1 Mirsky (Oisin Murphy) 9-4 Fav 2 Alpha Crucis (Jason Watson) 8-1 3 Julia Augusta (Tom Marquand) 40-1 10 ran Non Runner: 10 4.35pm Trustatrader Handicap And they’re off … Flight Plan as usual will take the lead … Bopedro is last in the early stages … now they are heading for Tattenham Corner … into the straight and Mirsky is well placed … and takes the lead … and will go on to win well. 4.35pm Trustatrader Handicap betting Mirsky 5/2 Ebts Guard 5/1 Two Tempting 15/2 Flight Plan 8/1 Tribal Rhythm 8/1 Alpha Circus 9/1 Mr Baloo 9/1 Bopedro 12/1 Mr Professor 22/1 Julia Augusta 33/1 Full Oddschecker betting here 4.35pm Trustatrader Handicap preview Another tricky little Epsom handicap as the card draws towards a close. Two Tempting looked as good as ever when successful at Chester last time although he had the benefit of an ideal draw against the rail, while Tribal Rhythm notched a success over course and distance at the spring meeting back in April. David O’Meara’s MIRSKY, though, is probably the safest bet to follow up his win at Thirsk last month. SELECTION: MIRSKY 1 Minnie Hauk (R L Moore) 9-2 2 Whirl (W M Lordan) 15-2 3 Desert Flower (W Buick) 11-10 Fav 9 ran 4pm The Oaks And they’re off … Whirl is pushed forward into an early lead … with Minnie Hauk there too and the favourte Desert Flower is in fourth … Whirl is stretching them and is about three to four lengths clear … at Tattenham Corner Go Go Boots is at the back … they turn for home … Desert Flower is pushed along … Minnie Hauk takes the lead … Whirl fights back but Minnie Hauk holds on. It’s an Aidan O’Brien one-two!! 4pm The Oaks betting Desert Flower 11/8 Minnie Hauk 9/2 Giselle 8/1 Whirl 8/1 Revoir 11/1 Wemighttakedlongway 14/1 Elwateen 16/1 Qilin Queen 20/1 Go Go Boots 40/1 Full betting via Oddschecker here 4pm The Oaks preview A Classic that revolves around Desert Flower, the 1,000 Guineas winner, and whether her speed and class over a mile at Newmarket is backed up by enough stamina to get her home in an Oaks over an extra half-mile. If it is, she will be very tough to beat, but the easing of the ground to good-to-soft will not make life any easier and there are three decent trial winners and a couple of lightly-raced types with the potential to take a big step forward if she falters. MINNIE HAUK was a ready winner of the Cheshire Oaks and is the pick of Ryan Moore from three Aidan O’Brien-trained possibles, while Whirl was emphatic over 10 furlongs in the Musidora at York and Giselle could only beat what was in front of her in the Lingfield Oaks Trial. Elwateen, a runner for former champion trainer Saeed bin Suroor in the famous Shadwell colours of the late Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, ran well to finish fourth in the Guineas and has a live chance if her stamina holds, while Ralph Beckett’s Revoir, a short-head behind Qilin Queen at Newbury in mid-May, is an interesting runner for the yard ahead of his two-pronged Derby challenge with Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens tomorrow. SELECTION: MINNIE HAUK 1 Ecureuil Secret (O J Orr) 28-1 2 Akecheta (A J Farragher) 17-2 3 Westerton (Hollie Doyle) 11-1 13 ran 3.15pm Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap And they’re off … Mutaawid gets out fast and leads as they clumb up the hill in the early stages … Son Of Man is also prominent as they head to Tattenham Corner … Ecureuil Secret makes a challenge and kicks on … and this race is over as the leader scoots clear for an impressive win. 3.15pm Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap betting Botanical 3/1 Mutaawid 5/1 Defiance 11/2 Rathgar 15/2 Akecheta 10/1 Have Secret 11/1 Westerton 11/1 Ashariba 12/1 Warda Jamila 18/1 Ecureuil Secret 25/1 Son Of Man 25/1 Simply Sondheim 28/1 Flying Finn 40/1 Full betting via Oddschecker here 3.15 Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap preview Thirteen runners for this tightly-knit handicap and few, if any, that can be ruled out of the reckoning entirely. Mutaawid is an obvious starting point for many