Henry Cecil’s Midday has been soaring up the 2009 Epsom Oaks betting markets in the run up to Friday’s race.

Currently priced in the 4/1 – 5/1 margin by the majority of UK bookmakers, Midday is a worthy candidate for Oaks glory given recent form which included a win over 11 furlongs at the Oaks Trial Stakes during her most recent outing.

Midday also possesses proven Epsom credentials having finished second in the Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom in April. All these factors suggest that Cecil is well poised to claim an impressive 9th victory in the race.

Cecil was cautiously optimistic ahead of today’s race, telling reporters: “On Timeform figures she is rated 108 and Sariska is 116, so she’s going to have to improve. But I feel she has improved and must have a chance.”

Cecil’s last victory in the Epsom Oaks came in 2007, when he won the race for the eighth time with Light Shift.

If you haven’t placed your bets on the 2009 Epsom Oaks, then you might want to make use of a top quality odds comparison service to ensure that you have access to the best odds ahead of Friday’s big race at Epsom Downs.

The race has produced a cluster of three antepost favourites, all priced around the 3/1 by bookmakers across the board. These are Musidora Stakes winner Sariska, 1,000 Guineas antepost favourite Rainbow View and Oaks Trial Stakes winner Midday.

All three favourites are justifiably regarded as serious contenders for the race, however there’s a couple of entries that could spring a surprise. Of these Waadat, best priced by BlueSQ at 33/1, is perhaps the best option for an each-way punt, coming into the race on the back of a second place in the Italian Oaks.

It’s also somewhat foolish to ignore any racehorse trained by Aidan O’Brien, which means Perfect Truth is worth a look at a best price of 11/1 at Betfair. For a complete odds spread visit the Gambling Guru Odds Comparison service.

With just a day remaining before the Epsom Oaks is run, the window on finding value in the antepost betting markets is closing fast. With most bookmakers offering no-runner-no-bet guarantees, this is the time to make your selections for Friday’s race.

A final field of 10 was confirmed for the 2009 Epsom Oaks on Tuesday, with Musidora Stakes winner Sariska heading the betting for Friday’s Classic. Setback-stricken Three Moons and reserve runner Nashmiah, were 11th hour withdrawals from the race.

While Sariska’s impressive Musidora Stakes win has seen her strongly backed by punters ahead of the 2009 Epsom Oaks, many believe that Rainbow View will come good over 1 mile 4 furlongs after disappointing in the 1,000 Guineas.

While Brian Meehah’s filly didn’t enjoy the fast ground at Newmarket, the forecast for good round at Epsom this weekend means she could find the sort of pace she showed in her 2-year-old season.

Of course, upsets are the norm rather than the exception in the Classics, and many punters will be looking for value further back in the field. The strongest of the outsiders looks to be Aidan O’Brien’s entry in the race, Perfect Truth.

The filly has been in good form this season despite an indifferent season last year, and comes into the Epsom Oaks on the back of a win. Priced over 8/1 by many bookmakers, she provides one of the best each-way bet opportunities of the race.

Michael Bell’s Sariska was left atop the Epsom Oaks betting markets on Monday, following the final confirmation stage for the race.

The Musidora Stakes winner looks to be the leading contender of the 12 fillies that stood their ground on Monday. The field is not lacking in quality, and includes the likes of 2 year old Champion Filly Rainbow View and Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Midday.

Aidan O’Brien, who is fielding half the runners in Saturday’s Derby, has only one representative in the Epsom Oaks, with Cheshire Oaks winner Perfect Truth running for the Ballydoyle stables. The only other Irish interest in the race is Jim Bolger’s Oh Goodness Me.

Good ground is expected for the Epsom Oaks on Friday, although the turf may be moderately drier than that which will face runners in Saturday’s Epsom Derby.

“This is lovely good ground, just a shade faster in what we know to be the usual quick-drying areas but if we were racing on it today, I would have no hesitation in calling it good ground,” said Epsom course clerk Andrew Cooper.

Rainbow View’s preparations for the biggest fillies race of the year, the Epsom Oaks, are said to be going well following her disappointing showing in the 1,000 Guineas.

The champion 2 year old filly for the 2008 season ran out as a strong favourite at the 1,000 Guineas last month, but failed to make an impression on the race, eventually coming home in fifth place as Ghanaati stormed to victory.

Trainer John Gosden believes that her under-par performance was directly related to the fast ground at Newmarket, which also produced an upset winner in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday as Sea the Stars easily beat antepost favourite, Delegator.

“Jimmy said he had gone a furlong and a half and knew he was going to get nothing, she had hopped off the ground,” Gosden told the Racing Post. “That was just bad luck, they didn’t water, they had a drying wind, there was rain forecast, it didn’t come and it was like a road – that’s life.”

“She’s in great order, she worked very well a couple of days ago, she’ll be out cantering and we’ll go to Epsom for the Breakfast With The Stars and have a nice canter around the track there. There was one thing I was pleased about after the Guineas and that was that she came out of the race in good order.”

Sariska clinched favourite status for the Epsom Oaks on Wednesday by winning one of the race’s primary trials – the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

“It was fast, safe racing ground, and it suited her,” trainer Michael Bell said after watching his filly score a comprehensive victory. “I have been to Epsom with a good colt and now we go with a good filly. She will take a bit of beating in the Oaks.”

At the start of the season Bell decided to swerve the 1,000 Guineas in order to give Sariska the opportunity to run over the extra 4 furlongs offered by the Epsom Oaks. This step was regarded as unusual at the time as the filly had been bred from the sprinter colt, Pivotal.

“The Pivotals are not meant to get 12 furlongs, but it’s the individual that counts,” said winning jockey Jamie Spencer. “I don’t doubt her ability to get the trip. It’s more important to travel at Epsom, and that’s what she does so well.”

Star Ruby, who finished second in the Musidora Stakes, also looked a good Epsom Oaks prospect on Wednesday. Enticement, owned by the Queen, struggled with the faster ground at York. However, trainer Sir Michael Stoute believes she could yet surprise at the Oaks.

“She is a lovely, quality filly who will have her day with some juice in the ground,” Stoute said.

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