Epsom selections Saturday 1st June
Derby Day at Epsom and in truth this does not look a vintage renewal of the feature race with favourite City of Troy having blotted his copybook in the Guineas and several other fancied contenders having fallen by the wayside in recent weeks for various reasons. I have two each-way suggestions for the big race. The supporting card is as ever, competitive, and I have selections for the final four races overall. Derry Lad was an unlucky loser but placed for the each-way bet yesterday (15/2).
Epsom 3.45: Clarendon House & Looking for Lynda
I like the husband and wife combination of Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle for this race with both their mounts fancied. This also takes in the formline from a similar recent race at York.
On that occasion CLARENDON HOUSE ran out a classy winner, moving smoothly into contention 2f out before seeing out the race strongly to the line. He raced off top weight that day and has to contend with the same situation here and off a 6lbs higher rating. However this does not look a classy race as usual and he could be up to giving the weight away, especially with drying ground in his favour.
We are likely to see this horse in group races later this summer and he has already been fourth in a Group 2 at Meydan and second in a listed race at Southwell this year. However where this is an emphasis on speed, this horse will always be a danger, so I can understand the decision to come here. He was a close third in this race last season and is undoubtedly an improved horse since.
Chasing Clarendon House home at York was LOOKING FOR LYNDA, a real speedball who kept on gamely for second. That backed up a series of strong runs this spring including a second in the prep race for this at the April meeting here.
He is 3lbs better off with the winner Night on Earth who has an inexperienced jockey on board today. It remains to be seen whether stall 1 is a help or hindrance for Karl Burke’s gelding, but this fast starter will be able to go his own path and perhaps being isolated somewhat from the most of the others will allow him to steal a march.
Epsom 4.30: Los Angeles & Sayedaty Sadaty
There is no obvious standout in this race. City of Troy has questions to answer after Newmarket, Ambiente Friendly is a hard puller who could run his race before Tattenham Corner and Ancient Wisdom would have been far better served by more rain and could have difficulties handling the undulations. As such I have two solid looking competitors on my side.
LOS ANGELES comes into this race unbeaten without ever having looked overly impressive in those three wins. However I love his relaxed style of racing and he was always getting the best of the argument in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. He has also already gained a win at the highest level when taking the Criterium at Saint-Cloud on only his second start last autumn.
He has been going on strongly at the finish each time and his pedigree strongly suggests 12f is in his favour. He is a full brother to Be Happy, a non-runner in the Oaks last year and who was second in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield. He is also a full brother to Hector de Maris who raced over as far as 2m in his career and was Group race placed at 12f. He seems to handle any ground and whilst he might lack a real “X Factor” there don’t seem to be any real weaknesses in his armour.
At big odds SAYEDATY SADATY is worth an each-way saver. Connections have pulled a few rabbits out of the hat at big prices in this race over recent seasons and this could be another.
He has plenty to find on form, but at least has form on the track when third here last autumn. An enthusiastic racer he has tried to make all on his two starts this season and come close. That includes a listed race at Newmarket last month where he battled on well over 10f. He has a very strong pedigree stamina wise and if there is not too strong a gallop I can see Tom Marquand engineering him into a decent position to gain first run up the straight.
Epsom 5.15: Ziggy
After well over a year off the track, ZIGGY performed excellently to finish second here over 10f at the April meeting and I can see further improvement from this 6yo back up to 12f today.
His recent outing confirmed he retains his old ability and the form has been significantly boosted with Crystal Delight the winner of that race (and coincidentally his stablemate) having won impressively again since at York. Furthermore he has been held at the same rating of 92 for today.
He already has a win over this 12f trip to his name and even raced over 14f as a 3yo so I expect to see even more from him at this distance. I don’t rate many of the opposition to be in top form today, so as long as Ziggy steps forward from his track return, he looks the one to beat here.
Epsom 5.50: Apollo One
APOLLO ONE gave us a good run for our money when he was second on his seasonal return at Newmarket last month and this ultra game and consistent gelding can finally gain the big win he deserves in the finale.
He ran some crackers in the big handicaps last summer, placing in the Wokingham and Stewards Cup off similar ratings. He was also second from a very wide draw in this race and stall 3 today should be far more beneficial to him.
That recent outing should have brought him on sharpness wise, but did confirm he retains all his old ability and despite getting beaten on his last seven starts (albeit narrowly in the main) there can be no doubting his resolution in a finish.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Clarendon House – 3.45 Epsom – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
0.5pts each-way – Looking for Lynda – 3.45 Epsom – 13/2 Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Los Angeles – 4.30 Epsom – 13/2 William Hill, Coral (1/5 odds 1st 4)
0.5pts each-way – Sayedaty Sadaty – 4.30 Epsom – 40/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Ziggy – 5.15 Epsom – 9/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Apollo One – 5.50 Epsom – 7/2 general
