2024 Epsom Oaks Tips & Predictions

The lead-up races to the Epsom Oaks are key, but the form isn't. Don't worry if a runner finished well down the track in their latest start before the Oaks.

Unlike other Classic races, the fillies competing in the Oaks don't need to possess winning form to take out the feature.

The Epsom Oaks is one of five Classic races in the UK and it's the second oldest of the Classic races after the St. Leger.

It's the middle leg of the Triple Crown (1000 Guineas/St. Leger) and it has been one of the biggest races on the European racing calendar for many years.

Enable, Minding and Ouija Board have all won the Epsom Oaks and bettors are always presented with a great betting field in June.

Few people know this, but the Epsom Oaks was actually created the year before the Derby. 

The Oaks was named after an estate called The Oaks, which was leased by the 12th Earl of Derby.

First run in 1779, the Oaks, known as the Oakes Stakes, was won by Bridget who was owned by Lord Derby.

The race is run at Epsom Downs racecourse, but during the wars it was run at Newmarket and titled the New Oaks Stakes.

The Epsom Oaks is the second leg of the fillies' Triple Crown. Any three-year-old filly who can win the 1000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks and the St Leger will be immortalised as a Triple Crown winner.

Formosa was the first filly to win the Triple crown in 1868. Greats like Sceptre, Pretty Polly and Sun Chariot have followed in her footsteps since. The most recent winner of the Fillies Triple Crown was Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Frank Buckle won the Oaks on nine occasions in the early stages of the race. His first win came in 1797 with Nike and his last winner came 26 years later with Zinc.

Robert Robson was the leading trainer of his time and he managed to win the Oaks on 13 occasions. Some of his highlight wins came with Zinc, Wings and Music.

Known as the Emperor of Trainers, Robson was known for his ability to train Classic winners and he also trained seven Derby winners.

Pretty Polly was the shortest-odds winner in 1904, paying only 8/100. She subsequently had the Pretty Polly Stakes named after it.

John Gosden's Enable ran the quickest Oaks we've ever seen at Epsom in 2017, stopping the clock in 2:34.13. Enable went on to become one of the best fillies of all time, claiming back-to-back wins in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Aidan O'Brien's Forever Together won the Oaks in 2018, despite going into the race a maiden. Gosden struck back in 2019, as Frankie Dettori rode Anapurna to victory.

Love handed O'Brien another victory in 2020, following her win in the 1000 Guineas with an even more impressive triumph in the Epsom Oaks. O'Brien was at it again the following year, as Snowfall romped to an emphatic 16 length victory on the famous Epsom Downs. The master of Ballydoyle then celebrated an Oaks hat-trick, when Tuesday edged out Emily Upjohn to win the 2022 Oaks.