15:45 Epsom Downs

Saturday 2 June 2018

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

Investec Corporate Banking 'Dash' Handicap

Off time: 15:49 | Winning time: 54.95s

(10)

Duke Of Firenze⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 107| CD

12/1

Finished a good second in this race last year off this mark and won it in 2013. Been below form in two starts this year and hold up style leaves him a hostage to fortune but can't be ruled out given his record in the race.

Form: 0094-40

(2)

Caspian Prince^t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: M Appleby| OR: 106| CD

7/1

Overcame a low draw in this race last year, a third win in the race and went on to win a Group 2 at the Curragh. Remarkably returns below last years winning mark and likely to re-find his form for his new yard sooner rather than later.

Form: 5-13066

(11)

Equimou²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Winston| T: R Eddery| OR: 100| D

25/1

Won twice last year and not disgraced in a Group 3 at Newmarket last time. Handicap mark has suffered as a result of the effort at pattern level though and others make more appeal.

Form: 81440-4

(4)

Edward Lewis⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| BF| D

8/1

Won twice at the start of last year's campaign and while he's yet to get his head back in front, he's been running well in some competitive York handicaps recently. May not quite have the raw speed for this test.

Form: 250-655

(14)

Blue De Vega^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 96

8/1

Group 3 winner as a juvenile and while he's not won since, he's an interesting recruit for this yard who excel with their sprinters. Good run last time at Thirsk and will be doing his best work in the finish.

Form: 2-58342

(3)

Desert Law¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 95| CD

33/1

Won this race in 2016 and while he's been struggling a shade lately, it's likely this will have been his long term target. Not beaten far in last year's renewal of this but whether he wants the ground this soft is another question.

Form: 166-860

(12)

Pettochside⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J J Bridger| OR: 95| C| D

33/1

Just about a career best when winning at Goodwood two starts back. More needed from a higher mark here though and he would probably prefer a stiff 5f over this speed test.

Form: 130-817

(9)

Boom The Groom³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: A W Carroll| OR: 93| D

13/2

Placed in this race in 2015 and shaped like a return to form may be imminent last time over C&D. Not won for some time but well-handicapped as a result and likely to get his head back in front at some stage. De Sousa taking over an obvious positive.

Form: 254754

(5)

Tarboosh³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: P T Midgley| OR: 92| D

16/1

Won four times last year and met some trouble in running over C&D last time out. Possible there's more to come this year and goes in the ground so can't be ruled out.

Form: 5113-79

(7)

Storm Over⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: N Mackay| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 91| BF| D

14/1

Three wins from six starts in his career. Rather disappointing when sent off 9/4 favourite at Newmarket on his return. While there's more to come, may lack the experience needed for this test and needs a clear career best.

Form: 1/1351-6

(19)

Dark Shot¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 88| D

11/2

Ran a huge race at York last time out when narrowly defeated by a speedy sort and allowed to race from the same mark here. Looks all speed and runner-up in this last year from just 1lb lower. Should go well.

Form: 25540-2

(20)

Harry Hurricane²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: George Baker| OR: 88| D

9/1

Looks regressive and losing run is mounting up. Probably wants better ground than what he will get here and others preferred.

Form: 900-758

(1)

Just That Lord²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: J F Egan| T: M J Attwater| OR: 85| D

16/1

Has been running well this winter on AW and converted that form to turf when narrowly beaten over C&D two runs back. Did too much too soon at Lingfield last time and capable of bouncing back.

Form: 413134

(15)

Verne Castle^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: M Wigham| OR: 84| D

33/1

Won five times in the space of six races in the winter of 2016/17 but has lost his way since and shown nothing in two starts for his new yard. Hard to fancy in this form and soft ground probably against him here.

Form: 0406-05

(17)

Super Julius^v1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 83| BF| D

25/1

Inconsistent sprinter and still above his highest winning mark for this. A fast 5f probably a bit sharp for him and others preferred here. Wears first-time visor.

Form: 96-0528

(16)

Tanasoq¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 76| D

12/1

Has recaptured his form for his new yard and arrives in a hat-trick bid. Completely different ground here is a concern but still unexposed and due to go up 3lb when handicapper has his say.

Form: 6-02911

(8)

Lucky Beggar^h¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-0| J: P Sirigu| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 81| D

33/1

In good form around this time last year and bounced back with a smart effort at Doncaster. Not in the same form last time though and may find this test on the sharp side.

Form: 9004-20

(13)

Bahamian Sunrise^v1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-0| J: P Mathers| T: J Gallagher| OR: 81| BF| CD

25/1

Recorded a narrow C&D success in April but 4lb higher here and this is a tougher race. Can be forgiven his run last time out over 6f and gets a first-time visor so he's not to be ruled out.

Form: 7-44136

(6)

Shamshon^b1,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-0| J: Raul Da Silva| T: S C Williams| OR: 80| D

25/1

Just one win in 23 starts for this yard and running below form of late. Gets first-time blinkers but has plenty on his plate from out of the handicap.

Form: 622635

(18)

Aleef^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79

33/1

Won at Chelmsford in December but has done all his winning over 6f and he's hard to fancy from out of the handicap.

Form: 364056

Forecasts

Dark Shot (11/2), Boom The Groom (13/2), Caspian Prince (7/1), Blue De Vega (8/1), Edward Lewis (8/1), Harry Hurricane (9/1), Tanasoq (12/1), Duke Of Firenze (12/1), Storm Over (14/1), Just That Lord (16/1), Tarboosh (16/1), Shamshon (25/1), Equimou (25/1), Bahamian Sunrise (25/1), Super Julius (25/1), Pettochside (33/1), Lucky Beggar (33/1), Desert Law (33/1), Aleef (33/1), Verne Castle (33/1)

Mick Appleby does well with his older horses and getting them back to form and CASPIAN PRINCE, who has already won this race three times in his career, is taken to do so again from a 1lb lower mark than last year's success. Just That Lord can be forgiven his run last time and can go well again while Dark Shot was runner-up in this race last year and looks like an each-way player after a fine effort at York last time out.