The horse racing broadcaster gives his thoughts on every runner in the feature race at Epsom on Friday and provides his 1-2-3-4.
The usual suspects in this race — Aidan O’Brien (11 wins), John Gosden (4) and Ralph Beckett (2) — provide the majority of the runners again this time around, with seven of the nine hailing from these three yards.
Here is a runner-by-runner look at the 2026 Oaks.
1. A LA PROCHAINE 15/2
The least experienced runner in the field, having had just a couple of starts, but very much a live outsider. The recent rain will have been very welcome, as her maiden win at Newbury was on soft ground, and rider James Doyle expressed its importance after her third-place finish in the Cheshire Oaks behind Amelia Earhart. She was the one most inconvenienced by the steady pace that day on that ground, and it would be no surprise if she took a significant step forward here.
2. AMELIA EARHART 9/4
Winner of the Cheshire Oaks, after which she was promoted to favourite, but she was in a much better tactical position than A La Prochaine. The unusual combination of hood and blinkers is retained, which sends rather mixed messages as to their effect. She took a while to break her maiden last season and will need the calming presence of her trainer in the preliminaries. Given her handler’s masterful record in the race, she cannot be discounted but makes little appeal at the prices.
3. CAMEO 15/2
Winner of a solidly run Lingfield Oaks Trial and will stay, but that does not look a particularly strong piece of form and there may be classier contenders. Soft ground and the trip would not be an issue, and the more the race relies on stamina, the better her chances of making the frame.
4. K SARRA 16/1
The second of the Beckett runners, who looked to show improved form when upped in trip for the Musidora — the leading trial of recent seasons — when finishing a closing third behind Legacy Link. There are several reasons, however, why she may not reproduce that effort here. Firstly, the Musidora was run at a strong pace, so she may have been flattered by the tempo. Secondly, she looked the least comfortable on the track at the recent gallops morning, prompting her trainer initially to indicate she may bypass the race. In addition, her brother, Pride of Arras, disappointed in the Derby when a leading fancy last season.
5. LEGACY LINK 100/30
Winner of the Musidora, where she showed good battling qualities off a strong pace. That makes her very likely to stay, and she looked to handle everything in her stride at the gallops morning, where John Gosden has traditionally sent his major Classic contenders. She has improved with every run, with her fourth-place finish in the Fillies’ Mile last backend (Venetian Lace in second) having a very solid look to it after the UK and Irish 1,000 Guineas. Looks the one to beat.
6. ON MESSAGE 25/1
The last of the Beckett trio, and while her third-place finish at Goodwood behind Inis Mor was her best effort to date, she would require further significant improvement at this level, having won a handicap at Epsom’s Spring Meeting off a mark of just 80. On the plus side, it proves she handles the track, and she looked as if she would relish 12f, so could well outrun her odds without quite being good enough.
7. SUGAR ISLAND 16/1
Seemed to be employed as a pacemaker at Chester, and while she carried a penalty that day, her stamina is questionable, and she may be fulfilling a similar role here.
8. THUNDERING ON 5/1
Was suited by the step up in trip when scoring at Navan, where she got a nice trail into the race. As with the Lingfield trial, the suspicion is that it is not a particularly strong race, with the third that day, Bloom, being beaten further by Cameo there than by Thundering On.
9. VENETIAN LACE 12/1
Has solid juvenile form lines (finishing ahead of Legacy Link in the Fillies’ Mile) and ran a cracker on her return when third in the 1,000 Guineas. She is likely to be ridden forward, so the danger is she could be tracked by Sugar Island, and this is a step up in trip of a full half-mile. She can sweat up beforehand, and whether those factors will allow her to fully see out 12f is the main concern. Her pedigree lends a good deal of support to the idea that she will, and if she can get a soft lead up front, she is dangerous.
Conclusion
Legacy Link is progressive, showed a good attitude at York, comes from the best trial in recent years in the Musidora, and handled the track well at the gallops morning. She very much looks the one to beat, with A La Prochaine fancied to outrun her odds, especially if there is further rain.
1. Legacy Link
2. A La Prochaine
3. Venetian Lace
4. On Message
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