15:20 Epsom Downs

Saturday 3 June 2023

All12:5013:3014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Aston Martin 'Dash' Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 54.23s

(7)

Silky Wilkie²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 107| D

17/2

In good form on the AW during the winter and looked better than ever when storming clear in the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh in April. Below that level in a couple of Group 3 contests at Newmarket since but shouldn't stay down for long reverted to handicap company.

Form: 218175

(13)

Mountain Peak¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 101| D

25/1

Found only one too good in this corresponding event last year and very useful form when making all in a big-field handicap at Ascot in July. Mixed bag after, and probably needed the run on his recent return at York (5f, firm) just over 2 weeks ago.

Form: 18038-0

(2)

Clarendon House¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 100| D

13/2

Progressive 4-time winner as a 3-y-o who was highly tried on the back of success in small field conditions' event at Beverley (5f) last summer. Good second back at that venue in September and should come on from his fifth at York (5f, firm) recently. Firmly in the mix.

Form: 15602-5

(6)

Look Out Louis^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 96| D

25/1

Enjoyed an excellent 2022 campaign, scoring 4 times. Almost certainly needed the run in a listed contest in February but ran poorly after 11 weeks off at Chester just over 3 weeks ago, the ground possibly to blame. Dropped 3 lb and can get back on track.

Form: 1010-76

(14)

Alligator Alley^t,v1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

18/1

Completed AW hat-trick at Southwell in January. A bit below his best since though, only eighth of 14 at York (5f, good to firm) last week. First-time visor added to his usual tongue tie and he's dropped to handy mark.

Form: 443068

(8)

Zarzyni^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 94| D

17/2

Ended last season with a couple of below-par efforts but stepped up on reappearance effort when a close seventh of 14 at York (5f, good to firm) last week. Should move forward again with that under his belt.

Form: 0000-57

(4)

One Night Stand⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: S Dixon| OR: 92| D

40/1

Won a couple of times on the all-weather early last year, including listed Hever Sprint Stakes at Lingfield. Has failed to cut much ice both outings in listed events there this year and this is a first attempt on turf for his current handler.

Form: 4164-09

(10)

Came From The Dark¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 91| D

20/1

Last season was essentially disappointing, but it's taken a couple of outings to get back to form this year, third of 8 at Newmarket (5f, good) a fortnight ago. More needed to land this.

Form: 855-363

(16)

Ancient Times^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁷⁾| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 91| BF| C| D

8/1

Dual 5f winner early last season who was well backed but shaped as if just needing the run in first-time tongue strap after 8 months off when fourth at Newmarket (5f, good) a fortnight ago. Should be spot on this time and yard are flying.

Form: 12024-4

(19)

Vintage Clarets³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| BF| D

15/2

Fairly useful 6f winner who resumed with an unlucky-in-running second of 13 at Musselburgh (5f, soft) in April. Failed to build on that at Ripon (5f, heavy) subsequently, but not discounted with Murphy on board for the first time and his mark easing a shade.

Form: 0229-24

(5)

Navello^p,t⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: G Boughey| OR: 88| BF| D

25/1

Found bundles for pressure when scoring at Thirsk (5f, good) last month and ran creditably on the back of a 4 lb rise 5 days ago at Windsor, fading only last ½f. Cheekpieces back on and seems to be taking his racing well.

Form: 58-5713

(15)

Lord Riddiford¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: Marco Ghiani| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 87| D

33/1

Landed a Goodwood handicap for the second year running last July and has posted several sound efforts since. Last couple weren't so good however, but he's down to his last successful mark as a result.

Form: 34-4380

(20)

Live In The Moment^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 87| D

6/1

Not scored since 2020 and hard to catch right but bounced back to form on just his second start for the yard when runner-up at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) a fortnight ago. Came eighth in this last year and should give a good account with the blinkers going back on.

Form: 4830-02

(11)

Mokaatil^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: S D Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Won over C&D last spring and added to his tally at Sandown in August. Did take a few runs to find his form last year and little in the way of promise at Newmarket in April. Headgear back on and did land this in 2021 (also fourth 12 months ago).

Form: 15634-9

(17)

Angle Land^v⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 84| D

14/1

Bagged three handicaps on AW during the winter (all at 5f) and better than ever as she scored for just the second time on turf at Goodwood (5f, good to firm) 8 days ago by ¾ length from Lihou. 4 lb higher now and in the mix provided she copes with this quick turnaround.

Form: 125621

(12)

Sampers Seven¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-3| J: Greg Cheyne| T: M Appleby| OR: 84| BF| D

18/1

Faced a stiff task but ran well when 4 lengths seventh of 16 to Happy Romance in listed race at Bath on return and ran to similar level back in handicap company when third to Navello at Thirsk (5f, good) a fortnight ago. Should go well again.

Form: 5332-73

(18)

Lihou⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: P D Evans| OR: 84| CD

11/1

Resurgent from reduced mark this year, successful 3 times on AW and on top late on when going in again over C&D in April. Creditable efforts the last twice (latest when refitted in a visor) and no surprise to see him on the premises.

Form: 113132

(3)

The Thin Blue Line¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 82| D

50/1

Produced a career best with the run of things in his favour at Musselburgh in April and went down only narrowly in his follow up bid at Hamilton a fortnight later. Not seen to best effect at Carlisle (5f, good) 12 days ago (raced wide) and looks to have plenty on his plate.

Form: 0-00125

(9)

Papa Don't Preach¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 82| D

50/1

Capitalised on a falling mark at Newcastle in January and arrives here in good heart, 2 lengths fifth of 11 to Navello at Thirsk (5f, good) 2 weeks ago. This a much tougher assignment, however.

Form: 310625

(1)

Recon Mission²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Mollie Phillips⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 80| CD

40/1

Good runner-up efforts over C&D (heavy) and Lingfield (6f, AW) on first couple of starts back but was below form while racing widest of all at Nottingham (5f, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Looks up against it from out of the weights.

Form: 708-225

Forecasts

Live In The Moment (6/1), Clarendon House (13/2), Vintage Clarets (15/2), Ancient Times (8/1), Silky Wilkie (17/2), Zarzyni (17/2), Lihou (11/1), Angle Land (14/1), Mokaatil (16/1), Sampers Seven (18/1), Alligator Alley (18/1), Came From The Dark (20/1), Navello (25/1), Mountain Peak (25/1), Look Out Louis (25/1), Lord Riddiford (33/1), One Night Stand (40/1), Recon Mission (40/1), Papa Don't Preach (50/1), The Thin Blue Line (50/1)

A typically competitive renewal of the ultimate test of speed in British racing, CLARENDON HOUSE getting the nod having impressed with how he went through the contest before fading into fifth at York on reappearance recently. Ancient Times shaped as if just needing the run at Newmarket a fortnight ago, and with the services of a 7 lb claimer who's caught the eye in recent weeks, he's put forward as the main danger. Alligator Alley and 2021 winner Mokaatil are 2 others to consider.