Saturday 3rd June 2017

We were very pleased with Included who made her hurdles debut at Ffos Las on Thursday. Included was beaten no distance at all in a three-way photo against race fit mares’. We learnt plenty about her on the day and she looks an exciting horse for her owners going forward.

It’s Derby day at Epsom, one of the flat highlights of the year and a huge betting day for the public.

18 horses line up for this year’s renewal, the biggest field since 2013. A couple of bookies are paying 5 places so do shop around.

As for trying to find the winner, I’ve backed Cracksman to win at 5-1.

I loved the way he finished his race in the Derby trial last time out, strong at the finish over 1m2f. The form has worked out very well with Permian winning the Group 2 Dante on his next start. Today’s extra 2 furlongs will be perfect and this son of Frankel must run a big race.

I’ve also had a few quid EW on Rekindling at 28-1. Previous form is sound beating, Douglas Macarthur, Yucatan & Capri, two of the above line up in the Derby and are both shorter prices. The form has been franked too in the Derrinstown, with the three named horses finishing 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd.

Rekindling ran in the Dante next time finishing 4^th. He was held up off the pace in a race that suited front runners. Rekindling came home strongly once asked for his effort but found the winning post coming a bit quick. An extra 2 furlongs this afternoon will be right up his street, I think he’ll outrun his odds.

With 7 fixtures, today it’s impossible to get through them all. The only other bet I’ve had is Sarpech in the 1:45 at Worcester. This is a low-level race with more P’s in the form than numbers.

Sarpech is no superstar but this race is a big drop in class, running in 0-120 of late this is a 0-105. Sarpech ran ok last time, just 2^nd start over a fence, the going was soft and that wouldn’t have been to his liking.

With the drop in class, back on quick ground and Sam Twiston Davies a rare booking for the Charlie Longsdon yard, a clear jumping round might be all that’s required to get his head in front. The price of 9-4 looks ok but it’s not a race to go crazy in, finishing the race will be a result for some of these.