Oaks and Epsom tips and best bets as Aidan O'Brien filly napped for Classic glory
Garry Owen's top tips for day one of Derby meeting at Epsom
Giselle (4:00) can put her best foot forward for Aidan O’Brien in Friday’s Investec Oaks at Epsom.
The daughter of Frankel is tailor-made to give the Ballydoyle ace his 11th winner of this Classic. She showed huge potential when a gallant second to Bedtime Story on debut at Leopardstown.
The filly quickly boosted her reputation when comfortably opening her account at the Curragh. She ended 2024 with a staying-on third behind Whirl in a one-mile Group 3 contest back there.
Despite that form, the imposing bay looked likely to really excel over middle distances this year. She confirmed that impression with a blistering defeat of Harpsichord in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.
The three-year-old looks destined for the very top so she can follow-up in the big race itself.
O’Brien can enjoy yet more Group 1 glory with Jan Brueghel (2:40) in the Coronation Cup. The four-year-old absolutely bolted-up from Ozark Daze on his belated debut at the Curragh.
He continued to make up for lost time by chinning Trustyourinstinct in a Group 3 back there. The colt showed his St Leger credentials by edging Bellum Justum in the Gordon at Goodwood. He showed class and guts once again to outbattle Illinois in the Last Classic itself at Doncaster.
Given time to recover, he returned with a cracking second to Galen over 1m 2f at the Curragh. The star will be primed so he can land add this historic prize to his CV over a more suitable trip.
Diego Ventura (1:30) holds all the aces for Hamad Al Jehani in the competitive Surrey Stakes. The colt oozed class when hacking-up from Majestic Wave for Gavin Cromwell on debut at Naas.
Bought by Team Wathan, he edged-out Spirit Of Farhh on debut for his new connections at Ascot. The bay continued to justify his price tag when second to The Waco Kid in a Newmarket Group 3.
He ran another stormer when filling the same spot behind La Bellota dropped in trip at York. The son of Mehmas was an eye-catching third to Cosmic Year in the Charles II returned to HQ.
He put that run to good use with a convincing defeat of Epson Blue Cen in a Longchamp Group 3. There is plenty more to come from this pacey type who can get the better of some exciting rivals.
Havana Hurricane (2:05) can blow his rivals away in the British EBF Woodcote Stakes. Eve Johnson Houghton’s colt was a well-fancied 11-2 chance before his debut at Goodwood.
He handled the undulating track extremely well when hosing-up from the exciting Logi Bear. The two-year-old surged clear that day so he can stay unbeaten up in trip at this similar track.
Defiance (3:15) won’t back down for Roger Varian in the tricky Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap. The four-year-old looked promising when outbattling Caviar Heights on debut at Sandown.
He then didn’t run too badly when sixth to Ghostwriter in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket. The bay handled this track well when edged-out by Bellum Justum in the Blue Riband Trial.
He couldn’t cope with the step-up in trip and class when unplaced in the Lingfield version. The four-year-old had his limitations exposed again when flopping in the Edward VII at Ascot. The son of Camelot retains plenty of ability so he can bounce back in these calmer waters.
Two Tempting (4:35) can get the job done once again in the TrustATrader Handicap.
Jonathan Portman’s horse recorded a career best when just denying Beshtani last year.
He was almost as good when fending-off Classic in another red-hot contest at Sandown. However, the five-year-old then struggled off inflated marks on his next couple of starts.
He took advantage of some mercy from the assessor when edging Divine Libra at Chester. The gelding quickly lost his way again after a lacklustre effort behind Volterra at Ascot.
He bounced back when cosily dismissing Partisan Hero returned to the Roodee last time. This big prize has been the aim ever since so he can strike again for his shrewd handler.
Miss Information (5:10) looks reliable for Andrew Balding in the Debenhams Handicap. The filly returned to her useful juvenile form when routing Phoenix Of Dreams at Chester.
She then showed a real liking for this track when hammering Guiteau in decent company. The four-year-old then held her form reasonably well for the rest of the campaign. She needed the run when a fine fifth behind Ten Pounds on her comeback at Newmarket.
The bay looked much fitter when outbattling Physique in a similar contest returned to HQ. The daughter of Blue Point remains fairly-treated so she can follow-up under Oisin Murphy.
EPSOM TIPS
1:30 DIEGO VENTURA
2:05 HAVANA HURRICANE
2:40 JAN BRUEGHEL
3:15 DEFIANCE
4:00 GISELLE (NAP)
4:35 TWO TEMPTING
5:10 MISS INFORMATION
GARRY’S DOUBLE: GISELLE (NAP) AND JAN BRUEGHEL