ITV Racing Tips: Two Darts In Supporting Races On Oaks Day At Epsom

Another Classic is here and Epsom will open its doors to throngs of flat fans for the beginning of the Derby Festival on Friday, Oaks Day. The attention is all on the Group 1 Coronation Cup and of course the fillies' middle distance Classic itself, but around those races is a good card at Epsom and Billy Grimshaw has two horses he thinks you should have onside...

14:35 Epsom - Trustatrader Handicap

In the first live race on ITV at Epsom I thought the market had called things pretty much spot on and that New Charter would probably take the Woodcote, but the prices hardly got the pulses racing. I certainly perked up when seeing the price BLUE FOR YOU has been chalked up at for this race, mind you.

There are tonnes in here with a chance and if the ground does become deep I'll become more lukewarm on our lad's chances truth be told, but hopefully the forecast rain doesn't get too far into the ground and we have fair conditions because Blue For You at 12s or bigger has loads going for him.

He had a fruitful summer last year and after a wind op over the winter, ran a smashing race for fourth last time out at York. I've a feeling he'll come on plenty for that run and while he is yet to run at Epsom thus far in his career, he looks the type who will relish the quick pace they usually go and the chance to come flying late.

If you're on a horse you want rattling home in the dying strides, there are no better riders to have in the saddle than Jamie Spencer and I'll be very disappointed if David O'Meara's charge does not weave his way through into the places at the very least to kick us off for the day.

15:45 Epsom - Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap

Another seriously tricky handicap to get stuck into between the Group 1 main events (Coronation Cup and The Oaks) and although there can be a feasible case made for probably all of them if you are that way inclined, I am fairly sure SWEET REWARD is underestimated at his current price.

Silvestre de Sousa is booked for the ride and although this course and distance winner could be susceptible to younger legs improving past him, his mark looks enticing and I'm hoping he can get to the lead and stay there as he has on each occasion he has won thus far in his career.

When winning here last year he did so on good to soft, which could well be the conditions he faces on Friday, and he proved he also handles soft by bolting up on that surface at Goodwood later in the year. The worry is that he seems to really come alive later on in the year, but that seems to be factored into his price and with extra places on offer I'm hopeful SDS blasts him off in front and he proves tough to catch for the competitive field in behind.