15:45 Epsom Downs

Friday 4 June 2021

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1017:40

Cazoo Handicap

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 2m 12.46s

(8)

Sky Defender³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104| CD

11/1

Mixed record this year, only fourth of 5 in 1m4f handicap at Newmarket 33 days ago, but his last victory came in this event 12 months ago so he can't be discounted.

Form: 264424

(6)

Victory Chime⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102| CD

11/2

Likeable type who arrives on back of C&D success 45 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Sky Defender. Up 4 lb but front runner is still not taken lightly.

Form: 4412-31

(10)

Strait Of Hormuz²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 92| D

5/1

Dual winner at Haydock and Doncaster last summer who wasn't disgraced after 7 months off when fading seventh of 15 in 1m4f handicap at York last month. Can make his presence felt now.

Form: 15219-7

(9)

Blue Cup^h1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D Menuisier| OR: 92| BF| D

9/2

Low-mileage 5-y-o who returned with eye-catching fifth over C&D but raced too freely when only seventh in 1m2f York handicap three weeks ago. Hood goes on now and he remains of major interest.

Form: 4/515-57

(5)

Dream With Me²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| D

15/2

Has returned an improved model in 2021, and made it 3-4 with ready victory in 1m2f Ayr handicap 24 days ago. Hit with 7 lb rise but he remains one to keep on the right side.

Form: 52-1311

(7)

HMS President²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: W Buick| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 89| D

5/1

Right back on track when landing 1m2f handicap at Windsor 25 days ago. 4 lb rise demands more but he's still relatively lightly raced. Shortlisted.

Form: 2343-01

(4)

Kaleidoscopic¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: M R Channon| OR: 89| D

15/2

Useful filly who arrives in very good nick, sixth of 10 to Bharani Star in 1m2f listed race at Ayr 12 days ago. Others are better treated at these weights, however.

Form: 171-226

(11)

Data Protection^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 87| C| D

8/1

Dual 1m2f winner last summer who made an encouraging return when third of 9 in 1m2f handicap at Chester four weeks ago. Course winner too, so he's worth a second look.

Form: 31005-3

(1)

Water's Edge^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Nicola Currie| T: George Baker| OR: 84| D

25/1

Three-time winner in 2020 who turned in best run of this term when third of 12 in 1m2f handicap at Windsor 25 days ago. No forlorn hope off an unchanged mark.

Form: 114-053

Non-Runners

(3)

You're Hired²¹²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 8

T: Mrs A J Perrett J: James Doyle

(2)

Lawn Ranger²⁸

Weight: 8-8| Age: 6

T: M J Attwater J: Callum Shepherd

Forecasts

Blue Cup (9/2), HMS President (5/1), Strait Of Hormuz (5/1), Victory Chime (11/2), Dream With Me (15/2), Kaleidoscopic (15/2), Data Protection (8/1), Sky Defender (11/1), You're Hired (16/1), Lawn Ranger (20/1), Water's Edge (25/1)

A case can be made for most of these but the most persuasive one is for BLUE CUP who figures on a very good mark and is worth forgiving his over-exuberant York seventh now the hood goes on. Dream With Me arrives firmly on the up and is feared most in his hat-trick bid, although both Strait of Hormuz and Victory Chime are two more who bring solid credentials to the table in a cracking handicap.