One of the world’s oldest races and one of Britain’s five Classics is the Oaks. Epsom Oaks betting is special, as we try to predict who the best filly is and grab the value in the markets. Here, I’m giving out my ante-post Oaks betting tips, explaining how I pick them, sharing the best sites to bet with, and breaking down all you need to know about this historic race at Epsom Downs.

Epsom Oaks Betting Odds

Keep a close eye on our horse racing betting sites in advance of this race. Epsom Oaks 2026 betting can change regularly as we get to know more about the contenders, while ground conditions will also play a part.

Latest Epsom Oaks Betting Offers

We’ve done the donkey work here, pulling together the best Epsom Oaks betting offers including welcome promos that can be used for horse racing. As the race draws closer, we’ll add to this with free bet deals and other specials found at our best online bookies.

All Bookies
Remove all
  • talkSPORT BET
    Bet £10 on Racing Get £30 in Free Bets
    NO CODE
    talkSPORT BET PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10+ on any horse racing markets within 7 days of sign up. Get 3 x £10 Free Bets for set horse racing markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Highbet
    Non-Runner Money Back
    NO CODE
    Highbet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. When placing a bet on an upcoming race, there’s always a chance your chosen horse won’t run due to unforeseen circumstances. Typically, in ante-post markets, if your horse is withdrawn, you lose your stake. But with Non-Runner Money Back, if your selection doesn’t make it to the starting line, you’ll get your money back. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Highbet
    First Past the Post
    NO CODE
    Highbet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. Get paid out if you’ve backed the horse that crosses the winning line in first place – even if your selection gets disqualified or demoted. First-past-the-post returns are available for all UK and Irish races. There are also no stake limits. Your bet must be made on the day of the race and on any win or each-way market. All single and multiple bets count. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Unibet
    Extra Place Racing Specials
    NO CODE
    Unibet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. New & Existing GB customers. Available on selected UK & Irish Racing. Minimum 8 runners for 4 places, 16 runners for 5 places at 1/5 odds. Races with extra each way places applied will not qualify for Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG). Standard Rule 4s will apply. Geographical restrictions and Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Unibet
    Racing: Daily Uniboost
    NO CODE
    Unibet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. Selected GB customers. Available on UK & Irish Racing. Eligible accounts will receive three Uniboost tokens every day (00:00- 23:59). Max stake £20 per Uniboost. Single bets only. Market restrictions apply. Unused Uniboosts expire at midnight each day. Standard Rule 4s will apply. Geographical restrictions and Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Unibet
    Money Back if your Horse Finishes 2nd or 3rd
    NO CODE
    Unibet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. Selected GB customers. Money back as a free bet if your horse finishes second or third on selected races. Minimum stake £1. Max stake £10. Opt-in on bet slip. Minimum odds 2/5 (1.40). Stake returned as a free bet (max £10) once your qualifying bet has settled. Bets placed with free bets do not qualify. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Standard Rule 4s will apply. Geographical restrictions and Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Unibet
    Racing Acca Boosts: Multiple Your Winnings Every Day
    NO CODE
    Unibet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. Selected GB customers. 3 acca boosts available each day. Acca Boost applicable on UK & Irish Racing accumulators only. Min 3 selections. Max stake £20. Boost percentage varies depending on selections. Only win bets and the win part of each way bets are boosted. Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is excluded from this promotion. Standard Rule 4s will apply. Geographical restrictions and Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Unibet
    Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & IRE Horse Races
    NO CODE
    Unibet PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+. Selected GB customers. Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is available daily from 8am on selected UK & Irish horse racing bets. Extra Place races, Money Back races and races with other selected promotions will not qualify for BOG. Maximum daily return per customer from BOG concession is £25,000. Standard Rule 4s will apply. Geographical restrictions and Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

  • Sporting Index
    Lucky Double Odds
    NO CODE
    Sporting Index PROMO CODE
    Expires: No Expiry

    18+ If your Lucky 15, Lucky 31 or Lucky 63 settles with only one winner, get double the odds of your winning selection. A Lucky 15 is a bet on four selections. From these four selections, you have four single bets, six doubles, four trebles and 1 four-fold accumulator bet. For Lucky 31 and Lucky 63 bets, you make five and six selections respectively, with the selections again being split into the corresponding number of singles, doubles, trebles, and accumulators. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Loading…

Loading more offers…

Best Epsom Oaks Betting Sites

Founded: 2019
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.0 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Simple, easy-to-use app
  • Strong horse racing odds
  • Good payment options
Payment methods(10):
Visa
Mastercard
Maestro
PayPal
+6

