2 days ago
Horse racing tips: Friday, June 6
On the eve of the Derby, there's not a bad warm-up act at Epsom this afternoon. It's Oaks day, also featuring the Coronation Cup, and the first six of the seven races on this top-quality card are being shown live on ITV1.
Our in-house expert horse racing tipster is showing a big profit from his picks and has selections in each of the races at Epsom, including a NAP in the Coronation Cup.
Ron Wood's selections:
Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5).
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1.30 Epsom – Surrey Stakes (Listed, 7f)
In an open Listed race to kick off the Epsom action, there may be more still to come from DIEGO VENTURA, who won at this level in France on his latest start.
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2.05 Epsom – Woodcote Stakes (Conditions, 6f)
MAXIMIZED cost £720,000 after breezing in April and made a successful debut in a novice contest at Haydock last month.
There's not a lot of form to go on in this two-year-old race, but the selection must have a fair chunk of ability and there seems a reasonable chance that he will prove best.
2.40 Epsom – Coronation Cup (Group 1, 1m 4f)
Ancient Wisdom – Eighth in last year's Derby. Has conditions to suit but needs a clear career best.
Bellum Justum – Seventh in last year's Derby. More needed than when winning a Group 2 contest at Newmarket on his latest start.
Calandagan – Ran away with last year's Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes over this trip at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in Group 1s on all three starts since, most recently in Dubai when the race didn't unfold to suit and he may not have been at peak fitness. The form horse.
Continuous – Hasn't gone on from his 2023 St Leger success but has conditions to suit.
Giavellotto – Won the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase over this distance in December. Given too much to do off a slow pace in Dubai most recently (behind Calandagan).
Jan Brueghel – Won last year's St Leger at Doncaster and should build on his reappearance, when he was second over 1m 2f in a Group 3 race at the Curragh.
You Got To Me – Fourth in the Oaks on this card last year and later won the Irish Oaks. Finished last behind Jan Brueghel in the St Leger on her final start in 2024. Sold for 4,800,000gns in December but remains with her original trainer.
VERDICT – This is a good opportunity for CALANDAGAN (NAP) to gain a first Group 1 success. On his last three starts the races haven't unfolded to suit him, resulting in three runner-up finishes at this grade, yet has still been running to a high level. Giavellotto and Jan Brueghel are the next best.
Selection: Calandagan @ 4/5 with William Hill
3.15 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (1m 2f)
The drop back into handicap company and the slow ground may help BOTANICAL take this. He wears cheekpieces for the first time as well.
Last year, the five-year-old was runner-up in the John Smith's Cup, a big handicap at York, as well as a Listed race at Goodwood, form that gives him a leading claim.
Selection: Botanical @ 7/2 with William Hill
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4.00 Epsom – The Oaks (Group 1, 1m 4f)
Desert Flower – Unbeaten in five starts including two Group 1s over a mile at Newmarket, most recently the 1,000 Guineas – the season's first fillies' Classic – on her reappearance. Not a sure stayer.
Elwateen – Has had just two starts, winning a 7f all-weather novice last year and finishing fourth behind Desert Flower in the 1,000 Guineas on her reappearance. Out of a 1m 2f Group 1 winner but this trip is an unknown.
Giselle – Good two-year-old form, including a third place behind her stablemate Whirl over a mile at the Curragh. Defeated two ordinary rivals in taking the 1m 3½f Lingfield Oaks Trial on her seasonal reappearance, despite taking a keen hold and carrying her head a little awkwardly. A big, talented filly, she is still raw and Ryan Moore prefers Minnie Hauk, but this one could be best.
Go Go Boots – Has more to do than when third behind Whirl over 1m 2f in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York.
Minnie Hauk – The choice of Ryan Moore over two other runners for Aidan O'Brien, who has won this race 10 times. Moore has won this four times but was on the 'wrong' one in 2018 and 2021. Cost €1,850,000 as a yearling. Won the 1m 3½f Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance. That's relatively weak form, but she had been off for 200 days and is expected to improve.
Qilin Queen – Has more to do than when narrowly winning a Listed race over 1m 2f at Newbury most recently, with Revoir a short head behind in second.
Revoir – A relation of her trainer's 2008 Oaks winner Look Here. Still green when second by a short head to the race-fit Qilin Queen in a Listed race over 1m 2f at Newbury on her reappearance. Should progress past that rival and may contend for top honours.
Wemightakedlongway – Improved to win a Group 3 race over 1m 2f on soft ground at Navan on her latest start, but she's not a sure stayer, even being by 2014 Derby winner Australia.
Whirl – Had Giselle behind her when winning a Group 3 race over a mile at the Curragh last year and most recently trounced her rivals in the 1m 2f Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York. Not a sure stayer on pedigree and has been passed over by Ryan Moore, but she still needs taking seriously.
VERDICT – The second fillies' Classic of the season. Desert Flower won the first one but steps up half a mile in trip and is not a sure stayer. Preference is for GISELLE, even if Ryan Moore prefers Minnie Hauk (both of them are daughters of the great Frankel). It's questionable whether the selection is professional enough for this, being a big, headstrong filly. But she has an engine and her dam was a really good type who favoured ease underfoot – and there's plenty of ease in the ground today. The second pick is another one Moore has passed over, Whirl.
4.35 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (1m 1/2f)
FLIGHT PLAN had dropped to a handy mark before cashing in with a success in a Thirsk handicap on his latest start and, even following a rise in the weights, he's still nicely treated.
He was a Group 2 winner in 2023 and looks to be on the way back.
5.10 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (7f)
RHOSCOLYN (NB) won this last year, having finished sixth at Chester the weekend before. He comes in off the same prep and off the same handicap as 12 months ago, so his claims look fair.
Selection: Rhoscolyn @ 3/1 with William Hill
Today's racing
(Flat unless stated)
Thirsk 1.15-5.30
Epsom 1.30-5.10
Bangor (NH) 1.40-4.40
Fairyhouse 4.15-8.10
Clonmel (NH) 5.00-8.30
Bath 5.15-8.40
Goodwood 5.25-8.19
Doncaster 5.34-9.00
Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
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