Epsom Day Two Preview - 05/06/21

The first race of the day at Epsom on Saturday is the Class 2 Handicap over 1m2f and Patient Dream for Ralph Beckett looks a big improver this term.

The three year old is fairly lightly raced only being seen five times during his career and this year everything seems to have clicked.

As a juvenile his best run of the four came on his second start at Lingfield over seven furlongs when taking out a nice Novice event over 7f.

Apart from that his form was average, but on his seasonal debut this term he gave a career best performance to land a Class 4 Handicap over course and distance.

The form of that race has seen a huge boost with the second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth placed horses all going on to win next time out.

He has been given a 7lb rise for the win but if progressing like the others in the field have then he looks a serious player still only on a mark of 83.

In the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes we have sided with the Martyn Meade trained Statement, who looks to hold some smart form, especially dropping down in grade.

The three year old filly was seen three times as a juvenile, finishing second on both of her first two starts behind nice types over seven furlongs and then on her third run of her career got off the mark at Newbury over 6.5f.

Back for another season this term the daughter of Lawman finished a superb second in the Group Three Fred Darling Stakes behind Group One winner Alcohol Free.

She saw off some superb horses that day but after that she was thrusted into the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and was overall outclassed only beating three home.

This is a much easier event to take on and if getting back to the form of her seasonal debut she holds a big chance.

In the Group Three Diomed Stakes over 1m 1/2 furlong Maximal at 7/2 looks to be a very attractive price getting weight off the field and although less experienced than most the horses in the race he holds bundles of ability.

The three year old was first seen in July last year finishing a good second behind the John Gosden trained Guru in a 7f Maiden.

He had to settle for second again at Sandown next time out behind the Godolphin Derby hopeful One Rule, with the form of that race being superb, churning out plenty of winners.

Stepped up to a mile for the first time in his career at Sandown he got off the mark in smart fashion taking the event by five lengths.

His final run as a juvenile was his only blip so far in his career when down the field in the Group Three Autumn Stakes, with the softer ground going against him, but the form of the race has worked out well.

Back for another season, the son of Galileo finished a good second over 1m2f behind the smart Hurricane Lane, who then went on to win again at York in the Group Two Dante Stakes.

Maximal also franked that form line next time out when another close up second behind another nice type in El Drama in a Listed event at Chester.

At 7/2 he offers some stand out form in this race and dropping back to the lesser trip of 8.5 furlongs should see him go close.

One of the hardest events to call across the two days at Epsom is the Dash Handicap over five furlongs and with that in mind we have played it safe with two each way angles.

The first horse we fancy is the Tim Easterby trained Sunday Sovereign who was a smart horse as a juvenile in Ireland for Paddy Twomey, and having had a blip now seems to be back on track for the Yorkshire based trainer.

Having seen off the smart Arizona on his second over six furlongs in 2019, he then backed that up at Tipperary over 5f winning by seven lengths.

He then headed to Royal Ascot as a leading contender for the Group Two Norfolk Stakes but overall he was outclassed on the day.

Sunday Sovereign was only seen twice as a three year old finishing last in the Listed Scurry Stakes at Sandown and then only beating one home at York in an apprentice handicap.

Looking to get him back to form he was given time off and returned in May this term finishing midfield in a big handicap on debut won by his stablemate Copper Knight.

However, last time out he got back to form in a big way when a close second on a good 5f handicap at York and that could spark a revival.

The other runner at a similar each way price is the Kevin Coleman trained Only Spoofing who has been seen frequently in these types of events for the last few seasons.

The seven year old last time got off the mark on his fourth start for this new yard having left Jedd O'Keefe and he was a smart winner of a handicap over 5f at Navan.

He seemed to have a fair bit in hand that day and although going up 9lb he looks a live player with things now seeming to click.

The gelding has been seen placing in these types of events off this high mark before, meaning the penalty should not hinder his progress this term.

The feature race of the flat season is here with the Group Once Cazoo Derby seeing 12 head to post and Bolshoi Ballet for Aidan O'Brien is hard to look past.

The three year old son of Galileo was seen three times as a juvenile, finishing third at Newmarket on debut over a mile in a Maiden and backing that up at Leopardstown over the same trip when getting off the mark for the first time in his career.

He was sent to Saint-Cloud for the Group One Criterium and could only finish a close up fifth behind some nice horses, wit the softer ground going against him.

The colt came back for his first race of the season over course and distance at Leopardstown and managed to land the Group Three Ballysax Stakes in good style.

It showed his versatility winning on good ground and having handled soft in the past he put him in good stead for his trip back over C&D in the Derrinstown Derby Trial.

Taking on the likes of Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney and Southern Lights who both head for the Derby, he left the field for dead to win the Group Three event over 1m2f.

It is the the leading performance heading into the race and it makes him the rightful favourite.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the is the 1m4f Northern Dancer Handicap and Soto Sizzler for David Menuisier looks a big player.

Although not showing the best of form of late this six year old really seems to act round Epsom, having three starts at the track and winning twice and placing in the other, both of them coming over this course and distance.

The latest win at the track came in this race back in 2019 renewal of this race and only 6lb higher really puts him in the mix.

His last run at the track saw him finish a close second behind the smart Group One Power, who has since franked the form by running a good race at Ascot in tough conditions.

The final event of the Derby meeting sees the big fielded Cazoo Handicap over 6f and with that in mind we have two each way selections.

The first is the Joseph Tuite trained Kimifive who has been out of sorts recently but that has meant he has dropped down to a very respectable mark.

In August 2020 he finished a narrow second to smart sprinter Summerghand in the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood off a mark of 92 and he goes in this event off the same mark.

Having had one race this season at Goodwood over 7f and finishing a fair third it would have set him up perfect for a crack at this event.

Looks weighted to strike.

At a much bigger price is the Amanda Perrett trained Open Wide who looks to have big place aspirations if coming on for his seasonal reappearance.

Three starts ago the seven year old was a nice winner of a decent handicap at Kempton on the all weather and next time out over the same C&D he tried to back it up but the 6lb penalty told.

Back on turf last time out he was fourth of six on quick ground at Goodwood being unsuited by the steady pace, with this gelding needing a quick tempo from the front.

He is now down to a mark of 91 which is workable having won and placed in similar races to this off higher before in his career.

Place claims.