Friday marks the start of Epsom’s Derby Festival and we have an excellent eight-race card to look forward to, with a couple of Group races taking top billing.Obviously, the main event is the Oaks and a field of nine has been declared, with three of the fillies hailing from Ballydoyle and it could be another clash between Aidan O’Brien and the Gosdens, as they train the two market leaders.Our expert has selected three of their strongest fancies to follow across the card and among them is an O’Brien runner in the big race, who looked like a potential Oaks filly when winning her trial at Chester on seasonal debut.GET UP TO £30 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU BET ON BOXING WITH talkSPORT BETEpsom Day 1 tips3.15 Epsom – Respond4.00 Epsom – Amelia Earhart5.15 Epsom – Stellar Sunrise3.15 Epsom – RespondAndrew Balding leads the way in the trainers’ championship with a £500,000 buffer at the moment and RESPOND has earned around £50,000 in win and place prize money so far. He has already won a couple of times and is entitled to go close once again here.His first victory of the season came at Chelmsford in March and he won that 1m2f contest by three-and-a-half lengths. Both of the four-year-old’s defeats this term have come over longer trips and the son of Ghaiyyath is on an upward trajectory at the moment.Balding’s gelding absolutely destroyed a competitive field when winning a warm Class 2 at Chester last month and a 9lb rise seems pretty fair. If coming out on top once again here, it won’t be long before he contests Listed and lesser Group races.4.00 Epsom – Amelia EarhartThe impeccably bred AMELIA EARHART was expensive to follow last season, but the bright side of her losing four times in maiden company is that she was gaining valuable experience. Epsom has received plenty of rain recently and that won’t be an issue for this filly.She earned her first success when going up to a mile for the first time at Leopardstown in October and was far too good for her rivals on that occasion, kicking clear to score by a margin of seven lengths. It’s no surprise that she’s a middle-distance performer now.Ryan Moore was on board when stepping up to an extended 1m3f at Chester for a Listed Oaks trial and she was strong at the finish, scoring by two lengths. Improvement is anticipated and connections won the race with a Cheshire Oaks victor in 2025.5.15 Epsom – Stellar SunriseEpsom’s penultimate race is a thoroughly competitive Listed contest and six of the nine runners are rated between 101 and 104. Balding’s STELLAR SUNRISE makes the most appeal and the son of Space Blues has made a promising start to the campaign.Progressive last term, he won a decent nursery by a couple of lengths at the Ebor Festival and connections put him in a Group 3 next time, where the soft ground was against him. He was a very comfortable winner of a Newbury handicap over this trip on seasonal debut.That form has received a boost from the runner-up since and Stellar Sunrise performed with credit when third in a Newmarket Listed race after that. The two horses ahead of him look like fair prospects and he looks well set to go close once again.GET UP TO £30 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU BET ON BOXING WITH talkSPORT BETRemember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamCare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.gambleaware.orgFor help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org18+ New customers only. Opt in deposit and bet min £10 (max £30) on any sports (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get your initial stake (up to £30) credited in Free Bets. Free Bets to be used on selected markets and expire in 7 days. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly