2:45 Epsom Downs Tips

Talented individual who picked up a nice race at Haydock last summer, beating the very progressive American Affair in the process. Solid effort behind the same rival on reappearance before below par at Chester last time, but that is readily excused. So, should go very well this afternoon.

A competitive race, but Jm Jungle looks to have a great chance. He has run really well in good races all three starts this season. He ran okay on his only start at the track and won't mind the softening ground. With the extra place, he looks worth a bet.

Two races ago, Spartan Arrow won over course and distance by just over two lengths. Next time out, he ran disappointingly at York. Carries an extra seven pounds since his last win. Holly Doyle is again doing the steering. Hopefully, he will bounce back and run a good race.

A wide-open looking race. Distance winner off only a 1 lb higher mark on soft ground. Ran well in his last two starts and is dropping down to a good mark again. Richard Fahey brings only a select number of horses down from his Yorkshire stable.

Democracy Dilemma nearly won this race last year but he was headed late on by Dream Composer and he faces that rival again today. He has winning form on good to soft ground and if the expected rain showers appear he also has won on soft and heavy.

Existent has only won once on turf, and that was as a two-year-old in 2020. His only other wins on the all-weather were two in January and February 2022. However, he continues to run competitively, finishing 2nd in his last four races, which includes here behind Spartan Arrow in April. Rose Dawes takes his weight below eight stone.

I usually don't take multiple runners in the same race, but I can't see anything else winning other than these two. Fair Wind had a nice campaign last season until he refused to race all of a sudden. He has since finished last on his reappearance, but there were excuses for that. He still looks well handicapped to me, but he'll need to prove he's still capable of performing at this level.

Tees Spirit has won over this course and distance and gets a handy claim off his back here too. With 5 places, he has got a big shout.

A very tentative vote on Desert Cop in the dash, who may not appreciate this if too much rain arrives. Cosgrave has won with 2 of his last 3 runs over 5f here, whilst also being 3/4 a place with 2 winners at 6f. Get It has put a fair gloss on his latest win in Bahrain, and Kodi Lion has franked that form since too. A classy 3yo, he’s been hard to win with since, and a mark of 100 doesn’t look overly kind. He’s drawn bang on the rail though, and Cosgrave can be lethal from the front if he can get this horse out of the stalls smartly. He’s only had four runs over the minimum distance now, including a Group 1 sixth, and with that recent franked form, I’m chancing him as a bit of a wildcard in here outside of the intertwined form of the others.

The Bell Conductor looks a fair play in the Epsom Dash. Well drawn in stall 17 just off the inside rail. Second start for Ivan Furtado having left Craig Lidster pre-season. Coming in for market support. Three wins from 18 races on turf. Ran fifth in this race last year from a rating of 97 and runs off 94 today. Tom Eaves rides. Preference for soft but did win last year on good ground.

RHYTHM N HOOVES is running very consistently at the moment so is considered with the extra places here. Stepped up to this grade the last twice on turf, at Goodwood and Windsor. Fourth or better in last ten races and if anything is getting better. Can make a stronger case for this than some others at shorter prices.

One of five in the race for the Cowell yard. Made stable debut in August and improved for WS, winning twice over the winter. Last two runs on turf: 4/11 at Epsom, 3/8 at Goodwood. Has a handy draw in 1.

Nogo's Dream is five pounds out of the handicap, but there have been a few big-priced winners of this race recently. Arriving on the back of some solid form, it should be a lively pick for each-way backers here.

Marching Mac was a big improver last season and may have needed his comeback run at Goodwood. The horse's usual prominent tactics should suit here on the world's fastest sprint track. He can finish well also, having scored over further than 5 furlongs. Marching Mac goes well in testing conditions and the forecast heavy downpours should suit. Rain may well be needed however. Marching Mac has won when apparently unfancied (33/1). Today's rider, Grace McEntee, has scored twice on Marching Mac.

The trainer has had three placed in this race in recent years, including this horse. Arrives in good form and has won off higher marks on the all-weather before. Also interesting, cheekpieces are applied for only the second time, and has a jockey he gets on well with. Can win this race with such a low weight.