The Investec Derby is the big race at Epsom Downs on Saturday afternoon as the great and the good descend on the track for one of the biggest days in the flat racing calendar. We have already covered the big race elsewhere but after having a good look at the undercard we’ve come up with a few more bets for the day.
[the_ad id=”25958″]
3.45 Epsom
Preview
20 runners for the Dash, the fastest 5 furlong race in the world. Caspian Prince has won this an unbelievable 3 times & is bidding to make it 4 wins but he’s now a 9 year old & I feel there are better options available.
Betting
You need luck in running but the one I’m hoping will come home in front is Boom The Groom. He has run in this for the last 3 years, finishing 3rd off 100, 7th off 101 & 6th off 104. He gets in here though off a mark of 93 & looks incredibly well handicapped.
His last run was over this course & distance in April where the ground was officially good but the jockeys suggested it was on the easy side. They are pretty similar conditions to what he’ll face today. That day, he was less than half a length back in 4th off the same mark as today. He had to wait to get a run that day & was finishing as good as anything. His tactical speed is a big asset here & he has the assistance of the champ doing the steering.
Admittedly, it’s an open race but he’s drawn well & has plenty in his favour. I can’t see him finishing out of the frame.
Tips
Back Boom The Groom (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Skybet BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
5.15 Epsom
Preview
This is a good quality handicap over a mile and a half & there’s 2 I really like in this. Dash Of Spice is the favourite but he keeps going up in the weights without managing to get his head in front. The first of his 2nd places was behind Ajman King, an impressive winner here on Friday, but it was disappointing he didn’t on the all weather last time out.
Betting
The first one for me is Pacify who was 2 places behind Dash Of Spice here when Ajman King landed the spoils. That was his seasonal reappearance at this track over 10 furlongs where he stayed on past beaten horses. A promising run but one that suggested a step up in trip could bring about handicap. This is his first start over a mile and a half.
He likes easy ground & was 2nd off 95 in his only other start here so is suited by the track. Sure to go well with a nagging doubt being a low draw in 6, but 12/1 is a fair price.
With a better draw in 14, Reshoun is my 2nd bet. A lightly raced 4 year old from a yard in form, he should go well especially with an eyecatching jockey booking. Suited by soft ground, he confirmed that when winning easily at Doncaster at the tail end of last season on good to soft.
He opened this year with a promising run at Newmarket off his revised mark of 94 but there was enough promise to suggest he’s still handicapped to win. He was 6th in that race behind Grey Britain, only losing 2 places near the finish. Held up in midfield that day, most of the horses in front came from further back in a race where the pace was strong & it paid dividends to be held up. With the draw to suit, a stable in form & likely progression expected, he looks a solid each way bet.
Tips
Back Reshoun (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back Pacify (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 12.00 Skybet BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back it here:
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
5.50 Epsom
Preview
A 6 furlong handicap to finish the day &, with the lack of guaranteed pace, I’m looking for a horse drawn low with past form of racing up with the pace. There’s 1 such horse that fits the bill & is well fancied, that is Shanghai Glory.
Betting
In 2016, he won his only start at this track & then won a good Listed event over in Ireland. A repeat of that form would be good enough. He hasn’t been as good since but he’s done ok in some really big races; 5th of 26 off 101 in the Stewards Cup & 3rd of 19 in the St Wilfrid off the same mark.
On his reappearance, he was a way back at Newmarket off 99 but has been dropped 2lbs to 97 & is almost certain to come on for the run. He has done that in previous seasons. Again, there’s an eyecatching jockey booking & with the lack of serious rivals, I again think he is a cracking each way bet.
Tips
PLACED – Back Shanghai Glory (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 William Hill BOG (¼ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
