Epsom’s six races; five handicaps and a fillies’ maiden
Epsom Racecourse presents its latest meeting on Thursday evening, which consists of six races; five handicaps and a fillies’ maiden.
Read on for a full preview of the Epsom card, courtesy of Racing TV, who have the very latest horse racing free bets offers.
The first race at the track – which is the UK’s cheapest Grade One racecourse, according to the Racing Post Price Index – is a mile and a half three-year-olds’ handicap (5.50). A competitive affair, this is a tough race to call. Stormy Monday is well proven over the trip, while Only One Blue and Nobleman look likely to enjoy the extra couple of furlongs, stepping up in trip for the first time. Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace is having a very good season and, therefore, his runner Vulcan Way is of some interest, but Sir Mark Prescott’s Bosphorus Rose should be able to finish strongly here and win for a bang in-form yard.
A two-year-old fillies’ maiden is next, run over seven furlongs (6.25). From a field of nine, four are newcomers, all with useful pedigrees. Ollie Sangster’s Court Of Stars and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Mystic Moment set the standard on form, both having picked up places, but the former looks to have the most potential on paper and ought to be today’s winner.
Next is a seven furlong handicap (7.00). Both Daisy Roots and Finbar’s Lad seek to make it back-to-back wins, although the latter does carry a five-pound penalty having won at Chelmsford only nine days ago. Course and distance winner G’Daay comes here in a good strain of form, having placed on both of his last starts, and is given a chance by the handicapper in remaining on the same mark. With a seven-pound claimer in the saddle, this could be his day.
Race four is a six-furlong handicap (7.35). Harry Eustace’s Kisskodi seeks a hat-trick, having won his last two starts at Leicester and Brighton. With rider Jack Nicholls’ seven-pounds in hand, they could go well again, but this might be a tall order for a three-year-old up against older, hardened handicappers. 11-year-old Muscika has a good record at this track and is back down to a workable mark, so should be right there at the finish.
The penultimate race is a handicap run over the extended mile (8.10). Orbaan carries a penalty having won last Friday at Beverley, so this may prove to be too much of an ask. Golden Circet looks promising equipped with a visor for the first time, back down in trip from 10 furlongs last time, while Virtue Patience looks well primed for a win here. Rab Havlin won on the gelding in March and rides again for Amanda Perrett, whose stable is doing very well at present.
Finally, a mile and a quarter three-year-olds’ handicap rounds off the evening’s racing (8.45). James Fanshawe’s Inquisition comes here hoping to complete a hat-trick and might be able to do so, with rider Fred Daly’s seven-pound claim counteracting the six-pound penalty the filly carries here. Pergola, Without Burlington and Marmalade Kid make their handicap debuts here, but this does look like quite an ask.
Epsom selections – Thursday:
5.50 – Bosphorus Rose
6.25 – Court Of Stars
7.00 – G’Daay
7.35 – Muscika
8.10 – Virtue Patience
8.45 – Inquisitio
Image: Horses racing Image: Credit Paul. CC BY 2.0
