15:35 Epsom Downs

Monday 31 August 2026

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

Betfred 'Nifty 50' Amateurs' Derby Handicap (Gentleman Amateur Jockeys) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 2m 41.14s

(14)

Sweet Reward³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr James Hills⁽⁴⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 87| C

50/1

Veteran who won twice on fast turf at Lingfield in May. Did too much too soon when well held at Sandown (1¼m, good to soft) next time but seemed beaten more by his mark than from a lack of fitness after an 11-week break when eleventh of 15 (40/1) at Goodwood (9f, good to firm) 30 days ago.

Form: 7-21190

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Gordon Grey^p,t⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: George Baker| OR: 85| CD

12/1

Completed a 4-timer (first success over hurdles) with 5-length victory over C&D in August on final start for B. F. Brookhouse. Placed for this yard in Bahrain over the winter but well beaten on both starts back in the UK, including back at C&D last time. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 11-9390

(10)

Great Bedwyn¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Lucas Murphy⁽⁴⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 83| D

20/1

Winless since last season's return but added to his good record fresh when runner-up on this season's comeback. Shaped as if back in form when third over an inadequate trip at York on his penultimate outing and looked unsuited by a relative test of speed when third at Newbury last time.

Form: 282833

(11)

Son Of Man¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr R Birkett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 82| D

28/1

Won over this trip at Lingfield in April and beaten a nose there soon after. Presumably amiss when tailed off at Kempton but failed to revive after a short break when ninth there (1½m, 28/1) 19 days ago.

Form: 512309

(4)

Epictetus^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Jack Loughnane⁽⁶⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 82| C

25/1

Snapped a long losing run in 7-runner handicap at Sandown (1¼m, good) 16 days ago, presumably aided by the belated fitting of a tongue strap. Seemingly found out by a 3 lb rise when a never-nearer sixth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (1¼m, all-weather) 9 days ago and likely to find a couple too good.

Form: 052316

(9)

Divine Knight³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Henry Callan| T: W J Haggas| OR: 81| BF

7/4

Beaten favourite on 3 of his 4 starts for this leading yard, albeit racing a shade closer to the pace than ideal when fifth of 8 in handicap at Newmarket (1½m, good to firm) 30 days ago. Has been dropped another 2 lb and leading amateur booked.

Form: 40-6335

(13)

Devil In The Sky^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr GA Ancenys⁽⁴⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 79| D

33/1

Six-time winner in France, the latest coming at La-Roche-Posay in June. Didn't look well suited by a relative test of speed when fourth of 7 in minor event at Longchamp (1½m, good to soft) 48 days ago. First run for yard after leaving M. Delzangles. Wears tongue strap.

Form: 343-444

(1)

Yaa Min¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Cian Murphy⁽⁴⁾| T: Hayley Burton| OR: 79| D

28/1

Has been holding form well this season, winning twice at Lingfield in the spring and in the frame on his last 3 starts, beaten less than 2 lengths despite doing plenty in front when fourth of 12 in handicap (11/2) at Southwell (1½m) 15 days ago. Can give his running again.

Form: 416334

(12)

Damascus Steel^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Fletcher Yarham| T: Gihan Arnolda| OR: 79| CD

22/1

Bagged back-to-back wins for Denis Quinn around the turn of the year and made second start for his new handler (previously assistant to Quinn) a winning one at Goodwood. Followed up at C&D next time but nowhere near the same form when eighth of 10 in handicap at York (1½m, good to firm) 37 days ago.

Form: 356118

(3)

Dancing Tiger^p³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Frederick Tett| T: R A Teal| OR: 75

14/1

Made a winning return at Doncaster in March and has taken his form up a level since without looking one for maximum faith, taking time to knuckle down when a nose second of 9 at Goodwood (1½m, good to soft) in June. Again didn't fully convince with his attitude when last of 4 at Newbury last month.

Form: 4-16224

(5)

Curran²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Patrick Millman| T: B R Millman| OR: 73

33/1

Recorded 2 wins from 6 starts for current yard, latterly when making the most of a good opportunity at Salisbury (1¾m) last month. Backed that up with a good second of 7 at Chepstow (1½m, good to firm) 25 days ago, though suspicion remains he's most effective over a bit further.

Form: 016512

(8)

Crooked Path¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: James Owen| OR: 72| D

9/2

Fair sort in Ireland and has shown similar form over hurdles, landing the odds in 11-runner maiden at Tramore in April (final start for Denis Hogan). Made his first start for this excellent yard a winning one in a 10-runner handicap at Kempton (1½m) 19 days ago, reeling in a pair that had first run.

Form: 44800-1

(2)

Edward Sexton²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr D H Dunsdon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 70

11/4

Has some good bumper form to his name (ahead of Old Park Star on debut) and justified strong support upped in trip when comfortably winning a 7-runner handicap at Haydock (1¾m, good to firm) 24 days ago. Drop back in trip shouldn't inconvenience him and he's one to keep on the right side of.

Form: 677-761

(6)

Seeking Charles²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr Henry Main⁽²⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 67

12/1

Back on track returned to the Flat when third of 7 in handicap at Windsor (11.4f) in June and ran really well on the back of a 7-week break when a nose second of 6 in handicap at Newmarket (1½m, good to firm, 11/2) 25 days ago, not laying down without a fight. Place claims are solid.

Form: 6/030-32

Forecasts

Divine Knight (7/4), Edward Sexton (11/4), Crooked Path (9/2), Seeking Charles (12/1), Gordon Grey (12/1), Dancing Tiger (14/1), Great Bedwyn (20/1), Damascus Steel (22/1), Epictetus (25/1), Yaa Min (28/1), Son Of Man (28/1), Devil In The Sky (33/1), Curran (33/1), Sweet Reward (50/1)

EDWARD SEXTON is very lightly raced on the Flat but mixed it with some smart sorts in bumpers and still looks ahead of his mark having been raised 5 lb for his Haydock win. Crooked Path made a successful start for the Owen yard last time and has to be feared given his handler's record with new recruits, while Divine Knight has been expensive to follow since joining William Haggas but has the eye-catching booking of Henry Callan.