Hi all,
I love this time of the season. This weekend it’s the Epsom Derby Festival and ten days on from one of the world’s most famous races it’s Royal Ascot. For flat racing fans it really doesn’t get any better.
Epsom’s Classic meeting gets underway on Friday with the highlight being the Betfred Oaks (4.00). The Epsom undercard also includes the Group 1 Coronation Cup (2.40). French challenger Calandagan is the sponsors 8/13 favourite. Aidan O’Brien has St Leger winner Jan Brueghel among the entries. Other entries include last season’s Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me and Group 1 winners Giavellotto and Al Riffa. A small but interesting enough field if the main fancies stand their ground at final declarations. I will look at the Oaks in Friday’s column.
On Saturday all racing eyes will be on the Betfred Derby (3.30), which is being run in honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV. Twenty were declared for Saturday’s race so at least we can’t have no complaints about the field size. With two supplemented French challengers in addition to the British and Irish horses the race has an international feel to.
Before the big race we have the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (1.00) and Group 3 Diomed Stakes (1.35) as well as the Aston Martin “Dash” Handicap (2:45) over the world's fastest five furlongs.
ITV Racing are covering five races live from Epsom on each day.
Epsom Derby Meeting Trainer Snippets
Three trainers with good recent records (more than two winners)
Alan King – 2 winners from 3 runners +14, 3 places.
George Boughey – 3 winners from 8 runners +36, 4 places.
Archie Watson – 3 winners from 8 runners +10.38.
Notes:
The Alan King and George Boughey winners came in handicaps and Watson’s came in non-handicaps.
All the George Boughey winners were 4-year-old+.
Archie Watson has just two entries at this year’s meeting and one of them runs in the Aston Martini ‘Dash’ Handicap (Spartan Arrow).
Personally, I’ll be keeping an eye on the Alan King and George Boughey runners in the handicaps.
Wednesday Racing
The best of Wednesday’s action is at the Curragh this evening. There are two Premier Handicaps the Sky Bet Handicap (6:20) and the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap (7:30). The opening 7f maiden has been won by some useful juveniles in recent years so its race to keep an eye. Ryan Moore comes over to ride Amadeus Mozart for Aidan O’Brien.
In the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap Mr Percy won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in April. Back on the level for the first time since winning a Gowran Park maiden (2m) last October. He’s unexposed on the flat and could be well treated on handicap debut. Smooth Tom won a Cork hurdle last time. Ran well when 3rd of 27 over an inadequate mile here in the Lincolnshire handicap. Stays 1m 4f and if gets today’s 1m 6f trip he’s got good claims. Zoffman a winner over hurdles since finishing a head 2nd of 10 in the Cork Derby last June. Ran better than his final position suggests when a 4 lengths 11th of 19 here (1m 2f) 11 days ago. Nicely treated on his best form and should outrun his odds if his stamina holds up.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John