Yorgunnabelucky if you follow in-form Mark Johnston runner
EEPSOM handicaps are always fiendishly difficult and the Investec Surefooted Handicap is no different. Regular readers of The Punter will know that I tipped Zuider Zee last weekend at Haydock but he was a non-runner due to the fast ground. He could be a doubtful starter again today, unless clerk of the course Andrew Cooper gets his watering can out overnight, but John Gosden was satisfied with the state of the Derby course when he walked it on Wednesday.
He is definitely the one they all have to beat as he travelled beautifully at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance before traffic problems brought him to a virtual halt. He is a typical Gosden improver, but they are often over-bet and this looks a stronger race than the one he was due to run in at Haydock. He also tends to find trouble in running and that’s not what you want at this track.
Luca Cumani is always to be feared in this type of race and Bourne must go close with Kieren Fallon in the plate. He has won three of his last four starts and is the type to continue progressing this season, but he’s been doing his winning on flat tracks and Epsom isn’t certain to play to his strengths.
One trainer who always targets this meeting is Mark Johnston and his string continues to be in fine fettle. He runs Fox Hunt and YORGUNNABELUCKY and the latter did well to win at Newmarket last time. That was 1m6f and it’s debatable whether the drop back to a mile and a half is what he wants, but this should be run at a fast and furious pace and he will be staying on at the death. He notched three quick victories last summer, including a gutsy performance in the Shergar Cup and he is a fair price at around 11/1.
There are a whole host of other live dangers headed by the quirky but talented Berling. John Dunlop’s four-year-old looked all over the winner in the Ascot race where Zuider Zee finished fourth, when he travelled up powerfully on the outside. However, not for the first time, he hung violently towards the stands side and threw away any chance. The camber at Epsom means he’s unlikely to do that this afternoon and there is definitely mileage in his handicap mark.
Amanda Perrett has won two of the last five runnings of this race, so Life And Soul is another to consider. He ran a number of solid races last season, including a second to Dandino at this meeting 12 months ago. That form would give him a big chance here and his seasonal reappearance third behind Times Up was franked when the winner bolted up at York last time.
Of the others, Plaisterer, Press The Button and Coin Of The Realm have both run well at the track, while Ramona Chase (ran here yesterday) is something of a course specialist. Aurorian would have a chance on his best form, but he finds it difficult to get his head in front, and the Richard Hannon stable isn’t really firing at the moment.
Double Handful is a rare flat runner for Venetia Williams and has a squeak from the foot of the weights, but Blizzard Blues, The Galloping Shoe and Chilly Filly look to have too much on their plate.