backers as he dismantled his field by six lengths at Newmarket last time, but he is up 10lb in the handicap as a result and Botanical, with Ryan Moore booked to ride, has emerged as a likely favourite. He has been running well in Listed events since finishing second off 107 in the ultra-competitive John Smith’s Cup at York last summer and still looks fairly weighted as he returns to handicap company on a 1lb higher mark. Plenty of others are worthy of consideration, though, including HAVE SECRET, a strong second in a competitive event at Ripon last time. SELECTION: HAVE SECRET 1 Jan Brueghel (R L Moore) 10-3 2 Calandagan (M Barzalona) 8-13 Fav 3 Giavellotto (Oisin Murphy) 11-2 7 ran 2.40pm Coronation Cup And they’re off … Continuous, the pacemaker, not surprisingly leads the race in the early stages and Calandagan, the hot favourite, is at the back … Ancient Wisdom is in second as they head for Tattenham Corner … they turn for home and Calandagan makes ground … the favourite is making ground but has Jan Brueghel to catch … and Jan Brueghel holds on in a duel to the line. Norman’s Cay was dismounted on the track after injuring himself in the Woodcote Stakes but has been taken into the equine ambulance and taken to the racecourse stables “for further assessment”, according to a report there on ITV. Let’s hope the Richard Hannon-trained colt is OK after that unfortunate incident. 2.40pm Coronation Cup betting Calandagan 8/11 Jan Brueghel 4/1 Giavellotto 6/1 Ancient Wisdom 12/1 You Got To Me 25/1 Bellum Justum 33/1 Continuous 80/1 Full betting via Oddschecker here 2.40pm Coronation Cup preview There are few more obvious Group One winners-in-waiting than Francis-Henri Graffard’s gelding CALANDAGAN, who scooted away with the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer by six lengths and has finished runner-up at the highest level on his next three starts. Things have simply not panned out for him in his two most recent outings – he had traffic problems in the Champion Stakes in October and was too far off a steady pace in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March – and prior to that, simply came up against a very strong and superbly-ridden opponent in City Of Troy, in the International Stakes at York. Some punters may look for an alternative on the basis that finding one too good is starting to become a habit, and Giavellotto, who was five lengths adrift of Calandagan in the Sheema Classic, has a squeak on his Group One-winning form in Hong Kong in December, while Jan Brueghel, last year’s St Leger winner, also has claims as he steps back up in trip after surrendering his unbeaten record over 10 furlongs last time. SELECTION: CALANDAGAN 1 Maximized (W Buick) 6-5 Fav 2 Havana Hurricane (Charles Bishop) 9-2 3 Raakeb (S M Levey) 14-1 9 ran Non Runner: 8 2.05pm Woodcote Stakes And they’re off … Havana Hurrican was slow out of the stalls … Logi Bear leads in the straight … Maximized takes up the lead late on and drives to the line for a winner for Godolphin. That looks a horse tailor-made for Royal Ascot if the trainer wants to take that option up. Charlie Appleby on Racing TV says it will be the Coventry Stakes if gong to the royal meeting but seems especially keen on the July Stakes at Newmarket next month. 2.05pm Woodcote Stakes betting Maximised 6/4 Havana Hurricane 7/2 Logi Bear 9/2 Rising Empire 13/2 Normans Clay 11/1 Raakeb 20/1 Anaisa 50/1 Trinculo 50/1 Alfa Duplicate 250/1 Full betting via Oddschecker here 2.05pm Woodcote Stakes preview Five of the nine remaining runners - after the scratching of Too Darn Good – were winners last time out, including the current 6-4 favourite, Maximized, who was knocked down to Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin for £720k at a breeze-up sale – where horses gallop before going under the hammer – earlier this year. He repaid a small part of that outlay with a debut win at Haydock in May, but did not achieve anything more on the bare form than the second-favourite, HAVANA HURRICANE, who was picked up for a much more