Gm, Equinauts

Today is all about the girls! It's Friday, it's Ladies' Day, it's Oaks Day — let's go!

We had it right off last year with MINNIE HAUK… We gambled her ante-post at 8/1 when we knew Ryan would be onboard long before it was public knowledge.

We’re certainly not as strong on anything in the race today, that’s for sure, and with Epsom looking a little tricky, we’re going to stick with the Placepot.

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Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

THE GOING

So, the going has been declared as good to soft but we know from trainers who’ve walked the track that it’s definitely SOFTER than advertised.

So, we think don’t listen to this:

With a good bit of cut in the ground, the fast ground horses with their daisy cutting actions might struggle and we might finally start seeing some sloppers come to the fore!

🔒JUST THREE YEARS FOR A LIFE

Disgraced former Levi Williams has been sentenced to three years in PRISON after admitting manslaughter following the death of 71-year-old Richard Wingrove in Newmarket last year.

The incident occurred after some sort of altercation outside a Newmarket pub escalated into a full blown fight, during which Wingrove was knocked to the ground and suffered a fatal head injury. He died in hospital ten days later. So sad.

Williams, 26, was initially charged with murder before pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter earlier this year. The court heard that the former rider had no history of violent offending, although he attempted to leave the scene following the incident.

The judge confirmed that time already spent in custody would count towards his sentence so he’s basically got two years left.

A graduate of the British Racing School, Williams rode 12 winners in Britain before his career was disrupted by disciplinary issues, including lengthy suspensions for failed drug tests. He had recently regained his licence and was preparing to return to race riding when the incident occurred.

Obviously Levi didn’t mean to kill anyone, but what sort of moron do you have to be to punch a pensioner with a f*cking walking stick!?

BIG RACE PREVIEWS

14.40 1M 1/2F GROUP 3 DIOMED STAKES

PERSICA reps the bang in form Hannon yard. This horse loves Epsom, he’s two from two here and loves getting his toe in, so conditions are perfect! He’s a serial Group 3 winner so every thing today looks primed for a HUGE run. Epsom win (stuffing ICE MAX at the same time):

SEAGULLS ELEVEN has been doing his racing over in France recently so we aren’t going to pretend to know how good his recent form is. He picked up a weak Group 3 last year at Goodwood when the ground was soft. Any cut in the ground will be perfect for him today but we’re not sure he’s up to this standard.

ICE MAX and BOILING POINT are next in the line up - we can never get the horses of these connections right! BOILING POINT looks a top level handicapper and not a Group horse, as does ICE MAX. Taking them on - they’ll probably finish first and second now we’ve said that.

Of the rest, QIRAT… last years 150/1 Sussex Stakes winner lol. Probably needs rattling quick ground and an easy lead which he might not get today.

Of the rest, CHANCELLOR isn’t good enough, SKUKUZA is probably too big given we think he can go close with Ryan Moore in the plate but place chances only and ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT will be out for a jog.

Verdict: We’re all over PERSICA in this and will bet him!

16.00 1M 4F GROUP 1 OAKS

Aidan O’Brien has won this famous race 6x in the last decade and seems to hold the ace card today in Cheshire Oaks winner AMELIA EARHART. The more we read about her, the more we can’t work her out… she sounds a bit quirky. We love the way she ran through the line at Chester but we’re not sure how good the form line will be in time - the Gosden filly in second kept tripping!

If you like LEGACY LINK in this then you should love K SARRA - she was closing in on LEGACY LINK in the Musidora and we think the further the better for Becketts girl. The Musidora:

THUNDERING ON looked good at Navan last time out but isn’t guaranteed to enjoy the extra two furlongs here - she looks quick! If she does get the distance her turn of foot might prove really dangerous.

Is CAMEO the faves pacemaker? Probably! But then again, as we know, any of the Ballydoyle horses could win and there is an argument she looks better than the fav. She won her Oaks Trial at Lingfield and is unexposed at the trip. Player, obviously.

VENETIAN LACE is by Derby winner MASAR but that doesn’t guarantee she’ll get this step up in trip. We know it’s playing on Charlie Johnston’s mind! Her mum got 1m 2f though. We love her back form. If she stays she could win this.

Beckett and Wathnan’s A LA PROCHAINE reps the Musidora form line. Like the winner AMELIA EARHEART she was making her seasonal debut so she could have come on leaps and bounds for that.

Beckett’s third dart in the race is ON MESSAGE but she needs to up her game.

SUGAR ISLAND shouldn’t be winning and will probably try give the fave a target to aim at.

Verdict: We quite like K SARRA in this, she has stamina laden pedigree and won’t mind juice in the ground. If VENETIAN LACE stays she can win. Two darts against the Ballydoyle hot shot but not a betting race for me.

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