The pick of the prices on Day 1 at Epsom....

Thursday, 1st June 2023

The pick of the prices on Day 1 at Epsom….

There’s no rain forecast to fall over Epsom Downs ahead of racing tomorrow….

The going is described as good right now….

…. but track officials expect the ground to be good (good to firm in places) by the time they go to post for the first race….

There’s plenty to get through. Let’s crack on….

• In the Racehorse Lotto Handicap – 2.35….

Charlie Johnston’s AUSTRIAN THEORY is the pick of the prices for this one at the 10s….

He races off a mark of 91 tomorrow and is clearly a potentially well-handicapped horse when you consider he was running off 101 just over a year ago….

Of course, horses tumble down the rating scale on account of poor performances….

…. and the 4yo registered a sequence of sub-par efforts in handicaps that stretched from July last year to the start of this month….

But he had been gelded in November – and horses can take time to rediscover their mojo following that procedure….

At Chester last week – on the quickest ground he’d encountered in a while – Austrian Theory ran a race that suggests he’s coming to hand….

Both his career wins have been produced in June. So it’s his time of the year….

…. and stepping back up in trip, reunited with Joe Fanning, and on quicker ground still….

…. he’s got a big chance off his current perch if he takes to the track and runs his race….

• In the Betfred Handicap – 2.45….

Just 11 horses go to post and Majestic – who I’ve backed twice this term – is one of them….

He didn’t run his race at Newmarket on soft ground but last time at York he bounced right back….

…. and I think he’d have gone very close to winning had he not been tardy on his exit from the stalls – which left him too much to do in the straight from too far back ….

He meets the winner of that race again tomorrow on 2lb better terms – and I can see him going close again at the 13/2….

If he wins, I’ll just have to choke it down. But – at the prices – I’ve got to take a flier on George Boughey’s CADILLAC at the 14s….

He bombed out on seasonal reappearance in the Suffolk Stakes at Newmarket – but the soft ground wouldn’t have been right for him that afternoon….

Last term he was a very good second in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot – behind Dubai Future….

He’s moved yards since (in addition to being gelded) and that race is said to be his aim again….

If connections believe he can win that then he should be good enough to go very close tomorrow in a handicap off 105….

He gets his ground for the first time since he made a name for himself last summer and Boughey applies first time cheekpieces….

It’s worth noting that first time blinkers produced a career best when he was back in Ireland….

This will be just his second go in a handicap. Like I say, you can write the first go off. I’m reading between the lines a bit – but I think he might run a big one tomorrow with Kevin Stott up….

• In the Oaks – 4.30….

ETERNAL HOPE is the pick of the prices for me at the general 14s & 12s….

Supplemented for the race by connections earlier this week (at a cost of £30k), she’s never raced on turf and has something to prove in that respect….

But – on the plus side – she did win the Lingfield Oaks Trial in taking fashion….

She improved markedly for the step up from 10f to 12f – travelling well, getting the trip strong, and conclusively proving her stamina….

She also proved that day that she can handle sharp bends – giving the impression that Epsom’s tricky configuration won’t be an issue for her….

Connections report that she’s improving week-to-week – and you’d think she must be showing them plenty at home….

…. plus if she needs it quick – as I think she does – the weather (and the ground) have very much turned in her favour….

• The last word….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my Saturday picks….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose, or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd