15:20 Epsom Downs

Wednesday 24 April 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:00

Investec Corporate & Investment Banking Great Metropolitan Handicap

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 2m 35.89s

(10)

Not So Sleepy^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: H Morrison| OR: 96| C

5/1

Ran a host of excellent races in defeat last summer and gained some recompense with a win over hurdles at Wincanton this winter. Has won here in the past (1m2f) and with Moore aboard his list of positives is plentiful.

Form: 422327-

(12)

Fire Fighting¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96| C| D

10/1

Grand type a 13-time winner including here over 7f way back in 2013. Only 2lb above last win now and will certainly appreciate the expected fast ground. Not exactly well handicapped but no surprise if he goes well.

Form: 10-3205

(7)

Mount Tahan¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93| D

28/1

Hi reappearance effort can basically be dismissed given how wide he was carried by one of his rivals. That said recent seasons have suggested him far better on AW these days so others make greater appeal.

Form: 99486-7

(9)

Maybe Today^v³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 89| D

9/2

Gained second success last time out in the retained first-time visor where she defeated the re-opposing Fire Fighting by a neck. Up 4lb so must improve further but given relative youth that is entirely possible.

Form: 3222-61

(6)

Manjaam²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89| D

8/1

Five-time winner on AW made a disappointing stable debut on AW latest and given that he's every bit as effective on that surface such an effort has to be cause for concern.

Form: 65054-0

(13)

Eddystone Rock¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: J R Best| OR: 88| D

6/1

Has run well here in the past and kicked off his 2019 turf campaign with a strong finishing win at Leicester earlier this month. Not harshly treated for that and although this draw isn't ideal his hold-up style may alleviate it to a degree.

Form: 6-46461

(2)

Guns of Leros^v1¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 88| CD

20/1

Showed he can go well fresh when a 40/1 winner last season off a 588-day absence. Lost his way afterwards however but that means he starts out here 1lb lower. Could be the sort who goes best fresh now and not ruled out.

Form: 10/1507-

(14)

West Drive²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 86| D

33/1

Former Roger Varian inmate won one of six over hurdles for this yard over the winter. Only 2lb lower now than his last win on the level but past form suggests he prefers cut in the ground and draw obviously hazardous.

Form: 15159/3-

(11)

Soto Sizzler²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W J Knight| OR: 83| D

11/4

Goodwood winner as a three-year-old and showed his best days may yet lie ahead when a closing fifth over 1m3f at Kempton on return. Excellent jockey booked which has to be a positive and rates a leading player here.

Form: 23168-5

(8)

Medalla De Oro¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: L Morris| T: Tom Clover| OR: 82| CD

16/1

C&D winner for previous trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam last season and although that came on soft he seems every bit as good on a sounder surface. Only 2lb above that win for season/stable bow so can't be ruled out.

Form: 221965-

(4)

Noble Expression^v⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 82| BF

50/1

Dual AW scorer only ran once on turf and that his debut. Poor effort there although obviously could have been down to inexperience. Risky proposition but still quite lightly raced.

Form: 350-314

(3)

Emenem¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: S Dow| OR: 79| BF| C

10/1

Four-time AW winner out of luck this winter despite some sound efforts. This tougher however and turf record and long handicap suggest others are better options.

Form: 48-4532

Non-Runners

(5)

Reshoun¹⁴⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Jim Crowley

(1)

Akamanto²²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: R M Smith J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Soto Sizzler (11/4), Maybe Today (9/2), Not So Sleepy (5/1), Eddystone Rock (6/1), Manjaam (8/1), Reshoun (8/1), Emenem (10/1), Fire Fighting (10/1), Medalla De Oro (16/1), Akamanto (16/1), Guns of Leros (20/1), Mount Tahan (28/1), West Drive (33/1), Noble Expression (50/1)

In a fiendishly difficult contest the answer may be the relatively unexposed SOTO SIZZLER who shaped well on return and as a Goodwood winner he should handle the undulations here well. Fellow four-year-old Maybe Today looks the sort who could kick on this season based on her win first time out and others with legitimate chances include Eddystone Rock and Not So Sleepy.