Our tipster Karl Hedley tells you where to put your money this weekend
WEDNESDAY
EPSOM
1-45 INVESTEC WEALTH & INVESTMENT HANDICAP – 5 FURLONGS
Fair Value has a decent record around Epsom and did well to win around here a couple of seasons ago. He has now dropped back to his last winning mark and with a favourable low draw he can once again go close this afternoon.
Hayley Turner was on board when they finished fourth here last year on beaten only a length in the “Dash” and she will be keen to put the record straight this afternoon.
Fair Value has warmed up nicely for this following a couple of spins at Lingfield and he should be spot on for this afternoon.
Peace Seeker looks a massive threat given that his last three wins have all come at this minimum trip. Two decent efforts at Kempton and Doncaster should have him fully wound up and he has to be high on any shortlist.
New Fforest needed his first run last year and may not appreciate having to give weight away all around this afternoon. Chris Wall has won this race twice in the recent past and it is of note that he has entered Pearl Blue.
Fair Value is race fit and comes here in good heart. He should run a big race for Simon Dow and his connections.
Put your money on: Fair Value
2-50 INVESTEC DERBY TRIAL (CONDITIONS RACE) – 1 M 2 F 18YDS
Signposted managed to secure back to back wins last Summer including when scoring at this track. David Probert was on board for both of those successes and it is of note that he is once again on board this afternoon.
He and Andrew Balding have an excellent strike rate around Epsom and this Rock Of Gibraltar colt can give the stable a third win in this race within the last five years.
Hartnell was the highest rated of these as a youngster and finished off his last campaign with a decent third in a Group One race at Saint Cloud.
Mark Johnston’s runners invariably improve for a run, so he may just need this. Moontime won on his only start for Charlie Appleby last season and the form of the race is already beginning to work out.
He looks to be the biggest threat to the selection if fit enough to do himself justice. John Gosden has his team in excellent shape and whilst the likes of Marzocco won on his debut for the yard, the form of the race is not really working out and it is hard to quantify.
Andrew Balding seems to have an uncanny knack of knowing how to win this race and Signposted could follow in the footsteps of Goldoni and Dreamspeed.
Put your money on: Signposted
THURSDAY
PERTH
5-30 COUPON BUSTER CASHBACK AT MCBOOKIE.COM H’CAP HURDLE – 2 M 4 F 110 YDS
Blue Kascade seems to go well fresh so despite a near two month absence from the track he still commands plenty of respect. He is still fairly unexposed having only made nine racecourse appearances but Ryan Mania has ridden him in six of those including when hacking up by ten lengths at Musselburgh in February.
Jack Albert finished second behind the selection at Musselburgh and he has subsequently gone on to win twice again since so the form does look rock solid.
Island Heights is a progressive sort and he too is very lightly raced. Lucinda Russell is having her best ever season and this son of Heron Island has not finished outside of the first two places in his last three runs. Being a local runner he commands plenty of respect and with the useful Craig Nichol able to claim five pounds from him, the duo should be in the thick of the action.
Scimon Templar doesn’t seem to stay this far and would be better over shorter, whilst Plus Jamais is unproven at the trip. Blue Kascade should enjoy the decent ground on offer and he looks set for a big run.
Put your money on: Blue Kascasde
FRIDAY
SANDOWN
2-10 BET365 GORDON RICHARDS STAKES – 1 M 2 F 7YDS
Telescope has always been held in high regard by Sir Michael Stoute and he proved him right by winning the Voltigeur Stakes at York last season. He immediately hardened at head of the market for the Derby, however he met with a training setback and missed the rest of the campaign.
Noble Mission is a full brother to the unbeaten Frankel and whilst not as brilliant as his superstar sibling, he is as tough and genuine as they come. He had a warm up for this race at Newbury a couple of weeks ago and he looks the biggest threat.
Sky Hunter is making his first appearance on a British racetrack for Godolphin and is best watched on this occasion. Robin Hoods Bay and Contributer are seen to better effect on a polytrack surface whilst the likes of Emman Bee and Empire Storm look completely out of their depth.
Telescope needs to win this with authority if he is to take up a Group One engagement in a few weeks time at Epsom.
Put your money on: Telescope
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