Five Horses To Follow At Epsom This Weekend - 29/05/2019

Zaaki will look to make his second appearance of the season for Sir Michael Stoute in the Investec Diomed Stakes, a Group Three contest over the extended mile.

The four-year-old returned at Ascot on May 1 to compete in the Paradise Stakes over the same distance in Listed company, and got the better of former fan favourite Barney Roy, who was making his first start since failing at stud duties.

The former St James's Palace winner has since won subsequently very handsomely at Longchamp, boosting the Ascot form in the process.

More will be expected of Zaaki - who despite winning, was very slow at the stalls last time out and held up in last position.

Will be a strong fancy this time, in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Derby Day also features another Group Three event for the Fillies and Mares, in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes earlier in the day over another extended mile.

Awesometank prevailed at Goodwood on good ground earlier this month in Listed company, which got her back to winning ways for the first time in four starts; since landing the Coral Distaff at Sandown on Eclipse Day.

Finishing good second's in three of those contests in between victories, she is a top class filly who is a credit to her connections for her fighting mentality and resembling everything of an 'awesome tank'.

The four-year-old is also the only individual in the field who despite a narrow margin, came out and won on reappearance this term.

Major player once again.

Hathiq has been the big gamble of the week so far going into Epsom, currently resting as the 4/1 favourite on Wednesday morning ahead of the big Dash Handicap over five furlongs.

Denis Gerard Hogan's five-year-old has looked a different breed back over five furlongs this term, smashing up his opposition in by the same margin of three lengths at Tipperary and at the Curragh at the weekend just gone.

He will run off the matched mark of 84, having been raised 11lb from his return to the turf in April, and looks the real deal in mind for this.

Lightly raced for his age, but plenty of progression in front of him.

Looking at Friday's card away from the obvious protagonists, Gossiping has rejuvenated his career with a smart return to form recently, triumphing at both Kempton and subsequently back on the turf at Chester.

Gary Moore's runner was lowered to a mark of 69 which caught many people's eyes at the end of March, and was since raised drastically back into the 80's.

Up another 4lb, Moore and fellow owner Ashley Carr will be hoping for more now in this top Mile Handicap, and is no stranger to these big fields.

Top miler on his old form which he seems to be back to, as Andrea Atzeni - Group One winner in France last weekend climbs aboard.

Space Blues steps up to Listed company in the Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs, having got his head in front on his third time lucky start of the campaign.

His victory as a juvenile at Nottingham caught the eye to many last year, beating the likes of Private Secretary and Technician who we have both seen in the spotlight this season.

The chestnut son of Dubawi returned to finished a head second at Nottingham in April after struggling on the soft ground at Newbury the start before.

However at York last time, his patience prevailed when running out a comfortable winner of a Class 3 Handicap, and now deserves the climb up to this grade.

Further improvement required.