reasonable 9k gns (£9.5k) and showed a decent turn of foot to win at Goodwood first time up. Eve Johnson Houghton, his trainer, took this race with a very similar type in Bobsleigh two years ago and he is an interesting option to the favourite at around 11-4. SELECTION: HAVANA HURRICANE 1 Formal (Oisin Murphy) 9-4 Jt Fav 2 Saqqara Sands (Rossa Ryan) 13-2 3 Diego Ventura (James Doyle) 9-4 Jt Fav 8 ran 1.30pm Surrey Stakes And they’re off … Formal has been well backed late on … and that horse is prominent … but The Waco Kid just has the lead … they are going down the middle of the track. … Formal takes it up, quickens well clear and it’s all over … that was easy! 1.30pm Surrey Stakes betting Diego Ventura 9/4 Formal 3/1 Hallasan 9/2 Saqqara Sands 9/1 Rebels Gamble 9/1 The Waco Kid 18/1 Franciscos Piece 20/1 Glamis Road 30/1 Full betting via Oddschecker here 1.30pm Surrey Stakes preview Several of these three-year-olds have plenty of form in the book already for this relatively early stage of their careers, including likely favourite Diego Ventura, the winner of a Listed race at Longchamp last time. He has a 3lb penalty as a result, though, and could be vulnerable to a less exposed opponent. Formal and SAQQARA SANDS both fit the bill and Ralph Beckett’s filly in particular looks likely to make significant progress this term. SELECTION: SAQQARA SANDS 2.40pm Coronation Cup preview There are few more obvious Group One winners-in-waiting than Francis-Henri Graffard’s gelding CALANDAGAN, who scooted away with the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer by six lengths and has finished runner-up at the highest level on his next three starts. Things have simply not panned out for him in his two most recent outings – he had traffic problems in the Champion Stakes in October and was too far off a steady pace in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March – and prior to that, simply came up against a very strong and superbly-ridden opponent in City Of Troy, in the International Stakes at York. Some punters may look for an alternative on the basis that finding one too good is starting to become a habit, and Giavellotto, who was five lengths adrift of Calandagan in the Sheema Classic, has a squeak on his Group One-winning form in Hong Kong in December, while Jan Brueghel, last year’s St Leger winner, also has claims as he steps back up in trip after surrendering his unbeaten record over 10 furlongs last time. SELECTION: CALANDAGAN 2.05pm Woodcote Stakes preview Five of the nine remaining runners - after the scratching of Too Darn Good – were winners last time out, including the current 6-4 favourite, Maximized, who was knocked down to Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin for £720k at a breeze-up sale – where horses gallop before going under the hammer – earlier this year. He repaid a small part of that outlay with a debut win at Haydock in May, but did not achieve anything more on the bare form than the second-favourite, HAVANA HURRICANE, who was picked up for a much more reasonable 9k gns (£9.5k) and showed a decent turn of foot to win at Goodwood first time up. Eve Johnson Houghton, his trainer, took this race with a very similar type in Bobsleigh two years ago and he is an interesting option to the favourite at around 11-4. SELECTION: HAVANA HURRICANE 1.30pm Surrey Stakes preview Several of these three-year-olds have plenty of form in the book already for this relatively early stage of their careers, including likely favourite Diego Ventura, the winner of a Listed race at Longchamp last time. He has a 3lb penalty as a result, though, and could be vulnerable to a less exposed opponent. Formal and SAQQARA SANDS both fit the bill and Ralph Beckett’s filly in particular looks likely to make significant progress this term. SELECTION: SAQQARA SANDS Harry Redknapp owns a horse or two and he’s made his way to the Downs. The celebs are arriving at Epsom … and here are Gabby and Kenny Logan We will be getting Greg Wood’s race-by-race guide throughout the morning