A CRACKING Craven meeting at Newmarket last week with Tuesday’s impressive Nell Gwyn winner Qabala, now favourite for the 1,000 Guineas and UAE Jewel really catching the eye in the Wood Ditton on Wednesday.
Today the Investec Spring Meeting at Epsom features the Investec Blue Riband Trial, reminding us all that the Investec Derby Festival starting on May 31st isn’t that far way.
John Gosden is going for his fifth consecutive success with Turgenev, having trained the likes of Cracksman to win in 2017 and So Mi Dar in 2016.
Crossed Baton, his 2018 winner, runs this afternoon in a fascinating Investec City and Suburban Handicap against Mildenberger, who is making his first start since finishing second to Roaring Lion in the Dante Stakes.
On the culinary front at Epsom, Head Chef Rhys Owen has produced a fantastic range of menus and experiences for today’s meeting and the Investec Derby Festival. I love working with chefs and Rhys has created beautifully presented dishes, with wonderful flavour combinations. With the diverse range of wines on the wine list there are plenty of opportunities for lovely, finely balanced wine pairings with Rhys’ fabulous menus.
For the Investec Derby Festival, the legendary Albert Roux and his son Michel Roux Jr have created an exquisite 4 course à la carte menu for their fine dining experience within the Chez Roux @ Blue Riband Restaurant. Derby Day is sold out, yet you can still book for Ladies’ Day.
See you at Epsom!
Away from Epsom there is racing at Perth, Southwell, Taunton, Fontwell and Dundalk.
2.10 Epsom 5f Handicap
Bahamian Sunrise (nap) won this last year off a higher mark and has a good chance again for inform trainer John Gallagher, who currently has a 29% strike rate, with last year’s rider Silvestre De Sousa in the plate.
Admittedly Bahamian Sunrise was disappointing earlier this month on his seasonal reappearance, however he clearly copes with Epsom extremely well in what is a rehearsal for the Derby Day Dash.
Unibet win 5/1
2.45 Epsom 1m2f Listed
Mackaar, who is one of two runners with a Derby entry, can run a big race for Roger Varian, who is so astute at placing his string.
Mackaar will clearly have to step up from his Lingfield success earlier this month when he was driven clear in the final furlong to win a shade cosily.
However he definitely looks the type to show rapid improvement and providing he can transfer this all-weather form to turf he can create an upset here.
Unibet each-way 7/1
4.05 Perth 3m Handicap Hurdle
Napoleon Blue wasn’t going anywhere until given a pair of cheekpieces on his latest start and the transformation was immediate, coming home a ready winner at Thurles. Clearly stays well and now they have found the key to him, he can follow up in what looks a weak Amateur Riders’ race.
Unibet win 7/2
6.20 Southwell 3m Handicap Hurdle
Riddlestown eight times a winner at Southwell, he mixes hurdles and fences but has basically been handicapped out of things for a year. He’s back down to a winning mark now though, and has dropped a couple of hints in his last two starts that he’s about ready to win one again. Was second best at Sedgefield but just didn’t quite stay ahead of finishing fourth to Fifty Shades at Warwick on his last start. Good chance here on first start over hurdles since winning in May 2017.
Unibet win 9/2
7.30 Taunton 2m½f Handicap Hurdle
Big on numbers but low on quality, the interesting one here is Ourmullion for David Pipe, who fared better behind Scaramanga here last time out but now gets the cheekpieces that he needed on the Flat (four times a winner in them, including first time he wore them) and goes into handicaps on a mark that looks very low based on his Flat ability. Every chance of scoring.
Unibet win 9/2
