'Why second-guess him?' - the key lessons from Epsom on Cazoo Oaks day

The final pieces of the Epsom jigsaw were put in place on Friday. David Carr assesses what the action on the first day of the meeting told us about the Cazoo Derby itself.

Ignore O'Brien at your peril

Never, never, never underestimate Aidan O'Brien in a Classic. If 40 previous wins was not enough to ram the message home, perhaps a record 41st triumph might do the trick.

Trusting the Ballydoyle genius is rarely a bad policy when it comes to the big days. If he thought the 1,000 Guineas third was ready for a step up in trip by four furlongs just 12 days after her Irish 1,000 Guineas second, why second-guess him?

Unsurprisingly, it suggests that stablemates Stone Age, Changingoftheguard and Star Of India must be taken very seriously when they bid to give O'Brien a record-extending ninth Derby win on Saturday.

Beware of course curses

Epsom is a notoriously tricky track and disaster can lurk in the most unlikely of places. The first ten yards are as important as the last.

Being slow to stride cost Emily Upjohn enormously in the Oaks and while she recovered from the two or three lengths she lost to race not far off Tuesday, she had to use up energy to do so.

Tuesday gives Aidan O'Brien record-breaking 41st British Classic in thriller

The winner had an ideal pitch on the rail, but Emily Upjohn was stuck on the outside and she had to make her move out wide in the straight, but did tremendously well to get as close as she did.

The lesson is that this is a place that should carry a health warning for punters – no matter how confident you are that you are on the best horse, that is not always enough here. Remember Dancing Brave?

Everyone has a chance

For all its trickiness, this rode like a track that gave everyone a chance on Friday. Winners came from on and off the pace, drawn high and low.

William Buick won with a couple of textbook never-far-away Epsom rides yet coming from further back paid off for the likes of Tuesday and Royal Champion.

William Buick was masterful prominently on Totally Charming, but the position of race winners on Oaks day were mixedCredit: Andrew Redington (Getty Images)

So whatever your fancy's stalls position or tactical plan, that alone is not necessarily going to count against you in the Derby.

Don't blame the ground

Unless the heavens drastically open overnight, the ground should not be an issue – or an excuse – for anything in the field on Saturday.

The race times suggested that conditions were certainly no softer than good on the meeting's opening day and it would take a fair amount of rain to make the surface too soft for the big hopes in the Derby.

Friday at Epsom:

Tuesday gives Aidan O'Brien record-breaking 41st British Classic in thriller

Peerless O'Brien out on his own in Classic lists after Tuesday strikes in Oaks

Hukum seals 'wonderful' first Group 1 for Owen Burrows in Coronation Cup

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