17:20 Epsom Downs

Saturday 6 June 2026

All13:3014:0514:4015:1516:0016:4017:2017:55

HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 45.57s

(1)

Spinning Wheel¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 102| D

16/5

Ended 2025 firmly on the up with a gutsy success in 9-runner handicap at Leicester (1½m) in October and ran a race full of promise when second of 7 at Goodwood (1¾m) 7 months on. Still unexposed after just 6 career starts and has to be on the shortlist.

Form: 11021-2

(11)

Military Academy^b³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Paddy Bradley| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 102| D

33/1

Showed signs of temperament towards the end of a winless 4-y-o season for the Gosden stable but made a positive start for current connections when a close third in the Winter Derby at Lingfield. Run best excused at Newmarket latest, though he makes only limited appeal from a 3-figure handicap mark.

Form: 723055

(17)

Lord Melbourne³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jack Dace⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97| CD

15/2

November Handicap winner at Doncaster on final start in 2024 and followed up almost 11 months later here (second course success). Has yet to find his form this year, though.

Form: 1/16-509

(4)

Dancing In Paris²⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: Ian Williams| OR: 93| D

40/1

Acquitted himself well without winning in staying handicaps last year, and while it's easy to forgive his end-of-season effort at Haydock in September, he's probably better over further nowadays.

Form: 328240-

(12)

Asgard's Captain²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: D Egan| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 92| CD

14/1

A dual 1½m scorer in 2025 (first over C&D). In good form at Meydan in the winter and quickly put a slightly disappointing effort behind him when resuming winning ways at Newmarket 22 days ago, despite going in snatches. Nudged up 3 lb.

Form: 32-5341

(6)

Antrim^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 92

50/1

Useful 3-time winner on artificial surfaces, including in Dubai earlier this year. Ran up to his best on first turf start for current yard when 5¾ lengths third of 7 to Elsass in handicap at Hamilton (11f, good to firm) 22 days ago, though did have the run of things.

Form: 414983

(8)

Night Breeze^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Ian Williams| OR: 91| CD

15/2

Showed improved form in 2025, winning twice at Ascot. Looked better than ever when off the mark for the season in 5-runner handicap over C&D in April and that form is working out better than expected.

Form: 540341

(10)

Give It To Me Oj^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Toby Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 89| CD

10/3

In top form for most of 2025, completing a cross-code 5-timer, including a brace of C&D handicaps. Shaped well in a Cheltenham Festival handicap hurdle in March and his stamina perhaps gave way on his first try at 2m on the level at Goodwood latest. 7 lb claimer takes over and remains of interest.

Form: 327/11-3

(2)

Max Mayhem¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Marco Ghiani| T: George Baker| OR: 89| D

20/1

Struggled in Bahrain at the start of the year following a stable switch but made it clear he's not one to write off when producing a more encouraging effort back at 1½m at Kempton 10 days ago.

Form: 969-007

(13)

Too Soon^p1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Warren Fentiman⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 88| C

17/2

Course winner at 2 yrs and although he hasn't added to his tally in the meantime, he ran well when fourth of 14 in a strong 1½m handicap at Ascot in May. Failed to see out the longer trip at Goodwood since but interesting now back down in distance with yard starting to turn a corner.

Form: 338-045

(16)

Gordon Grey^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: George Baker| OR: 87| CD

18/1

Completed 4-timer (first success over hurdles) with 5-length victory over C&D in August on final start for B. F. Brookhouse. Had a couple of spins in Bahrain prior to finishing down the field at Ascot latest and has probably been trained with this in mind (3-4 here). Tongue tie refitted.

Form: 111-939

(15)

Bulletin¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Davies| T: J G Portman| OR: 87

15/2

Improved for going up in trip last season, doubling his tally in 11f handicap at Kempton in August. Has held form well since, posting another solid effort when fourth of 13 in 1½m handicap back at aforementioned track latest. Should continue to run well for all that soft ground would be an unknown.

Form: 143-324

(7)

Hengest⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Ray Dawson| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 82| D

12/1

Improving Night of Thunder 4-y-o who completed a hat-trick in 4-runner handicap at Yarmouth (1¼m, good to firm) 9 days ago, driven out when closed down only late in the day. This is obviously tougher but there's surely more to come from him now that his stamina is drawn out further.

Form: 7-64111

Non-Runners

(3)

Prydwen²⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 8

T: George Scott J: Tom Marquand

(14)

Regal Ulixes²²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

(9)

Elsass²²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: C Johnston J: Connor Beasley

(5)

Northwest Passage¹⁷

Weight: 8-4| Age: 4

T: I Furtado J: Laura Pearson

Forecasts

Spinning Wheel (16/5), Give It To Me Oj (10/3), Elsass (5/1), Night Breeze (15/2), Bulletin (15/2), Lord Melbourne (15/2), Regal Ulixes (8/1), Too Soon (17/2), Hengest (12/1), Prydwen (12/1), Asgard's Captain (14/1), Gordon Grey (18/1), Max Mayhem (20/1), Military Academy (33/1), Northwest Passage (33/1), Dancing In Paris (40/1), Antrim (50/1)

A deep-looking renewal of this handicap with TOO SOON receiving the tentative vote. He hasn't added to his tally since winning a good race at this venue as a juvenile, but his fourth at Ascot 2 starts ago is among the best recent form on offer and he looks primed for a big run back over a more suitable trip with his yard beginning to turn a corner. Gordon Grey is also of interest given his excellent course record, while Spinning Wheel and Hengest are two unexposed 4-y-os to note.