All eyes on the Oaks

If you were looking to create a track to test the thoroughbred racehorse in the modern age, you'd take one look at Epsom racecourse and design something that was the polar opposite.

Newbury, in all likelihood, about as fair a racecourse as there is. Replete with residential flats alongside the finishing straight and an on-site hotel to which racegoers can retreat at the end of a long day's punting.

Of course, that's not how things worked in the 17th century. Horseracing had started to take place on the Downs as adjacent Epsom village prospered from the medicinal efficacy of its waters on the livers and stomachs of those who had over-indulged

Today, Epsom racecourse is still pretty bizarre by modern designs. A giant horseshoe-shaped track, it features a rise and fall of about 150 feet as well as a pronounced camber from one side of the four furlong home straight to the other.

This makes it the supreme test for thoroughbred racehorses who require that all-important combination of balance, stamina and speed if they are to see out the Classic race distance of a mile-and-a-half.

Today is Oaks day, the third English Classic of the season and a race confined to 3yo fillies. It doesn't have the global punch of tomorrow's Derby, but the race is actually a year older (first run in 1779 when won by a horse called Bridget).

The Oaks has been won down the years by some of the sport's greatest fillies including Oh So Sharp, Diminuendo and Salsabil. Will we see another superstar emerge today? We'll know at about 5pm!

Here are some tips for today's races. Be lucky!

Epsom
2:00
Win: Pinatubo

2:35
Win: Seniority

3:10
Win: Kew Gardens
Each-way: Morando

3:45
Win: Elector
Each-way: Lorelina

4:30 The Investec Oaks
Win: Anapurna
Each-way: Tarnawa

5:15
Each-way: Happy Power