15:10 Epsom Downs

Saturday 5 June 2021

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

Cazoo Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 1m 47.31s

(9)

Bell Rock^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 109| D

2/1

Smart performer who took form up another notch when winning 9f Newmarket handicap on reappearance 35 days ago. Can make his mark at pattern level on that evidence. Has cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 16330-1

(8)

Century Dream^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 114| CD

2/1

Won this race in 2018 and 2020 (run at Newbury. Added to his pattern-race is in Group 2 Celebration at Goodwood last August. Well held in Lockinge on return but much respected back in calmer waters.

Form: 15159-9

(3)

Duke Of Hazzard^b,t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: P & O Cole| OR: 110

11/2

Landed pair of pattern events over 1m at Goodwood in 2019. Failed to get his head in front in 2020 but was placed twice at Group 2 level. Should be sharper for Ascot return. Headgear also back on.

Form: 03285-7

(4)

Escobar^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 106

11/1

Failed to fire in Dubai at start of year but very much back on track when third in Victoria Cup at Ascot (7f, soft) last month. Does need to shrug off a lesser run at York since, though.

Form: 009336

(2)

Marie's Diamond³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 107

8/1

Established as a smart performer, running up to his best when runner-up in Group 3 Earl of Sefton at Newmarket on reappearance. Ran poorly at Ascot since but he's not the type to stay down for long.

Form: 6843-28

(1)

Oh This Is Us²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 108

18/1

Excellent servant to connections who edged out Prince Eiji when springing 66/1 surprise in 1m Ascot listed in April. Not at best at Windsor since but he has been placed twice in this before.

Form: 992914

(5)

Pholas^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: G Boughey| OR: 92

40/1

A big success story on AW this year, improving again to land valuable conditions event at Lingfield on Good Friday. No significant impact in turf listed events last twice, though. Vulnerable again.

Form: 251167

Non-Runners

(7)

Prince Eiji³⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: R Varian J: Andrea Atzeni

(6)

Maximal³⁰

Weight: 8-8| Age: 3

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Century Dream (2/1), Bell Rock (2/1), Maximal (7/2), Prince Eiji (4/1), Duke Of Hazzard (11/2), Marie's Diamond (8/1), Escobar (11/1), Oh This Is Us (18/1), Pholas (40/1)

CENTURY DREAM bounced back from a below-par reappearance to win this in 2018 and is taken to repeat the dose and land a third success in this race. Last month's Newmarket handicap winner Bell Rock is the danger, ahead of Oh This Is Us, another with previous in this Group 3.