but here’s a rundown of the action you will be able to see from Epsom this afternoon: 1.30pm Nyetimber Listed Surrey Stakes, 7f, 3yo 2.05pm Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes, 6f, 2yo 2.40pm Betfred (Group One) Coronation Cup, 1m4f, 4yo+ 3.15pm Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap, 1m2f, 4yo+ 4.00pm Betfred (Group One) Oaks, 1m4f, 3yo fillies 4.35pm Trustatrader Handicap, 1m½f, 4yo+ Epsom have gone with a little drum and bass in their promotional video for the Derby meeting but for getting down with the kids you can’t beat the UK Garage commentary special released a few years back … It’s too darn bad if you fancy the Charles Hills-trained runner in the 2.05pm race today as it won’t be turning up. Here are your non-runners for Epsom this afternoon: 2.05pm Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes 8 Too Darn Good 4.35pm Trustatrader Handicap 10 Obelix After a spring as dry as most people can remember suddenly this week people were talking about attritional scenes at Epsom and even suggesting the dreaded ‘heavy’ might be in the description for the Derby festival meeting with plenty of rain in some forecasts. There is more precipitation coming overnight and tomorrow so get your macs and brollies at the ready ( whisper it but clerk of the course Andrew Cooper says there is a “real possibility” of a soft-ground Derby on Saturday) but for today the official verdict is in and it’s Good to soft, good in places. After some rain this morning (1mm) it is forecast to clear to a brighter, breezy afternoon with temperatures in the mid to high teens. Good morning from Epsom racecourse on this first day of this year’s Derby meeting, where racing professionals and a scattering of early punters alike are staring anxiously at the skies and wondering how the ground will be riding for both Friday’s Oaks and the Derby itself in a little over 24 hours’ time. There is plenty of blue sky above the track at present but there was rain earlier and it has already been one of the trickier run-ups to the Classic meeting in Andrew Cooper’s 30-year tenure as clerk of the course. “I’ve never known such a prolonged dry period from March, April and through into May, so it’s been challenging,” Cooper told the draw ceremony in a local cinema on Wednesday. “It hasn’t been great for grass, it’s been constant irrigation just to get us to where we want to be. “There was 3.5mm of rain on Tuesday, which was forecast, but it’s very localised and Sandown [eight miles away] didn’t get any at all. It’s unsettled for sure, and in terms of the volume of rain on a race day, when you’re racing over the ground, it really doesn’t take a lot to start shifting things quite quickly.” The Jockey Club’s live update page for Epsom was reporting a total of 4.8mm since midnight at 9.30am today, and 11.4mm over the previous seven days. As a result, the going at Epsom is now good to soft, good in places, having been good all over two days ago, though as yet there is little impact on the Oaks betting, where Desert Flower, the 1,000 Guineas winner, remains a solid favourite at around 6-4 despite the nagging doubts about whether she will see out the 12-furlong trip. Whirl, one of three runners from the Aidan O’Brien yard, is a drifter this morning, however, out to 6-1 from around 9-2 overnight, while Minnie Hauk, the mount of O’Brien’s No 1, Ryan Moore, is a solid second-favourite at around 5-1. The main supporting race on the Classic card is the Coronation Cup at 2.40pm, for older horses over the full Derby and Oaks trip, and the very likeable Calandagan, who has finished either first or second on his last eight starts, will be favourite here to get an overdue first Group One win on the board. You can read my full preview of today’s TV races here. The card is under way at 1.30pm with the Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs, and all the news and results from Oaks day will be here on the blog within seconds as the afternoon’s action unfolds.
Author: Tony Paley, with Greg Wood at Epsom