Epsom Handicaps - Derby Day 2010

Epsom
1.40
Investec Vincent O'Brien Handicap (Class 2) (3YO only)
Winner £31,155

Picks: Verdant (win), Constant Contact (each/way)

Given his failure when really well backed It’s relieving to see that VERDANT is 2lbs better off with Doctor Shivago (third that day, albeit well beaten) from the London Gold Cup as although he’s much better than that and Sir Michael Stoute has won 3 of the last 6 renewals, he was disappointing that day. Using the power of hindsight, he should have been closer to the pace that day in a race it was hard to come from behind in.

Doctor Shivago was a good third that day and can go well here, for all that this could be tougher with Verdant coming here on better terms. It remains to be seen how close he sits next to a strong pace. Dandino is progressive and could easily go close here, although the form of his last win leaves a little to be desired.

The each/way selection is CONSTANT CONTACT, who’s likely to appreciate the step up to this trip, has winning course form, won last time out and has only been raised 3lbs for that, which gives him a fair chance in an open race. Our Joe Mac is also in with a huge chance based on his fourth in the Betfred Silver Bowl but he doesn’t appeal as as much stepped up in trip.

3.15 Epsom
Investec Entrepreneurial Class 'dash' (heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3YO plus)
Winner £46,732

Picks: Hawkeyethenoo, Indian Trail (each/way)

This is a devilishly competitive handicap where the pace will be quite unbelievable. Considering how fast they will go, the best chance you could give yourself might be to back horses that will pick up the pieces. 2 of those are HAWKEYETHENOO, for whom the booking of Kieren Fallon is a major coup. He’s also progressing quickly and won in a very similar scenario last time at Newmarket in a good race (although the bias favoured him a lot).

INDIAN TRAIL may be 10 years old and getting on a big but he;s the perfect type and has only one question mark against his name; Whether he can get the gaps. His mark is fair, his trainer has no peers when it comes to this kind of race, and he seems to have retained his ability.

Captain Dunne has been in good form since the turn of the year, with runs priming him for this assignment. He is 5lb higher in the weights and a middle draw may not be ideal though. I have quite a strong feeling that Jaconet could run better than recently but she’s going to have no end of horses up with her and she could end up chasing too strong a pace. Bertoliver is quick on his day and he looks a fairly-handicapped horse off bottom-weight, Moorhouse Lad and Glamorous Sprit look quite nicely handicapped if giving them the better of the doubt.