Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The television cameras are concentrating on the Epsom card this Saturday and of course the Derby. There have been some big priced winners of this Blue Riband contest in recent years. In fact, the whole card has thrown up some surprises and it wouldn’t come as a major shock if the same thing happened this year as well.
So here are my thoughts for the televised races and this week’s Lucky Fifteen, but I also have a fancy for the last race on the card, the Getting Out Stakes. And that is John Quinn’s Mr Wagyu who can get his season underway at last. Meanwhile here are my thoughts on the earlier races.
Epsom Lucky Fifteen
2.00 War Horse
2.35 Technique
3.45 Dusky Lord
4.30 Nations Pride
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The big day kicks off at 2.00 with the Cazoo Handicap run over 10 furlongs. The favourite here could be Richard Spencer’s Mr Big Stuff, a horse who has yet to open his account. His latest outing was at Newbury last month where he finished fifth but he was short of room in the final furlong.
Charlie Appleby’s Blue Trail has been successful on the all-weather and ran a good third on his turf debut in April finishing in front of Richard Hannon’s Oh Herbert’s Reign. I expect him to confirm those placings.
Andrew Balding’s Swilcan Bridge is upped in class here after running well in lower-rated handicaps. He can sneak into a place at a nice price.
But my idea of the winner is Maco Botti’s War Horse who won at Sandown last month where he beat Grenoble and Nolton Cross, he can continue his winning ways.
At 2.35 it is the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a Group 3 contest run over a mile and half a furlong. William Haggas sends Bashkirova here who had a fine season last year. On her only run this season she was beaten a half a length by Hughie Morrison’s Mrs Fitzherbert. She may reverse those placings.
Sir Michael Stoute’s horses should always be respected at Epsom on Derby day but I find it hard to like Potapova whose only victories have come in lowly rated contests. Last time, she ran close-up second on Kempton’s all-weather track. The horse that beat her that day was Tom Ward’s Roman Mist who just held on for a Listed race victory. She had a very busy season last year but seems more suited to the all-weather than the turf.
Andrew Balding’s Majestic Glory would be a popular winner this weekend. She is a past Group winner and ran well to finish third on her seasonal debut. She can hit the frame.
Martyn Meade’s Technique has been running well in Class 1 company and on her seasonal reappearance, she was only beaten a head by the classy Noon Star at Nottingham. She will have come on for that and has the ability to gain a Group victory.
I love a good sprint race and always look forward to the Dash. This Heritage Handicap is off at 3.45 and is titled the Simpex Express Dash Handicap a 5 furlong contest.
Roger Varian’s Dusky Lord is fancied after winning on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket last month. He handled the undulations well so will be well suited by Epsom.
Scott Dixon’s Fine Wine proved he is not just an all-weather performer by winning at York last month but he has been upped 9lbs for that win and he may be in the handicapper’s grip.
Last year’s winner Mokaatil returns to try and repeat that performance but Ian Williams’s speedster has 7lbs more to carry and even though he loves the course that may prove too much of a penalty.
Last year’s third Andrew Balding’s Stone Of Destiny makes little appeal judging by this year’s form. Adam West’s Live In The Dream has shown some great form this season with wins at Sandown and Chester but 3-year-olds have a poor record in this race.
At the other end of the age range is top weight Justanotherbottle trained by Kevin Ryan. He relishes these battles and can be placed at a nice price but my choice is Varian’s Dusky Lord.
So we come to the highlight of the day the Cazoo Derby off at 4.30 and run over 1m 4f. Once again Aidan O’Brien has a strong hand having won the race six times out of the last ten runnings. He has Stone Age here who is already a dual in Ireland this year. Another of his fancied runners is Changingoftheguard who is also a dual winner, including the Chester Vase in early May.
Sir Michael Stoute saddles the current favourite with Desert Crown who won the Dante at York last month, always a good guide to the Derby.
The second horse that day was Charlie and Mark Johnston’s Royal Patronage who showed a marked improvement on his previous outing after a fine 2-year-old campaign.
Another trainer with a strong hand having won the race twice in the last four years is Charlie Appleby. The best of his trio of runners could be Nations Pride who has been supplemented for this after winning at Meydan then romping home by 7 lengths against a small but classy field at Newmarket in April and he carries my hopes here, with Royal Patronage as the each-way fancy.
Epsom Lucky Fifteen
2.00 War Horse
2.35 Technique
3.45 Dusky Lord
4.30 Nations Pride
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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