1000m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
'Dash' Handicap Stakes – Form Comments
| 1 | Caspian Prince | This fast track suits him ideally and he has an amazing record in this “Dash” winning it three times for three different trainers. Didn’t do so well in this last year but did show on several occasions in 2018 that his speed hasn’t deserted him. |
| 2 | Stake Acclaim | Weak in the betting on his first race for over 500 days in a handicap over this trip at Newbury but this speedster looked fit and well beforehand and led from gate to wire. However that was on slow ground and his preference for those conditions may be an issue. |
| 3 | Muthmir | Doesn’t have any previous Epsom experience but unlike most rivals often competes at a Group race level and in 2017 for example a late charge saw him win a G2 sprint at Chantilly. Hasn’t been seen since last year but some of his best runs have been fresh off a break. |
| 4 | Copper Knight | Physically small but all speed, he is a seven times winner now paying his first visit to Epsom’s unique downhill track. Being kept busy, racing three times in May and running really well each time – including a defeat of 20 rivals in a York handicap. |
| 5 | Ornate | Surprisingly this is his first visit to Epsom in his 43-race career which has included six wins. In front early he fended off some better fancied rivals when winning a sprint handicap at Newmarket in April. Back to this trip after disappointing over 1200m last time. |
| 6 | Open Wide | Carries his head high and is not the easiest of rides. He usually takes a few races each season to hit top gear and he has run well enough so far this season to give some encouragement. Invariably held up for a late charge. |
| 7 | Line Of Reason | Has won 11 of his 88 starts and, although only ninth, was only 2.5L behind the winner in this in 2017. He made a good start to the season when second at Beverley in April but wasn’t at his best on his latest start. His trainer has a very good record in this event. |
| 8 | Blue De Vega | From a stable struggling for winners though this gelding hasn’t been beaten far in any of his four races in 2019. He has run well on his two previous Epsom visits including when fourth in this last year. |
| 9 | Fool For You | Would probably have had more success had she not sometimes been difficult at the gates. She raced too enthusiastically after a 229-day break at Chester in May but it wasn’t a bad effort considering the slow ground may also have been against her. |
| 10 | Duke Of Firenze | A very popular veteran sprinter who has bounced right back to form recently, beating big fields of rivals on his last two starts, handicaps at Thirsk and York. He has raced in the “Dash” five times, winning it way back in 2013 and twice finishing third. |
| 11 | Eeh Bah Gum | Has a good winning strike-rate of 5 – 15, all his wins at this distance and most on the fast ground that is likely for this. Nothing went right for him when eighth of 19 at York last time, including a poor gate and having a difficult passage. |
| 12 | Harome | A five-times winner who is having his first start at Epsom but his trainer says he is a well-balanced horse who should be suited to the track and he also likes fast ground. He ran an encouraging sixth of 19 at York a week ago. |
| 13 | Recon Mission | Three-year-olds don’t often compete in this but Recon Mission is clearly pretty fast even if his two wins have come in Ireland on slower ground than he is likely to encounter here. A close fourth on quick ground at Sandown two starts back, showing plenty of gate speed. |
| 14 | Boom The Groom | Mixed fortunes for him at this track, though he finished third in this race way back in 2015. He hasn’t won on a turf surface since 2016 and his two most recent starts have been modest efforts. |
| 15 | Hathiq | Suffered a serious injury earlier in his career but you would never know it now as he was swiftly developed into a formidable speedster, winning his last two and most recently surging clear of six rivals at The Curragh. Fast ground is ideal and chances are that he is very well handicapped. |
| 16 | Mokaatil | His two career wins have come on fast ground over this trip. The latest of those came at Pontefract in April when helped by a falling handicap mark he produced a strong finish. Another good effort – at Chester – last time on ground softer than ideal. |
| 17 | Just That Lord | Very speedy with an excellent record over Epsom’s unique track, most recently winning a handicap here in April – showing typical determination at the end. He needs to be kept fresh so hasn’t competed since with this target firmly in mind. |
| 18 | Dark Shot | Despite missing the break and meeting interference he was only beaten a short-head in this in 2017 and fifth last year. Showed himself to be in good shape with a close second in a hot York handicap a week ago. His low winning strike-rate (2-34) will deter some. |
| 19 | Just Glamorous | Ridden here by veteran rider Jimmy Quinn, it is a bit of a worry that he didn’t run very well on his only previous Epsom visit, but, at least he arrives here off a good effort when leading and only caught in the last stride at Goodwood in May, his first start for this trainer. |
| 20 | Daschas | Started his career over longer distances but he has gradually moved back to this trip and certainly didn’t lack for speed when leading close home in a Newmarket handicap in May. |
Others
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