18+ New UK customers. Min £20 first deposit. Place a bet of £20 at min odds of 2/1 (3.0) and get £40 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.05
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £100,000,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £10
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: unavailable-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1967
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.4 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Sponsors the Oaks and the Derby
  • Best Odds Guaranteed (including Oaks)
  • In-running betting available
Payment methods(7):
Visa
Mastercard
PayPal
Paysafecard
+3

18+ New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £30 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.10
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £20,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £5
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 2003
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.5 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Live streaming of Oaks Day
  • Competitive horse racing odds
  • 2-day Mastercard & Visa withdrawals
Payment methods(10):
Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
Google Pay
+6

18+ New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Deposit used 1st. Odds, bet & payment limits. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.10
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £50,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £10
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: unavailable-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1994
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.1 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Markets on over 30 different sports
  • Secure payment methods offered
  • Good ante-post Derby & Oaks odds
Payment methods(4):
Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
Google Pay

18+, New customers only. Opt in, deposit & bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. No cash out. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.05
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £50,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £5
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 2000
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.5 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • The most recognisable betting site
  • Great racing hub with live streaming
  • Good list of ongoing promos
Payment methods(11):
Visa
Mastercard
Maestro
Apple Pay
+7

18+. Registration Required. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Funded account or place a bet to qualify. Geo location and live streaming rules apply. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.10
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £100,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £5
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1946
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.5 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Streaming available on racing
  • Established within the sport
  • Good live customer support
Payment methods(5):
Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
Google Pay
+1

18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit & bet £10  or more on any Horse Racing market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets, selected markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.05
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £50,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £5
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1999
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.1 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Competitive ant-post Oaks prices
  • Strong horse racing promos
  • Very good customer support
Payment methods(6):
Visa
Mastercard
Maestro
Apple Pay
+2

18+. Place a £10 fixed odds Outright winner cash bet on a nation to win the World Cup. Once the bet is placed, receive 1 x free £10 fixed odds bet, 1 x free £10 football Total Goals spread bet and 1 x free £10 football Supremacy spread bet. Then receive a further free £10 fixed odds bet for every match your chosen nation wins during the World Cup, to a maximum of 7 wins. Offer expires at 9pm on Tues 23rd June 2026. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £1.00
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £25,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £1
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1926
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.1 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Long history within horse racing
  • Very good live streaming (inc racing)
  • Lots of daily betting specials
Payment methods(8):
Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
PayPal
+4

18+ New UK + ROI customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £/€5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stakes not returned). Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.01
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £250,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £5
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1989
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.2 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Best Odds Guaranteed (inc on Oaks)
  • Trusted name in horse racing
  • Useful bet calculator feature
Payment methods(9):
Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
Google Pay
+5

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. Min odds 3/1. Max stake £/€20. One bet per match. 50% boost applied after all selections are settled. Max boost payout £/€1,000. Singles only. Free, void, or cashed out bets do not qualify. Payment and account restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Good to know:
money-bill-wave-icon Min. stake: £0.01
maximum Withdrawal Max. withdrawal: £50,000
min-deposit-icon Min. deposit: £5
24/7 suport 24/7 Customer Support: available-icon
Mobile-App:
android Android available-icon
apple iOS available-icon
Founded: 1934
UKGC logo UKGC
info

This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here

TPP Rating info
4.3 /5

Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.

  • Regular UK horse racing price boosts
  • Very early odds on racing
  • Great live betting/streaming section

18+. Play Safe. Online only. Ends 31.12.26. New UK customers only, registering with promo code R30. Make your first deposit of £10+, then place a £10 single bet from main balance at odds of 1/2+ on any sports market (excluding Virtuals). Get £30 in Free Bets (3x£10) after settlement. Free Bets valid on any sports market excl. Virtuals, expire in 7 days, non-withdrawable and must be used in full (£10 each). Deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay and WH PLUS Card excluded. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

Choose your horse racing betting apps and websites carefully by making sure they have what you are looking for.

When Is the Oaks? Date, Race Time, Venue & Prize Money

The iconic Epsom Downs, as always, is the venue for the 2026 Oaks. The fillies’ Classic is run on day one of the Derby Festival, Friday 5 June, with the colts’ Classic (the Derby), and the Coronation Cup run on Saturday 6 June.

We’re expecting more than 60,000 people at the meeting this year, and what a sight that will be. Oaks 2026 betting has been hot for some time now, and will continue to spiral this way and that before post time at 4:00pm. The Oaks has a prize fund of £625,000, part of an overall pot of almost £4.75 million across the two days.

Supporting Races

The Derby will be my main betting concern on Friday 5 June, and it’s the feature race of the day, but there’s so much more happening on the track at Epsom. Here are the other highlights of the Derby Festival:

  • List Icon

    Diomed Stakes. A Group 3 race run on Friday.

