15:45 Epsom Downs

Saturday 1 June 2019

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

Investec 'Dash' Handicap

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 54.0s

(10)

Caspian Prince^t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 114| CD

20/1

Has won three of the last five renewals of this and while he disappointed in this race last year, he got his head back in front at Musselburgh next time. Well beaten on return when out of his depth in a Group 1 and yet to win from a mark this high.

Form: 01220-6

(16)

Muthmir^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| D

8/1

Talented sprinter on his day and a dual Group 2 winner in 2015. Lost his way towards the back end of last year but has gone well fresh before and finds himself on his lowest handicap mark since 2014; should go well.

Form: 233300-

(15)

Copper Knight^t⁷^{(ex 4)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100| D

8/1

Running consistently well towards the back end of last year and kicked off this campaign in a similar vein with three placed efforts and a win in a 21 runner handicap at York. Not one to rule out in current form from a nice draw.

Form: 41-4213

(2)

Ornate¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Phil Dennis| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 99| D

33/1

Capitalised on a reduced handicap mark on AW and got his head back in front on turf at Newmarket in April. Signs in two subsequent starts that the assessor has him for now though and low draw often not ideal in this race.

Form: 225159

(11)

Open Wide^b,h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 93| D

25/1

Has three wins from 24 starts on turf, the latest a 5f success at Salisbury. At his best on fast ground and running well in defeat of late but others look better handicapped.

Form: 320-357

(4)

Line Of Reason¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-6| J: J Fanning| T: P T Midgley| OR: 92| D

33/1

Only has one win in his last 27 starts but has been shaping like a return to form is imminent so far this season and on a nice handicap mark. Yard have won two of the last four renewals and not one to rule out.

Form: 430-250

(7)

Blue De Vega^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: M Dwyer| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 91| BF| D

25/1

Only has one win since a Group 3 success in 2015 and while he's back below his last winning handicap mark, he still gives the impression he needs more relief from the handicapper.

Form: 50-2845

(8)

Fool For You²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S A Gray| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| D

40/1

Lightly raced filly who won twice last year and looked in need of the run on her reappearance at Chester last time. A return to quicker ground should suit and still not seen the best of her yet.

Form: 12213-6

(19)

Duke Of Firenze⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 10| Weight: 8-3| J: Nathan Evans| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 82| CD

8/1

Won this race from this draw back in 2013 and arrives in flying form having won at Thirsk and York on his last two starts. Still feasibly handicapped and plenty to like about his chance in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 0-55211

(14)

Eeh Bah Gum⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

9/1

Enjoyed a prolific three-year-old campaign, winning five times and has been running okay in defeat on his last two starts. Appreciates fast ground but above his last winning handicap mark and second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 517-048

(13)

Harome⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Nicola Currie| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 88| D

20/1

Won twice on fast ground over the minimum trip last year and shaped like a return to form was imminent in behind Duke Of Firenze last time out. That didn't go unnoticed by the handicapper but respected again here.

Form: 060-006

(17)

Recon Mission²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A W Carroll| OR: 95| D

9/1

Won twice last year and placed in Listed company at Navan in October. Improved from debut for this yard to finish runner-up at Chester last time out and still lightly raced; could be on a workable handicap mark here.

Form: 7123-42

(6)

Boom The Groom²²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-2| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 88| D

33/1

First win since 2016 at Wolverhampton in February but his form has dipped again since. Needs a strong pace to aim at but they don't always come back to the field at this venue and his overall record of three wins from 35 turf starts is off-putting.

Form: 731685

(18)

Hathiq^t⁶^{(ex 4)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Hogan| OR: 84| D

7/2

Returned from a near three year absence at the start of this campaign but very well bred and retains plenty of ability, as seen when winning at the Curragh last time. Every chance he's still well handicapped with just a 4lb penalty to cope with.

Form: 21/0211

(3)

Mokaatil^p1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-1| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

33/1

Won a maiden for Owen Burrows and got his head in front for this yard when returned to turf at Pontefract in April. Has run well in defeat in two starts since and just 2lb above his last winning mark; draw not ideal; wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5-65134

(5)

Just That Lord³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-1| J: J F Egan| T: M J Attwater| OR: 87| CD

16/1

C&D last time out and at his best over a fast 5f. 5lb rise to cope with and lower draw than ideal but clearly going the right way at present.

Form: 60-1651

(9)

Dark Shot^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-0| J: P Mathers| T: S Dixon| OR: 86| D

14/1

Narrowly denied in 2017's renewal of this race and has returned in excellent form this season, only narrowly beaten over C&D by Just That Lord on return and beaten just a neck by Duke Of Firenze at York last time; 4lb well in and big run expected.

Form: 500-252

(12)

Just Glamorous²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-0| J: J Quinn| T: G Harris| OR: 86| D

25/1

Listed winner in 2017 and while he hasn't won since, he was only narrowly denied on his seasonal return at Goodwood; well-handicapped if he can build on that.

Form: 69054-2

(20)

Daschas^t¹⁴^{(ex 4)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: S C Williams| OR: 82| D

16/1

Hit and miss performer but has run well in both starts this year, building on a promising reappearance with a win at Newmarket last time out. 4lb penalty to carry but still lightly raced and has a useful draw.

Form: 8105-21

Non-Runners

(1)

Stake Acclaim⁵⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 7

T: D K Ivory J: R Winston

Forecasts

Hathiq (7/2), Muthmir (8/1), Duke Of Firenze (8/1), Copper Knight (8/1), Eeh Bah Gum (9/1), Recon Mission (9/1), Dark Shot (14/1), Just That Lord (16/1), Daschas (16/1), Stake Acclaim (16/1), Harome (20/1), Caspian Prince (20/1), Blue De Vega (25/1), Open Wide (25/1), Just Glamorous (25/1), Ornate (33/1), Boom The Groom (33/1), Line Of Reason (33/1), Mokaatil (33/1), Fool For You (40/1)

HATHIQ bolted up at the Curragh last time and there's little doubt he's well handicapped at present. This is a different test but his draw's ideal (18) and he could take all the beating under a penalty. Muthmir has dropped to a nice mark and rates as a danger while Duke Of Firenze won this back in 2013 and has returned to form of late; the veteran could still be well-handicapped.