Epsom tips for Betfred Oaks day on Friday: three best bets

Best odds: 13-2.

Karl Burke has always held in the highest regard and believed his charge was good enough to contest the Dante last year. He finished well held in that Group Two contest, but pulled his chance away in the early stages, and that's what held him back on most occasions last season.

Despite racing keenly, he did manage to win a class 2 handicap at Doncaster off a rating of 97 on his penultimate start (an effort which can be upgraded given his early exuberance) before finding the ground too fast in the Cambridgeshire.

I strongly fancied for the Lincoln on his return to action this season, especially as he'd been gelded over the winter, and although he was a major disappointment in that race, he was sick and scoped dirty after, so had an excuse. 

Despite that hiccup, the four-year-old bounced back to form in style by winning a valuable handicap off a rating of 101 at the Guineas meeting. Interestingly, here's what Burke had to say afterwards:

"The only reason I ran him today was because Sheikh Obaid was going to be here and it was a £100,000 race, we'd entered earlier, and he was just coming back to himself. It's a pleasant surprise."

He was well on top close home at Newmarket and improvement can be expected from that outing, so a 5lb rise for that victory should not stop him from going close here. 

The selection also appeared to settle better en route to success last time, and there's still every chance he's going to develop into a Group performer this season. 

Any cut in the ground on Friday won't hinder him, and stepping back up to ten furlongs is also a positive, while Burke is also enjoying a purple patch following two Classic winners recently plus has been operating at a 20 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight. 

Best odds: 9-2.

Ylang Ylang sets a decent standard here, and is the one to beat on ratings, while she ought to relish this step up in trip. However, she faces plenty of improvers, and it's another Irish raider, Ezeliya, who makes the most appeal.

Dermot Weld said his filly has been working "extremely well" this year and she impressed with her attitude, and finishing effort, to defeat some exciting prospects on her first start over ten furlongs in the last time out. 

The market suggested the outing may have been needed, and Weld is sure to have left plenty to work on ahead of the Betfred Oaks. She also won a shade cosily, and with plenty of stamina in her pedigree, this test promises to suit. 

The selection has already proved she handles cut in the ground, and Weld has made it no secret that he thinks his fast-improving filly is a Group One performer in the making.

Best odds: 8-1.

This looks a tricky puzzle to solve on paper, but looks to have plenty in his favour and is worth supporting each-way. 

Despite being a nine-year-old, the veteran has shaped with bundles of promise in defeat on both starts this year, and looked as good as ever when winning this contest off a rating of 90 last year. 

He probably found himself a shade too high in the handicap after that success, although still ran some good races, and has now dropped to a rating of 89. 

Given he produced a career best here 12 months ago, I wouldn't be surprised if this has been his aim for a while, and is a positive jockey booking. 

(who helped set the race up for Spanish Star when runner-up last year) and both like to get on with things, so a decent pace should suit, and Spanish Star was drawn just one stall higher last year.

He's a hold-up performer, so will need some luck in running, and although Patrick Chamings is 0 from 15 with his runners this month, the Hampshire handler has had a few horses go close in that period, so stable form isn't a concern.

At the 8-1 on offer with Bet365, he looks a decent each-way bet with conditions also set to be in his favour.