16:40 Epsom Downs

Friday 5 June 2026

All13:3014:0514:4015:1516:0016:4017:1517:50

HKJC World Pool Handicap

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 1m 46.99s

(4)

Ozat⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100| D

66/1

Four-time winner in France, including twice at Chantilly last spring. Probably needed the run on yard/handicap debut after 5 months off at Newbury and the assessor immediately eases his grip.

Form: 85248-0

(15)

Popmaster²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 97

28/1

Likeable 8-y-o who has been at the top of his game on all-weather this year, winning at Kempton (1m) and runner-up on 3 other occasions. Easy to excuse his latest Ascot effort given his draw/track position but his mark is probably high enough for competitive races.

Form: 212270

(8)

Mister Winston³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| BF

6/1

Largely progressive last year and improved again back from a gelding operation when winning 1m Newmarket handicap on return in April. Easy enough to excuse his follow-up effort back there (9f) just under 5 weeks ago (not well placed in far-side group) and remains one to be positive about.

Form: 4140-16

(13)

Thunder Roar²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 96

25/1

Looked better than ever when runner-up at York on his final start last term but is taking a while to find his feet this time around. Handicapper drops him 3 lb and market support should be noted with the booking of Colin Keane catching the eye.

Form: 102-700

(10)

Mirsky²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: H Crouch| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| CD

18/1

Back-to-back winner last season (including this race) and stepped forward from reappearance to land the Thirsk Hunt Cup last month. Wasn't handicapped out of things on the back of a 3 lb rise but proved to be a disappointment at York (1m, good) 12 days later so others more appealing.

Form: 109-310

(18)

Nizam⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95

50/1

Winner of 3 of his 9 starts in France, most recently landing a 1m Deauville handicap last summer. Went without headgear (again discarded) when down the field in Spring Cup at Newbury on return for new yard and may well come on from that here.

Form: 72156-0

(7)

Mr Swivell²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Ray Dawson| T: K P De Foy| OR: 93| D

28/1

Did well last season, winning 3 times and not seen to best effect in Cambridgeshire on final start in September. Shaped as if needing his recent reappearance run when seventh of 8 at Lingfield (7.5f, good to firm) last month but will need to step up plenty on that to feature here.

Form: 21820-7

(1)

Sterling Knight²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 92

14/1

Consistent last year and returned to his very best to score in some style in 12-runner event at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) just under 3 weeks ago, blessed by a favourable track position to beat the reopposing Jimmy Speaking by 2¼ lengths. Raised 5 lb but folly to discount.

Form: 0-60731

(2)

Man Of La Mancha²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89| D

5/1

Doubled his tally at Sandown (1m) last summer before following up over 9f at Newmarket in September. Shaping better than the distance beaten suggested with his return under his belt when fifth of 15 at Newbury (1m) last time and appeals as the type to progress in handicaps this term.

Form: 2411-45

(6)

Principality²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: George Wood| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 89

16/1

Stripped fitter for his reappearance outing and took full advantage of a mark 1 lb lower than for his previous handicap success when winning 11-runner event at Nottingham (1m, good) just under 4 weeks ago, no disadvantage in coming from off the pace. Nudged up 2 lb and holds place claims.

Form: 5345-01

(14)

Stem⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 89

6/1

Successful only start at 2 yrs and runner-up on 3 of his 4 starts last season, shaping with abundant promise when chasing home Eternal Force at Newbury (1m, soft) in September. Entitled to be sharper for April's reappearance and forecast conditions look firmly in his favour.

Form: 1/3022-9

(9)

Celeborn^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 89| CD

4/1

Debut winner at Leicester in June 2024 and scored impressively last April in 13-runner C&D handicap on his only 2025 outing, looking at home on this track. Understandably looked a tad rusty after further 13 months off at Newbury (1¼m) 3 weeks ago and he remains with potential. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 132/1-5

(3)

Bragbor²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89

18/1

Consistent sort who ran to a similar level as on return switched to turf when seventh of 11 at Chester (1¼m, good to firm) 4 weeks ago. Yard amongst the winners but will need to step forward to feature in this.

Form: 3224-77

(11)

Walsingham²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88

50/1

Recorded a hat-trick at Pontefract (twice) and Ascot last season. Stepped up on return when resuming winning ways at former course in April but had a lot more on his plate when down the field at York (1m, good) subsequently. This equally as competitive.

Form: 110-310

(5)

Asmen Warrior^b1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: James Owen| OR: 88

5/1

Holding form but at the same time proving rather expensive to follow in 7 starts since joining this yard, given a no-nonsense ride having first try back at 1m since his debut and proving a different proposition when narrowly denied at Windsor (1m) 11 days ago. Shortlisted in first-time blinkers.

Form: 262-232

(12)

Hot Cash²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 85| C

20/1

Won the Carlisle Bell off this mark last summer. Form gradually tailed off thereafter but showed benefit of last month's Newbury reappearance when going down narrowly at Thirsk (1m) last month. Has conditions in his favour again and he's another who can get involved.

Form: 5654-02

(16)

Jimmy Speaking²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 84

22/1

Has returned better than ever, justifying good support in 16-runner handicap at Doncaster on return before following up despite doing plenty wrong in 7-runner event at Southwell (7f). Ran well again when runner-up to Sterling Knight at Newmarket (1m) last time and he's respected in this mood.

Form: 700-112

(17)

Final Night²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J Butler| OR: 80

28/1

Progressive during second half of last year and further improvement when adding to his tally at Kempton (1m) in March. Ran another solid race when 3 lengths third of 12 to Sterling Knight at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last month but this demands more.

Form: 1-31623

Forecasts

Celeborn (4/1), Man Of La Mancha (5/1), Asmen Warrior (5/1), Mister Winston (6/1), Stem (6/1), Sterling Knight (14/1), Principality (16/1), Mirsky (18/1), Bragbor (18/1), Hot Cash (20/1), Jimmy Speaking (22/1), Thunder Roar (25/1), Popmaster (28/1), Final Night (28/1), Mr Swivell (28/1), Nizam (50/1), Walsingham (50/1), Ozat (66/1)

An open-looking contest in which preference is for ASMEN WARRIOR, who has found one too strong in 5 of his 7 starts for current connections but his latest Windsor effort represented a significant step forward. With first-time blinkers applied, he can gain a first handicap success at the expense of Stem, who is entitled to be sharper for his return and forecast conditions are in his favour. Mister Winston, Celeborn and Man of La Mancha are just a handful who may also feature, too.