Epsom Day One Preview - 04/06/21

The first event of the day at Epsom is the six furlong Woodcote Stakes and the horse that takes the eye is the beautifully bred Flaming Rib.

The two year old colt has been seen twice to date, finishing third on debut in a 5f Novice Stakes at Ripon, but improved markedly from that to score well last time out at Nottingham.

The son of smart miler Ribchester looks to be a big player on figures alone, and having drifted left last time out and still won a taking manor makes even more of a threat if cutting that out.

William Buick takes the ride and he has been in fine form this season to date.

One of our best bets of the day comes in the Class 2 over 1m 1/2f with Irish Admiral for William Haggas potentially being a class above this field on a mark of 96.

The four year old ran nicely on both occasions as a juvenile, winning at Dundalk for trainer John Feane on debut and then backed that up in Listed company at Leopardstown when a good third.

Moved over to Haggas this season the gelding got back to winning ways in a Novice Stakes over 8.5 furlongs at Wolves.

He was then last seen stepping up in trip at York over 1m2f and finishing a fair third behind Surrey Pride, making headway from the rear but being outstayed close home.

Irish Admiral drops back to his preferred trip today off only 1lb higher than his last winning mark and it would be a surprise to not see him involved.

The first big event of the day is the Group One Coronation Cup over 1m4f and it could be a good day at Epsom for William Haggas with Al Aasy offering leading claims in this race.

The four year old last year showed serious ability when winning back to back races at Newmarket over 12 and 13 furlongs, but went to Glorious Goodwood after that and flopped.

Many might have given up on the Sea The Stars colt after that, but on seasonal debut he stepped up for the Group Three Surprise Stakes over course and distance and ran out a very easy 4 1/2 lengths winner.

Sent into the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes over 1m4f at Newbury last time out, he could not have been an easy winner of the race, cruising to the front and demolishing a field on the bridle that included St Leger winner Logician and Dante Stakes winner Thunderous.

It was arguably one of the performances of the season and if being able to reproduce it in Group One company, he looks the horse to beat.

The Cazoo Handicap over 1m2f sees one of the most competitive races of the day with all the horses sharing similar ability, but Blue Cup for David Menuisier takes the eye.

The five year old four starts ago won a superb handicap on quick ground at Epsom off a mark of 77 and was then sent to France on softer ground and did not handle it as well.

He returned this season over course and distance and finished a close up fifth behind the likes of Victory Chime and Sky Defender.

Although needing to reverse the form with these two, he is much better off in the weights on Friday than he was when last facing them.

The gelding has been seen once more since that run and he was a midfield seventh of 12 in a decent handicap at York, with that race looking to be full of nice horses.

Running off 1lb lower now on a mark of 92 makes him interesting and he should not be far away.

The feature event of the day on day one of the Epsom Derby meeting is the Group One Oaks over 1m4f for Fillies' and Zeyaadah for Roger Varian looks the value.

The three year old daughter of Tamyuz looks a very classy individual having four starts to date, winning her first three as a juvenile last term and came back this season with a smart opening run.

She made her debut back in August at Chelmsford over a mile and was a smart winner of the event, backing that up next time out on her turf debut at Beverley in a Fillies' Novice Stakes.

On her final run as a juvenile she landed a hat-trick of wins when taking the Listed Montrose Fillies' Stakes on heavy ground, showing she can win in all types of ground and conditions.

Back for her three year old campaign she made her seasonal bow at Chester in the Listed Cheshire Oaks over 1m 3 1/2f and revelled in the new trip to just be narrowly beaten by Dubai Fountain.

What was impressive was the way she was staying on near the finish, with the winner just getting the early run round the bend at Chester.

She is certain to come on for that run and at 5/1, being proven on all ground, she looks a solid each way player for the inform Roger Varian.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Listed Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs and at a price the horse that we fancy is Run To Freedom for Henry Candy.

The three year old has only been seen three times and all of his runs came last term as a juvenile, starting over 7f at Newbury when looking to learn from his first experience.

He did just this when running next time out and finishing a good second at Kempton over 7f and then he was last seen getting off the mark over the same course and distance.

The form of his win in December is superb, with the second Highland Avenue since winning three times including in Listed company, with the third and fifth also going on to win since.

At 14/1 he represents big each way value.

The final runner for us on day one at Epsom comes in the Class 2 Derby Festival Handicap over 7f and Dulas for Charles Hills looks tough to beat on current form.

The four year old has been a transformed horse in 2021starting the season off at Haydock on quick ground over 7f and finishing a good second to stablemate Persuasion.

Since then the gelding went to Chester over the same trip and finished another good second behind Grove Ferry, with the third placed horse Kynren since coming out and winning a valuable handicap at York.

Dulas also franked the form of that race when getting off the mark for the season last time out at Goodwood and only up 2lb in the handicap for that win makes him dangerous once more.

Consistent type this term.