15:10 Epsom Downs

Saturday 1 June 2019

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

Investec Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 40.46s

(1)

Chief Ironside²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Watson| T: W Jarvis| OR: 104

16/1

Maiden winner at Chester before winning at Newmarket two starts later. Form tailed off towards the end of the campaign though and didn't beat a rival home at Chester last time out. Better ground may help but has something to find on form.

Form: 15337-6

(7)

Mordin^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 106

13/2

Won his first three starts and put up a big effort in the Cambridgeshire at the end of 2018. Impressive when winning on return at Haydock and remains open to further improvement.

Form: 22022-1

(4)

Oh This Is Us¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 111

8/1

Remarkable effort to win a handicap from a mark of 108 at Chester last year and has been running well on AW this winter, landing a big pot on AW Finals' Day. Only narrowly denied in Listed class at Windsor last time and should go well again.

Form: 217162

(2)

Zaaki³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 112

11/8

Listed winner at Ascot on return when getting the better of the returning Barney Roy. That rival possibly not fully wound up for that test so it's probably best not to view that form literally. Each-way claims regardless.

Form: 33237-1

(5)

Zabriskie²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: L Comer| OR: 100

66/1

Promising effort in last year's Dante but struggled subsequently and opposable on seasonal bow making debut for a new yard.

Form: 30807-9

(6)

Bye Bye Hong Kong¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 112

13/8

Placed in Group class as a juvenile and won on return at Chelmsford. Narrowly beat Oh This Is Us in a career best effort in Listed class at Windsor last time but his age group have a poor record in this race and this track will pose a new question.

Form: 3152-11

Non-Runners

(3)

Master The World⁴³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 8

T: D R C Elsworth J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Zaaki (11/8), Bye Bye Hong Kong (13/8), Mordin (13/2), Oh This Is Us (8/1), Chief Ironside (16/1), Master The World (20/1), Zabriskie (66/1)

An intriguing renewal of this race but a chance is taken on the progressive MORDIN who finished runner-up in a typically competitive renewal of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire last year. The five-year-old looked better than ever at Haydock on return and can go well again here. Oh This Is Us is a consistent sort but Zaaki could be the main danger after his win at Ascot last time.