MC likes the look of Venetian Lace in the big one at 4pm at Epsom.

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips

13:30 Riley Rocks (each-way)
14:05 Possessive
14:40 Persica
15:15 Auld Toon Loon (each-way)
16:00 Venetian Lace (each-way)
16:40 Man Of La Mancha (each-way)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

ITV Racing returns Friday for Oaks day at Epsom, starting here with a handicap for 3yo over 5f. RILEY ROCKS never got any chance to show what he could do at Goodwood last time, when traveling well behind the leaders, but being denied a clear run in the race won by Wedonttelllies. It’s impossible to know how close he would have gone with a run, but he’s been dropped 1lb for that effort and is now therefore 6lb better off with the victor. He might just have an each-way chance for Ray Dawson and Dylan Cunha.

Now the Woodcote Stakes for juveniles over 6f. This does not look like a vintage renewal, and it’s hard to get away from the potential of POSSESSIVE for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. The 90,000gns March foal and son of Lucky Vega made a perfect start to his career at York despite looking green and flashing his tail. He’s bred to stay this trip strongly and should have more to offer for a top team. 

The Group 3 Diomed Stakes over an extended 1m. PERSICA gave 3lb and a beating to Ice Max in the last year, and there is no reason why he can’t repeat the dose now that they are at levels. A strong pace will suit Richard Hannon’s charge, who I suspect will come romping down the centre of the track in the closing stages. Good to see Sean Levey on the horse this year, and he has every chance of repeating his 2025 success after a fair comeback behind Damysus at Newmarket. 

A handicap for older horses over 1m2f. AULD TOON LOON has a right each-way chance here for Kieran Shoemark and Tom Dascombe. Ease in the ground will be welcome, and this seven-year-old stays well, having once been fourth in the November handicap over 1m4f in the soft. He was denied a clear run late on at Windsor last time and should be spot on for this. A slow start didn’t help him at Chester for the first time this season, but he actually ran better than the finishing position suggests. 

The Group 1 Oaks for 3yo fillies over 1m4f. VENETIAN LACE arguably has the best form in this race after a second to Precise in the Fillies’ Mile as a juvenile and a comeback third to True Love in the 1000 Guineas. She might get first run at Sugar Island and Cameo – likely to be up with the pace – in this contest, and provided her stamina lasts out, she should have a solid each-way chance.

She’s got loads of experience and plenty of size and scope for the future. Her sire Masar won the Derby in 2018, and her dam Nash Nasha (by Dubawi) did well up to 1m2f, and she has strong stamina lines on her dam’s side. I’ll chance a few quid each-way. William Buick takes the ride with no Godolphin runner. 

A handicap for older horses over an extended 1m. MAN OF LA MANCHA should have an each-way chance for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. The lightly raced four-year-old started off this season with a good fourth at Newmarket behind Spanish Voice and then ran a fair fifth to Classic at Newbury. Both those runs were off 89, and he’s on that mark again, so he doesn’t have much in hand, but he should be piping fit here and ready to fly.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips

13:30 Riley Rocks (each-way)
14:05 Possessive
14:40 Persica
15:15 Auld Toon Loon (each-way)
16:00 Venetian Lace (each-way)
16:40 Man Of La Mancha (each-way)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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