  • List Icon

    Surrey Stakes. Another Friday feature, this time a Listed race run over seven furlongs.

  • List Icon

    Tattenham Corner Stakes. The opening event on Saturday, a Group 3 seven-furlong contest.

  • List Icon

    Princess Elizabeth Stakes. Saturday again – a Group 3 race over a mile.

  • List Icon

    Coronation Cup. A massive international Group 1, run over a mile and a half, much like the Oaks and the Derby, but this time for older horses.

  • List Icon

    The Derby. The fourth Classic of the season, following the 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas, and the Oaks.

  • List Icon

    The ‘Dash’. Officially the fastest horse race in the world, a five-furlong sprint handicap on Saturday run largely downhill.

Predictions for the Dash, the Coronation Cup, the Derby, and other major races will a listed with my usual horse racing tips for Saturday on 6 June 2026.

Upcoming Horse Racing Events

No upcoming events.

Epsom Oaks Betting Tips Today

I already have some solid Oaks 2026 betting tips having watched all the trials throughout April and May. Things can and will change before the big race, and I’ll have full Epsom Oaks predictions as we get closer to the race. Still, the ante-post Oaks 2026 betting has provided some early opportunities.

Info box icon

Juddmonte to leave a lasting Legacy

John & Thady Gosden know how to win this race, and top owner-breeders Juddmonte have had the likes of Enable over the years. The way their filly Legacy Link won the Musidora tells me she’s an Oaks filly, and she can be backed having handled the track well in a recent gallop.

Info box icon

Cameo could play more than a small part

Aidan O’Brien has the two market leaders and has done incredibly well in this race, but Amelia Earhart’s form is exaggerated, and Precise likely won’t stay the trip. His Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Cameo however was impressive, and could be staying on really well at the death.

In terms of the chances of Legacy Link, the 2014 Oaks winning jockey and former champ appears to agree. You can see my exclusive interview with Paul Hanagan to find out more about his thoughts on the Oaks, the Derby, and riding Epsom.

How We Select Our Epsom Oaks Betting Tips

Nothing is left to chance. I cover all the angles I can in picking out Oaks betting tips. Here are some of the main factors taken into consideration.

These are the fillies we believe to be the best middle-distance three-year-olds. I want to know whether they’re good enough to compete, or at the very least that they have the potential to win in this grade and over this distance. Their profiles tell me whether they are improving enough to take a hand.

Something I mention a lot in my horse racing betting previews is progression. Young thoroughbreds don’t stand still. There may be peaks and troughs, but overall, they are moving up the ranks all the time. It’s up to me to work out how much progression is still to come from a filly, and when that peak may arrive.

Epsom Oaks 2026 betting will be partly based on breeding, not just form. I have to understand the various pedigrees on show in the race so that I can make an informed judgement on whether these fillies will handle Epsom, the trip, and the grade.

Like footballers, jockeys and trainers have different levels of ability. The Oaks Betting odds are built partly on this, with Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden trusted more to train an Oaks filly than some ‘smaller’ trainers. Jockeys too must show their ability – it’s unlikely that a journeyman jockey will ride Epsom well in the Oaks.

We don’t see many Oaks contenders who are already proven over twelve furlongs. To judge whether or not they’ll stay, I look at stride patterns, running style, how they finished their races, and pedigrees.

Epsom is iconic and unique. Horses have to canter all the way to the mile and a half start, turn right after leaving the stalls, climb, turn left, go downhill, and then back up again towards the line. These fillies need tactical speed, balance, and stamina. Stamina in fact is more important in the Oaks than in the Derby, something I keep in mind for the Oaks betting tips I give.

The latest Epsom Oaks betting is built around the assumption that we’ll be racing on ground quicker than good. That’s not always the case. If the rain comes, certain runners will be affected more than others. You can find out more about ground conditions in our horse racing beginners’ guide.

Info box icon

Look for proven stamina in the pedigree

A good ten-furlong colt could win the Derby, but winners of the Oaks really need to possess more stamina. Don’t back a filly out of a broodmare with no stamina, or who isn’t from a wider stamina-laden family.

Recent Epsom Oaks Winners

The five Classics have such a wonderful history – these are the last 10 winners of the Oaks:

YearWinnerSPTrainerJockeySire
2016Minding10/11FAidan O’BrienRyan MooreGalileo
2017Enable6/1John GosdenFrankie DettoriNathaniel
2018Forever Together7/1Aidan O’BrienDonnacha O’BrienGalileo
2019Anapurna8/1John GosdenFrankie DettoriFrankel
2020Love11/10FAidan O’BrienRyan MooreGalileo
2021Snowfall11/2Aidan O’BrienFrankie DettoriDeep Impact
2022Tuesday13/2Aidan O’BrienRyan MooreGalileo
2023Soul Sister11/4John GosdenFrankie DettoriFrankel
2024Ezeliya13/2Dermot WeldChris HayesDubawi
2025Minnie Hauk9/2Aidan O’BrienRyan MooreFrankel

Many will see this list and have their eyes drawn to Aidan O’Brien, but look at the breeding. Is it down to the trainer, or down to the pedigree? The great Derby winner Galileo is the sire of four of these winners, and his own son Frankel is the sire of another three.

