Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The ITV cameras are concentrating totally on Epsom this Saturday, with five races being covered from the Surrey course, including, of course, The Derby. This is the 243rd running of the great race that began in 1780, and it certainly is one of the most puzzling as we have a favourite that was beaten out of sight in the 2000 Guineas. More of that is in my review of the race below.
The big race is backed up by two Group 3s and two 5 furlong handicap ‘dashes’, one for 3-year-olds and one all-aged. So, with just these five races to choose from, here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Epsom Lucky Fifteen
2.35 Sean
3.10 Billy Webster
3.45 Looking For Lynda
4.30 Ancient Wisdom
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Epsom’s 2.35 is the Betfred Diomed Stakes a 1m 1/2f Group 3 contest where last year winner Regal Reality looks to emulate last year’s result. He is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and the booking of Ryan Moore looks ominous. However, he is not getting any younger, and I will oppose him.
Regal Reality finished three lengths in front of Roger Varian’s Embesto in April, and I expect him to confirm those placings.
John and Thady Gosden run Epictetus, who was stone-dead last at Ascot on May Day, over 11 lengths behind the winner, which is very poor form.
Charlie Appleby’s Highland Avenue is having his first run since returning from Dubai, where he was unsuccessful. However, his victory at Newmarket last October gives him a chance.
One with a better chance is Marco Botti’s Royal Dubai, who won twice at Dubai in early spring.
But I just prefer Jamie Osbourne’s Sean, who joined Osbourne’s yard in the New Year after a successful campaign on the continent. The trainer sent him to Dubai, where he was only beaten a short head in Group 3. Then he finished in front of Royal Dubai and Highland Avenue. His latest outing was at Jebel Ali on fast going. So he can be forgiven that run.
The 3.10 is the Betfred 3YO “Dash” Handicap, a 5 furlong Class 3 race. This is a very open contest, and amongst the favourites is James Horton’s Grandlad, who has won his last two sprints at Wolverhampton and Goodwood. However, this is tougher.
John and Sean Quinn’s Due For Luck won a couple of sprints last season. He was third at Chester in May, beaten only half a length.
The winner of the Chester race was Knicks trained by Michael and David Easterby, who made all. He had previously run second at Catterick in April and has a good chance.
One of the top weights is George Scott’s Billy Webster, who won a couple of sprints on the all-weather in November and January. He was tried at 6 furlongs at Chester in May but drops back to five here and looks the one to beat.
The “Aston Martin” Dash Handicap is at 3.45, again another 5 furlong sprint, this time for all-aged horses. This is a Class 2 contest. Top weight here is Robert Cowell’s Clarendon House, who has been a star for the yard. He won at York in May, beating several rivals he meets once again here. He can go well, but there are better handicapped horses in the field.
Karl Burke’s Silky Wilkie is fancied in some quarters, but he has not won for over a year and in 14 attempts.
Paul Midgley’s Lethal Nymph ran a fine second at York in May, and he can go well off a low weight.
John and Sean Quinn’s Lord Riddiford resumes his career on the turf after an unsuccessful period on the all-weather, but he is another who can go well and may be placed off his low weight.
But I return to the York race that Clarendon House won in May. The second horse was Karl Burke’s Looking For Lynda, who briefly led inside the last furlong. He is 5lbs better off with Clarendon House and has been running consistently well. I take him to be successful here.
The Betfred Derby is at 4.30, and this famous Group 1 is run over 1m 4f of Epsom’s switchback course, which sweeps down the hill into Tattenham Corner and onto a long, wide straight. It’s not a course that every horse can handle, and there are usually some hard luck stories.
Aidan O’Brien has three horses in the race, so I will deal with them first, starting with the enigma that is the City Of Troy, who, after winning two Group 1s last season, went into this year’s 2000Gns as odds-on favourite only to crumple like a paper bag when push came to shove. O’Brien said he “got tired”. Got tired after five furlongs!
There can’t be much hope over 12 furlongs. However, the trainer brought Auguste Rodin back from flopping in the Guineas to win this last year, so anything’s possible.
Los Angeles was a Group 1 winner in France last season and won a Grade 3 At Leopardstown in May. He looks a genuine sort.
Euphoric was beaten a length by Los Angeles at Leopardstown and looks held on that form.
James Fanshawe’s Ambient Friendly looked impressive when winning his trial at Lingfield in May, but that was a Listed race, and this is a step up in class.
Ralph Beckett’s Macduff was well beaten in his trial at Sandown in April. A big improvement is required.
Richard Hannon’s Voyage has been nibbled at in the market after winning on his only start, a small Class 2 at Newbury. He needs to show much, much more to figure.
I prefer Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom, who won the Futurity at Doncaster last year, then found himself short of room in the Dante in May. So he was eased when beaten. He looks like a class act.
Want a run for your money? Try Andrew Balding’s Sayedaty Sadaty, a redoubtable frontrunner who may not be caught by many if given an easy lead and claim a place at a high price.
Saturday Epsom Lucky Fifteen
2.35 Sean
3.10 Billy Webster
3.45 Looking For Lynda
4.30 Ancient Wisdom
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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