15:45 Epsom Downs

Saturday 3 June 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1517:50

Investec Corporate Banking 'Dash' Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 54.92s

(20)

Kimberella²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 109| D

6/1

Improved since joining this yard and very unlucky not to win this last year after a very slow start. Not disgraced in Group 3 company last time and won his previous two starts on the AW. Unlikely to want any rain but should go well for for a useful claimer worth the 7lb he takes off and high draw no bad thing on the sprint course.

Form: 336-117

(1)

Caspian Prince^h,t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 107| CD

25/1

12 wins from 51 starts with three of those coming here. Landed this last year from 3lb lower but low draw not ideal this time around and he was a no show at York last week. Looks opposable in a race as competitive as this.

Form: 533759

(12)

Duke Of Firenze¹⁶^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 103| CD

9/1

Won the 2013 renewal of this race and not beaten far when third last year having been drawn on the wrong side. Should go well again but 4lb higher than he's ever won off after a win at York last time and possibly a little vulnerable to better handicapped sorts.

Form: 266-641

(18)

Boom The Groom⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: A W Carroll| OR: 104| D

8/1

Bit of a hit and miss sort and never won off a mark this high. Well suited to AW surfaces or good to firm ground and probably won't get that here. Can race keenly, as seen last time and he'll be of more interest when back down the handicap.

Form: 66-3648

(8)

Move In Time^v¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

33/1

2014 Prix de l'Abbaye winner but on a poor run of form currently and finished nearer last than first on his most recent four starts. Visor reapplied and while he looks on a fair mark, he's hard to recommend in current form.

Form: 82000-0

(14)

Bowson Fred⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 100| D

14/1

Knocking on the door of late but set to struggle in a deeper contest, 9lb higher than his last winning mark.

Form: 532522

(11)

Edward Lewis¹⁴^{(ex 4)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| BF| D

14/1

Just one win last year but has improved for the switch to this yard and won two wins from four starts this season. Would appear to be the second string on jockey bookings though and doesn't appear to be particularly well-handicapped now.

Form: 27-1214

(15)

Line Of Reason^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 97| D

12/1

Very smart on his day but losing run now stands at 18. Back down to a feasible looking mark at least but his best efforts have come on good to firm.

Form: 658347

(9)

Desert Law⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P T Midgley| OR: 94| CD

8/1

Smart hold-up performer who bounced back to form at Musselburgh last time out. All of his wins since his debut effort have come on good to firm though and while he won easily enough last time out, suggesting he will be going in again soon, he's unlikely to get the conditions he needs to be seen to best effect.

Form: 70000-1

(7)

El Astronaute²⁴^{(ex 4)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 90| CD

12/1

C&D winner seemingly on the upgrade this season. Has plenty of early speed but only narrowly held on at Chester last time and 4lb higher mark leaves him with needing to find a little more. Should enjoy the nature of this track and each-way claims.

Form: 0410-11

(16)

Union Rose⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: F Sweeney| T: R Harris| OR: 93| D

33/1

Not the most consistent sort and unplaced on his last eight outings. Needs soft conditions to be seen at his best and not discounted if the rain comes from a nice draw.

Form: 070-658

(2)

Majestic Hero²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Harris| OR: 92| CD

33/1

C&D winner in April and while he failed to show his best at Chester last time, that run was too bad to be true and he should do better here.

Form: 000-219

(17)

Exceed The Limit¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 92| D

25/1

Winner in France in soft conditions but yet to score on these shores. Ran okay on the AW two starts back and likely has one in him off this mark but softer conditions would be more up his street. Drawn nicely and should go well if the rain arrives.

Form: 4508-29

(3)

Sign of The Kodiac^b1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: F Norton| T: J G Given| OR: 91| D

25/1

Won a conditions event at Dundalk three starts back but doesn't look as effective on turf. Needs the first-time blinkers to bring improvement.

Form: 096175

(5)

A Momentofmadness^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: S De Sousa| T: C Hills| OR: 91| D

8/1

Unbeaten on three AW starts including when making all at Kempton on his first start this year. Missed the break at Goodwood but recovered to lead by halfway before finding one too good. That winner has run well since in a big handicap so he has to have a chance with more likely to come and jockey booking catches the eye.

Form: 0060-12

(4)

Blithe Spirit¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: E J Alston| OR: 90| D

50/1

Won at Chester in July but soundly beaten on all her recent starts and hard to fancy on current form despite falling back down to her last winning mark.

Form: 600-089

(10)

Dark Shot²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 87| BF| D

10/1

Very consistent sort who gives the impression that there is still more to come. Versatile ground wise and should go from strength to strength this season. Leading player.

Form: 1441-43

(13)

Excessable^t¹²^{(ex 4)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

8/1

Has recorded back-to-back wins on his last two starts and connections seem to have found the key to him. 4lb rise may not be enough to stop him in his hat-trick bid but unlikely to want any rain.

Form: 800-311

(19)

Olivia Fallow¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

16/1

Not won since 2015 and still 5lb ahead of her last winning mark. Not beaten far last time but likely to struggle in a deeper contest.

Form: 260-473

Non-Runners

(6)

Orvar²²

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: R M H Cowell J: Liam Jones

Forecasts

Kimberella (6/1), A Momentofmadness (8/1), Boom The Groom (8/1), Desert Law (8/1), Excessable (8/1), Duke Of Firenze (9/1), Dark Shot (10/1), El Astronaute (12/1), Line Of Reason (12/1), Edward Lewis (14/1), Bowson Fred (14/1), Olivia Fallow (16/1), Orvar (20/1), Caspian Prince (25/1), Exceed The Limit (25/1), Sign of The Kodiac (25/1), Majestic Hero (33/1), Move In Time (33/1), Union Rose (33/1), Blithe Spirit (50/1)

A MOMENTOFMADNESS arrives in fine form and he could be hard to beat with De Sousa up in the saddle. Kimberella was unlucky not to win this last year and can go well again for young 7lb claimer Connor Murtagh. Dark Shot has been running well without getting his head in front and he gives the impression there will be more to come this season.