The Oaks Tips: Musidora Winner Overpriced At Epsom

The Oaks looks once again to be a fiercely competitive race in 2025 - as a Classic should be - and while there is a case to be made for many, Billy Grimshaw is confident his pick can outrun her odds. See his thoughts here...

Often in the shadow of the big race for the colts the next day, The Oaks nearly always throws up a special winner and that's certainly what we saw last season with Soul Sister storming to glory to delight those who backed her at both a big price for the Musidora and this antepost and the on the day punters who kept faith with the Gosden star. Sadly, I was cheering on Savethelastdance for a nice antepost wager that day, but she was beaten by a better horse and I'm over it... Just!

This season's Classic sees 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower attempt to complete the double last achieved by Love for Aidan O'Brien five years ago and looking at her effort at Newmarket last month, there was plenty there to embolden her supporters when debating if she has what it takes over the extended trip here at Epsom. She handled the dip with aplomb at Newmarket, which will aid her here on this undulating surface, and her attitude looks to be first class, which will no doubt come in handy should she have to battle to the line here against horses with perhaps more stamina laden pedigrees.

She is a worthy favourite and it'd be great to see her notch the famous double for Godolphin, William Buick and Charlie Appleby, but at 6/4 she doesn't really get my pulse racing with the doubts about her staying. Of course, her class could see her through but there are plenty in behind who have confirmed stamina or a more appealing profile on that front alone and as such, I am looking elsewhere.

I have a forlorn looking antepost slip on Go Go Boots - the rank outsider here - at odds shorter than are widely available to back her now, and I can't really see her running any better than third at best, but the horse who stuffed her out of sight in the Musidora WHIRL looked to me that day an Oaks winner in waiting for Ballydoyle and while it is disappointing Ryan Moore has deserted her and I've been burned many times backing against his judgement, she is my idea of the best bet in the race.

The cynic in me thinks Ryan has had a nudge to ride Winnie Hauk over Whirl as she cost an eyewatering amount and has the sexier profile, being by Frankel. although it is unlikely that he would give up what he thought was his best chance of winning a Classic without a fight, Winne Hauk absolutely has her chance in here but with the jockeys reversed I think she'd be approaching double figures in the odds on the back of her Chester win, which was good but not in the league of Whirl's Musidora success, to my eyes anyway.

Wayne Lordan has long been the second or third choice at Ballydoyle and has won a couple of 1000 Guineas against the more fancied runners chosen by Moore, but is yet to win The Oaks. That doesn't particularly put me off, however, as on Friday I believe he will be on the horse with the best profile to win and providing Desert Flower is not quite as good over this trip as she's proven over a mile I think Whirl is the one they all have to stop. Both already mentioned Ballydoyle runners like to be prominent and I think that's where the winner will come from, the prominent cluster, but Giselle is another from Aidan O'Brien's yard with Colin Keane in the plate who I wouldn't fully rule out. She has looked green as grass on every start, which is appropriate given her silks, but the talent is there for all to see and if there's late money or if O'Brien gives a positive update about her, she may be the each-way play but I am recommending a simple win bet on Whirl to claim The Oaks.