Saturday Newsletter – 2nd June

Saturday – 2nd June 2018

 

Blue Riband Derby Day at Epsom with an extremely short priced favourite in Saxon Warrior….at least the great British Summer has arrived with the ‘brimstone and treacle thunderstorms’ putting some doubt in to the outcome  with the going now rated as, soft/g-s. Looking to take him on?….then perhaps old dodgy may be the one to do so at EW 9’s…..Epsom is a unique track and whether the twists and undulations are handled can always put a spanner in the works. The nature of YOUNG RASCAL’S two wins  suggest there is plenty more to come……an easy winner of his maiden in a 20 runner at Newbury was backed up with a perfectly timed run to win by half  a length in the Chester Vase. Handling Chester’s unique turns must be a positive and James Doyle and the colt had a work out around the course last week and with Haggas a man in form, he could be on for his first success since Shaamit way back in 1996.

Not to be totally outdone, there’s racing elsewhere today……where at Musselburgh there’s a C1 listed topping the bill, Donny, plus evening cards at Chepstow & Lingfield.

At Chepstow this evening, for Charles Bishop followers…..he skips Derby day duties at Epsom and hoofs up to Chepstow for a sole ride on EJ-H’s HEDGING. Better suited to undulating tracks he should be able to get back on track here after being a beaten favourite at Lingfield LTO where something looked amiss early doors and on around 8’s.

We’ve two member selections today in the notes below – the speedmeisters ratings are below for Epsom for those solely concentrating on that meet.

Any FREE SERVICE MEMBERS looking to receive the latest premium service selections and join the £1k to £10k quest (currently showing 44% ROI).……just follow the UPGRADE link

 

BOL (Best Of Luck!)

ABW Team

Here’s today’s free Timeform and the assist for the Epsom card from the ‘speedmeisters’…..click on the highlighted link to take you through to your Betfair account……

2.00 Investec Private Banking Handicap (2) 1¼m17y

Timeform Top Rated:
119p 5. SHIP OF THE FEN Martyn Meade John Egan
118 4. BOOK OF DREAMS Mark Johnston Silvestre De Sousa
118 6. INDOMENEO Richard Fahey Paddy Mathers

Analyst’s Verdict:
The Doncaster race won by Ship of The Fen hasn’t yet worked out, but he was nicely on top that day and already looks a strong stayer over this trip, so he could be the way to go. Poet’s Prince is a typical Mark Johnston type in that he’s thriving on his racing and looks an uncomplicated sort, with Indomeneo perhaps best of the rest.

2.35 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Investec) (Group 3) (1) 1m113y

Timeform Top Rated:
118 3. SHENANIGANS Roger Varian Ryan Moore
117 2. LINCOLN ROCKS David O’Meara Daniel Tudhope
116 6. WILAMINA Martyn Meade Frankie Dettori

Analyst’s Verdict:
This looks very competitive but the ultra-consistent Lincoln Rocks may well get the run of things and seems sure to make another bold bid. Shenanigans is going the right way, while Wilamina looked better than ever when runner-up in a Group 2 at Newmarket on return.

3.10 Investec Diomed Stakes (Group 3) (1) 1m113y

Timeform Top Rated:
126 1. AROD David Simcock Oisin Murphy
125 7. SOVEREIGN DEBT Ruth Carr James Sullivan
124 2. BRETON ROCK David Simcock Ryan Moore

Analyst’s Verdict:
An open renewal, and it could be worth chancing Arod, who won this race in 2015 and finished fourth in the Derby (2014) on his only other start here. Last year’s winner Sovereign Debt seems to be building his way back to full fitness and has to be feared, though the progressive Century Dream could pose as big a threat.

3.45 Investec Corporate Banking ‘Dash’ Handicap (2) 5f

Timeform Top Rated:
123 10. STORM OVER Robert Cowell Nicky Mackay
122 11. DARK SHOT Scott Dixon Jamie Gormley (5)
122 8. BOOM THE GROOM Tony Carroll Silvestre De Sousa

Analyst’s Verdict:
Former stablemates Boom The Groom and Caspian Prince both have bags of experience here and look set to put up another bold showing, but the former looks potentially well handicapped and seems certain to be on the premises if getting a clear run from off the strong pace. Dark Shot, another who has run well in this race, also boasts excellent claims after a pleasing return.

4.30 Investec Derby (Group 1) (1) 1½m6y

Timeform Top Rated:
140p 8. SAXON WARRIOR Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore
137 6. MASAR Charlie Appleby William Buick
134 7. ROARING LION John Gosden Oisin Murphy

Analyst’s Verdict:
2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior promises to be at least as effective over this longer trip and can provide his master trainer with a record equalling seventh Derby success. Roaring Lion has found Saxon Warrior too strong on the two occasions they’ve met, but he won the Dante at York easily and could still be the one to give him most to do. Young Rascal and The Pentagon complete the shortlist.

5.15 Investec Out of The Ordinary Handicap (2) 1½m6y

Timeform Top Rated:
122 14. GOLDEN WOLF Richard Hughes W. M. Lordan
121p 15. DASH OF SPICE David Elsworth Silvestre De Sousa
121 12. GRAND INQUISITOR Ian Williams Joey Haynes

Analyst’s Verdict:
Dash of Spice finished with a flourish when runner-up at Kempton last week, and he appeals as the sort go on progressing for a good while yet (smart pedigree and likely to stay 1½m). French-import Reshoun could easily have more to offer this year, while Golden Wolf is clearly capable of defying this sort of mark despite his quirks.

5.50 Investec Asset Management Handicap (2) 6f3y

Timeform Top Rated:
122 9. ACES Ian Williams Silvestre De Sousa
121 3. SHANGHAI GLORY Charles Hills Oisin Murphy
120+ 10. BOY IN THE BAR Ian Williams Raul Da Silva

Analyst’s Verdict:
This looks wide open and a chance is taken on Shanghai Glory. A C&D winner earlier in his career, he shaped with plenty of credit in some top-end handicaps from higher marks last term and, with his Newmarket reappearance likely to have put him spot on, all looks set fair for a big run. Boy In The Bar, in refitted headgear, Al Qahwa, Aces and Watchable head up an extensive shortlist.