Epsom Saturday Preview - 01/06/2019

14:00 - Le Don De Vie

The first horse on Derby day comes in the Class 2 Handicap over 1mile 3 furlongs and we have gone for the Andrew Balding trained Le Don De Vie.

This smart three year old looks to have a great chance in this contest off the back of his seasonal debut at Epsom in April and with this being a tricky track and knowing he can handle it is a huge positive.

He is stepping up into Class 2 company which means he will need to improve off the back of that run and another step up in trip looks sure to suit.

14:35 - Awesometank

The next contest of the day is the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and in the Group 3 contest we have gone for the William Haggas trained Awesometank.

This four year old filly holds plenty of ability winning some nice races and finishing runner up a few times behind some really strong horses.

The drying ground is a huge positive for him as she loves quick ground and on her seasonal debut at Goodwood she won nicely in a Listed contest that sets her up perfectly to come on and be better in this company.

15:10 - Zaaki

The third race of the day is another Group 3 in the Diomed Stakes and we have selected the Sir Michael Stoute trained Zaaki to continue he unbeaten seasonal run.

This four year old gelding looks to be the one to beat from his seasonal debut landing the Queen Anne Stakes Trial at Ascot beating Group 1 winning Barney Roy who has franked the form since that race.

That reappearance win was over a mile on good ground and he will get the same conditions on Saturday and he should be able to handle the track.

Leading Chance.

15:45 - Dark Shot

The Epsom Dash over five furlongs is up next and this race which is normally very hard to work out we think we have a live each way chance with Dark Shot for trainer Scott Dixon.

This pacy six year old Gelding has been hit and miss in previous seasons but has this season in two of his three runs finished credible seconds on good to firm ground.

He will revel in this quick ground and although not winning for some time he has ran to a good standard, finishing second in this race two years ago.

16:30 - Telecaster

The feature race of the two day meeting and for some punters the flat racing season, the Investec Derby sees 13 runners got to post to race over 1 mile 4 and we have sided with the Hughie Morrison trained Telecaster.

This three year old colt has been superb in his first racing season finishing second on his debut behind British rival Bangkok but from there has been unbeaten in his last two runs.

He went to Windsor next where he hacked up by eight lengths in a Class 5 but then stepped up another level completely winning the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York to make him a serious contender in this one.

He is stepping up in trip again but from his last run it looks like it will suit and although having a tricky draw in stall 2 he is a very progressive and improving horse that holds a strong chance.

17:15 - Sextant

The penultimate race of the two day meeting comes in the Class 2 Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs and we have gone with Sextant for trainer Sir Michael Stoute to land the spoils.

This four year old gelding owned by the Queen looks to be a leading contender in this field off the back of a smart seasonal and handicap debut at Ascot where he was a clearcut winner.

Before that he had finished second in two good races but he looks a different animal this season and being unexposed should help him in this company.

17:50 - Watchable

The final race of the day is the Class 2 Handicap where the winner will be given the Tokyo Trophy and we hope the horse picking up that prize is the David O'Meara trained Watchable.

This nine year old is having his third crack at this contest and has a leading chance off the back of his recent form finishing in the top three places in four of his last six races.

His last performance looks some of the strongest form on offer beating eight other runners in a decent Class 3 at Doncaster and with Oisin Murphy set to ride he can't be discounted.