/5 odds if an each way play is in your thoughts.

Given that we're on a couple at good-looking prices, and of course the competitive nature of the card, I'm suggesting an each way Lucky 15 today for a change, to increase our chances of a return if we're consistently on the premises, as it were.

Have a brilliant afternoon's fun whatever you're up to - it's Betfred Derby weekend!

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 25p each way Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £789 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon our selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

NAPS table with Betfred Insights.