The Derby Festival (now sponsored by Cazoo) includes Oaks Day, previously known as Ladies' Day, and Derby Day returning to Epsom Downs Racecourse on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th June. Delayed until July last year due to the pandemic it's good to not only see the races return to their traditional date in the calendar but also for there to be a limited attendance too. Not the 100k+ that we'd usually see descend upon the downs but it's a step forward.
Going / Weather
Going report - Good [Good to firm in places].
Weather forecast for Friday, expecting some rain today but a high of 21C makes it a June to enjoy if you lucky enough to be there.
14:00 Cazoo Woodcote Ebf Stakes
6f 3y [Class 2 10 runners]
The meeting gets underway with a 2yo contest and a field of ten, while DUSKY PRINCE might not have won a huge event at Brighton on debut that track does display some of the downhill helter skelter nature that will be needed here at Epsom so certainly of interest under Hollie Doyle.
OSCULA [WON @15/2] also victorious at Brighton and her trainer is having a good season so far with their 2yo's certainly should be able to handle the track so will make that our pair against the field.
Outsider - Maybury needs to settle better but plugged on at Yarmouth on debut, expected to come on for that and at 33/1 could reach a place - Yes 3rd @33/1!
Winner - (8) Oscula @15/2 [Mark Crehan].
14:35 Coral 'Beaten By A Length' Free Bet Handicap
1m 113y [Class 2 10 runners]
Ten runners, older horses, and IRISH ADMIRAL having moved across the seas to join William Haggas still looks the one to follow. Was third recently at York and that was over a two furlong longer trip, the step back looks fine and ought to be in the finish. A lack of course experience for most here although CORAZON ESPINADO [WON @12/1] is a course and distance winner in the past, has been busy on the all weather tracks but has kept his form in general and capable around this mark so included. Mick Channon sent Storting up to win at Thirsk and although up 5lb for that should still be winning this term somewhere, but maybe a return to Yorkshire would do the trick having won at Pontefract too also unsure if the extra furlong will be suitable now on this tricky course.
Winner - (9) Corazon Espinado @12/1 [Hollie Doyle].
15:10 Coronation Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
1m 4f 6y [Class 1 7 runners]
A decent renewal of this group one although we don't see last year's Derby winner sadly, but we do have last years winner of this again AL AASY turns up and looks hard to beat having returned this season and picked up a pair of group three's at Newbury prior defending this. Japan and Mogul will not make life easy and Aiden O'Brien's runners here are always respected but I would be interested to see how the market takes to PYLEDRIVER [WON 8/1] a decent set of runs last year including a win at Royal Ascot and third in the St Leger the trip is no problem, though the only run was in last year's Derby finished 11th but the whole field disappointed that day.
Winner - (5) Pyledriver @8/1 [M Dwyer].
15:45 Cazoo Handicap
1m 2f 17y [Class 2 11 runners]
Open handicap now headed by Sky Defender who continues to run consistently for Mark Johnston might place but finding things hard to win with off this mark. A winner here last time out Victory Chime beat the aforementioned runner but up another 4lb taking him into the 100s so a repeat might be unlikely. Johnston also runs DREAM WITH ME who is improving all the time winning three of his last four and ought to remain competitive again. Hms President won at Windsor last time beating Water's Edge in third this looks a lot tougher.
Winner - (4) Blue Cap @9/2f [Oisin Murphy].
16:30 Cazoo Oaks (Group 1)
1m 4f 6y [Class 1 14 runners]
Friday's feature race and the fillies turn to shine, not sure there's anything of the calibre of last year's winner Love but Aiden O'Brien does send five runners in this fourteen runner line up. Of these the 1000 Guineas fourth SANTA BARBARA looks the most interesting one if capable of staying the extra trip having found the mile at Newmarket a bit too much, inexperienced but clearly is fancied by the connections the pick by Ryan Moore. Snowfall is probably the second choice of the yard and has Frankie Dettori on board.
Away from Aiden's runners Sherbert Lemon won the Oaks trial at Lingfield and this represents her first chance of a Classic while Zeyaadah ran a good race when runner up at Chester in the Cheshire Oaks although unsure if the ground conditions are ideal now that the sun has come out, her trainer Roger Varian also has Save a Forest and Teona in the field.
Winner - (10) Snowfall @11/2 [L Dettori].
17:10 Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Surrey Stakes (Listed)
7f 3y [Class 1 4 runners]
The meeting concludes with a pair of 7f events, the Surrey Stakes first which is for three year olds, we'll side with RUN TO FREEDOM [N/R] (H Candy) was only lightly raced as a 2yo but managed a win at Kempton on final start so it's hard to judge their limits hence the price. Also MAMBA WAMBA (Adrian Nicholls) has had more runs, a decent third in the big 2yo race at Redcar and a winner at York, looked to keep improving and another to consider against the field.
Winner - (2) Mehmento @11/8f [Hollie Doyle].
17:40 Cazoo Derby Festival Handicap
7f 3y [Class 2 12 runners]
Our finale is a decent handicap for older horses headed by Above who has his first turf outing for a while, we'll look at DULAS / PAWS FOR THOUGHT against the field in this fairly open affair. Dulas won a nice handicap at Goodwood and only up 2lb for that effort, while Paws for Thought a winner at Chester last time goes up 7lb for this though has shown improvement in the past and could still have a bit more while clearly in a good mood.
Winner - (11) Rhoscolyn @9/2 [James Doyle].
Results will appear here later in the afternoon while The Derby meeting should be available for tomorrow too. We've started well with a few nice winners in the opening races and a big priced advised place bet too, I hope you enjoy a great weekend.
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