15:55 Epsom Downs

Saturday 3 June 2023

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

Betfred Lester Piggott Handicap

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 2m 7.21s

1^st

(4)

Torito

39-7

4/1

T: J & T GosdenJ: Benoit D L Sayette

Held up in mid-division, steady headway out wide 2f out, hung left on camber and led over 1f out, soon quickened clear, bit in hand op 9/2

2^nd

2 ¾

(3)

Silver Sword

38-8

14/1

T: Dylan CunhaJ: Greg Cheyne

Tracked leaders in 3rd on inside, went 2nd 2f out, every chance until winner quickened on over 1f out, went 2nd again 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner op 12/1

3^rd

(6)

Balance Play

38-7

4/1

T: R M BeckettJ: Andrea Atzeni

Raced keenly tracking leaders, hung left on camber and outpaced 2f out, continued to hang left and styed on into 3rd inside final furlong

4^th

1 ½

(5)

Maasai Mara

38-13

15/2

T: J & T GosdenJ: Oisin Murphy

Held up off the pace towards rear, headway out wide under pressure over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten op 9/1

5^th

(14)

Promoter

39-1

16/1

T: R M BeckettJ: Rob Hornby

Off the pace towards rear, hung left on camber but plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved op 12/1

6^th

(2)

Fox Journey

38-11

3/1f

T: Sir Michael StouteJ: Harry Davies (3)

Went left start, soon tracking leaders in 5th on inside, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong op 10/3

7^th

(7)

Forca Timao

39-5

22/1

T: R HannonJ: K Stott

Soon led and set steady pace, quickened and went clear 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd 1f out, weakened badly inside final furlong op 20/1

8^th

(1)

God Of Fire

38-7

50/1

T: S C WilliamsJ: Marco Ghiani

Slowly into stride and bumped start, raced keenly towards rear, never involved

9^th

1 ¾

(8)

Perfect Play

38-8

8/1

T: C JohnstonJ: F Norton

Raced keenly, tracked leader until pushed along 2f out, chased leaders, weakened quickly over 1f out op 9/1

10^th

(11)

Lose Your Wad

39-5

20/1

T: C HillsJ: K Shoemark

Raced keenly and always towards rear tchd 18/1

11^th

2 ¾

(10)

Blue Universe

38-2

40/1

T: C JohnstonJ: Hollie Doyle

Off the pace and always behind op 33/1 tchd 50/1

12^th

(9)

Sol Cayo

38-12

28/1

T: James HortonJ: P J McDonald

Raced wide early, always towards rear tchd 40/1

13^th

(12)

Cite D'Or

39-9

50/1

T: Harry EustaceJ: Pierre-Louis Jamin (3)

Soon off the pace in rear, never a factor, tailed off

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Non-Runners

(13)

Kadovar²⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: W Buick

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£5.05Pl:£1.80, £4.45, £2.35EX:£81.50Trifecta:£462.50Tricast:£240.23SF:£53.42Swingers:£15.20, £6.30, £16.65

Forecasts

Fox Journey (3/1), Torito (4/1), Balance Play (4/1), Maasai Mara (15/2), Perfect Play (8/1), Kadovar (10/1), Silver Sword (14/1), Promoter (16/1), Lose Your Wad (20/1), Forca Timao (22/1), Sol Cayo (28/1), Blue Universe (40/1), God Of Fire (50/1), Cite D'Or (50/1)

FOX JOURNEY won in the style of a colt going places at Newmarket and is selected to make light of a 9 lb rise. Andrew Balding has won this 3 times since 2017 so his course-scorer Kadovar has to enter the reckoning under William Buick. Handicap-newcomers Balance Play, whose Salisbury reappearance form looks strong, and Torito complete the shortlist in this good-quality 3-y-o handicap.

FOX JOURNEY
KADOVAR (IRE)
BALANCE PLAY (IRE)

Previous Winners

2022

Swilcan Bridge

Weight: 8-2 |Age: 3

J: Hayley Turner | T: A M Balding

7/1

Prize Money

1st: £38,655.002nd: £18,128.003rd: £9,068.004th: £4,530.005th: £2,265.006th: £1,132.00