1:35 Epsom Downs Tips

They're forecast rain tonight (Friday) and Richard Hannon's 4yo can't have enough. He was out of his league in the Lockinge on fast ground and is better judged on his Earl Of Sefton (Gp3) win at the Guineas meeting on more suitable going.

With an official rating of 114, DOCKLANDS is top-rated in this field. He comes here on the back of a second in a Queen Anne Trial at Ascot (8f, Good to Firm). He finished ½l behind the winner (Sardinian Warrior) that day, clocking the fastest final furlong in the field. The winner that day has since finished a length behind Sosie in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan, and so that form looks particularly strong. His best form has come over the straight mile at Ascot, but he has had experience around left-handed tracks, and the Epsom straight gives him enough time to find his stride to come from his preferred held-up position. With the 3lbs age allowance, this five-year-old has a bit in hand on official ratings and therefore looks like the one to side with.

3yo colt Royal Playwright showed his ability in his first three career runs with form figures of 132, the later two on group 3 and 2. Should be perfectly fit for this race today and holds every chance to be in the mix.

ICE MAX has to be a player for the powerful Kark Burke yard with rain set to fall overnight. That would strengthen this four year old's chance whilst counting against others and with a reappearance sighter behind him when the yard were not in such good form he appeals.

I've picked holes in all of these but something has to win and fill the frame and though Persica looks the obvious one looks too short a price for me given last run in the Lockinge when last of the field. The German raider catches my eye as a three time Group 3 winner on good to soft ground each time in native land and could go well here. Christophe Soumillion booked and is the fly in the ointment in a very tricky puzzle of a race. Showed a good attitude to battle back to win narrowly last time at Dusdledorf and can go well here if handling the track. EW chance and price to my eye as trio and ground look spot on and thus doesn't look the deepest race.

Royal Dubai has placed form at Epsom, which really finds out horses that are unsuited quite quickly (think Desert Flower in the Oaks). Could be a good bet at a big price.

One of the two favourites will likely win this contest, but I find it too difficult to choose one of them. So I'll be having an each-way go at a big prize. Tyrrhenian Sea ran much better than the result at Ascot, as his jockey put him in no man's land between the clear leader and the rest of the pack. They went too fast, and the ground wasn't to his liking either. This horse has his best form on the all-weather, but he hasn't gotten a fair chance on turf in quite some time, which he should be getting here.