In 2021, Emily Upjohn was very unlucky. Had she won, it would have meant a fourth win on this list for John Gosden, and one for sire Sea The Stars, another great Derby winner. The idea here is to remind you not to get hung up on Aidan O’Brien’s record, but to pay close attention to the pedigrees – something often missed by the layers when compiling Oaks betting odds.

Other Horse Racing Events for Betting

As always, all Derby Festival betting will be ferocious, including on the Oaks. After Epsom is over, we will see many of these horses join up with the rest of the world’s best thoroughbreds at the other major fixtures during the 2026 Flat season. Highlights include:

Best Prep Races for the Oaks

Oaks prep races, or “trials”, are valuable form angles before Epsom, but I never use them exclusively to judge talent. Each filly’s own ability and pedigree speaks louder than what race they’ve run in, but these events are still important for us to be able to second guess progression and stamina.

We refer to these races as trials, but they are all good events on the Pattern in their own right. No points system is needed to get into the Oaks, and therefore trainers don’t have their fillies at peak condition until Epsom comes around.

The unknown is what intrigues us, as some fillies will improve more than others from the trials to the big day. This is one of the things that makes betting on the Epsom Oaks so fascinating.

For what it’s worth, these are the best recognised Oaks trial races, listing this year’s featured runners:

RaceVenueDistance2026 Winner2026 Runner-Up
Pretty Polly StakesNewmarket1m2fJennifer JaneSacred Ground
Cheshire OaksChester1m3½fAmelia EarhartI’m The One
Lingfield Oaks TrialLingfield1m3½fCameoPrizeland
Musidora StakesYork1m2½fLegacy LinkFelicitas
Height of Fashion StakesGoodwood1m2fInis MorEarth Shot

Why are they run over different distances? The idea isn’t to necessarily test these fillies over the full mile and a half trip until the Oaks. The Cheshire Oaks is only half a furlong shorter, but is run around the tight bends of Chester which means some pace is needed.

The biggest test of stamina on the list would be the Musidora, which challenges the fillies to see out more than a mile and a quarter at York up a long, galloping straight, and the Lingfield Derby Trial over a furlong further. I’d already backed I’m The One before her injury and Cheshire Oaks defeat, while I like the winners of these key trials, Legacy Link and Cameo.

The History of the Oaks

The Oaks was formed after the St Leger, but before the Derby. It was first run in 1779 when the Earl of Derby hosted one of his gatherings at Epsom, naming the new fillies’ race after the estate house there, The Oaks.

The idea was to run elite three-year-old fillies, and it proved incredibly popular. The Derby followed a year later, before the idea was taken abroad with races like the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks following. We’re creeping up to 250 years of the Oaks, giving this race way more history than many sports, including football, and it remains one of the most popular and most important races on the calendar.

Like the Derby, the Oaks is crucial for the breeding element of this sport. Many Oaks contenders go on to be quality broodmares, meaning this race is about far more than Oaks betting odds and trophies.

This is a special event, one you can be involved in via Epsom Oaks betting. Do it the right way though – make sure you compare the best online bookies we have for racing offers, promotions, and odds.

The Epsom Oaks Betting FAQs

Amelia Earhart, trained by Aidan O’Brien. She is followed by Precise for the same trainer, and Legacy Link for the John & Thady Gosden team.

By using a combination of form, understanding pedigrees and progression, that’s how experts pick Epsom Oaks predictions. Fillies are trained to peak at Oaks time – it’s up to us to judge which ones will handle Epsom and perform best.

Outsiders have a better record in the Derby than in the Oaks, though Qualify did win the race in 2015 at 50/1.

Oaks 2026 betting offers wiggle room. You can bet using the ante-post markets any time before the race, but it is often best to wait until all the trial races are run. Waiting until the final field and ground conditions are known is best, before finding the best Oaks betting site.

Aidan O’Brien has a fine record, and not always with his first-choice runners. His Cameo, winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial, is a worthy each-way alternative to the big guns. Always look out for sites offering free bets before betting on long shots.

Further reading

ThePuntersPage.com © 2006-2026 ThePuntersPage.com
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets info icon
close icon
close icon