15:00 Epsom Downs

Saturday 4 July 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5517:35

Investec Handicap

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 2m 5.65s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Certain Lad¹³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: B A Curtis| T: M R Channon| OR: 104| D

14/1

Career best when winning at Meydan earlier in the year and probably found Group 3 company too tough on final start in Dubai. Will need more to defy this mark though.

Form: 421-134

(9)

Tinandali¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

10/1

Won two of his six starts for Dermot Weld and ran with credit on return at Ayr when only narrowly denied late on. This is tougher and 2lb rise makes him opposable.

Form: 17160-2

(15)

Caradoc²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 100| BF| D

9/2

Won three of his six starts in handicap company last year. Failed to justify favouritism in a Listed race at Lingfield when last seen but may be able to resume progress here back on turf. Wide draw not ideal over this trip.

Form: 141314-

(16)

Sky Defender²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| D

22/1

Won two handicaps on AW this winter but has paid the price from a handicapping perspective. Not the most consistent sort and tough ask from this draw.

Form: 121424

(8)

Johnny Drama^t1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

6/1

Won twice for Ger Lyons in Ireland last year; inconsistent for this yard and showed little on his return at Royal Ascot; drop back in trip might help and should get competitive off this mark at some point, wears first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 06202-0

(14)

Dolphin Vista¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: J R Boyle| OR: 95| D

66/1

Cambridgeshire winner in 2017 and subsequently won twice in Listed company for Ralph Beckett. However, has failed to beat a rival home in last two starts and shaped as if amiss on return at Ascot; plenty to prove for now despite a workable mark.

Form: 418-440

(5)

You're Hired²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 92| D

6/1

Came in for market support prior to an impressive 14L success at Newmarket on return with the field finishing well strung out. The form is probably a bit suspect but the handicapper has only put him up 7lb and he held his form well last year.

Form: 22240-1

(3)

Plantadream¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: J R Best| OR: 92

18/1

Dual AW winner this year, particularly impressive at Lingfield in June; took a hike in the handicap and only 12th of 22 at Royal Ascot since but may have more to give over this longer trip.

Form: 3-1210

(13)

Sucellus¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 88| D

33/1

Got his head back in front in a Sandown handicap on his final start for John Gosden. Bought for 15,000 gns since but has failed to progress in two runs for this yard and still 1lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 2231-60

(12)

Breath Caught²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 87

11/1

Progressive as a 3yo but lost his way last year; some promise in his comeback run at Newbury when fourth but has more on his plate here and probably best watched on balance.

Form: 43777-4

(2)

Ironclad³³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: H Palmer| OR: 86| BF| D

3/1

Beverley maiden winner and progressed to win a Newmarket handicap next time. Beaten fav on AW last time and returns from a hefty absence here; should be able to resume progress back down in trip at some stage but tough race to come back in; gelded.

Form: 352114-

(11)

Mr Scaramanga²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: David Egan| T: S Dow| OR: 84| CD

33/1

C&D winner, mainly ticking over on AW this winter and made a below par return at Lingfield last month; might need a career best on turf to defy this mark.

Form: 535-434

(6)

Data Protection^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-1| J: J F Egan| T: W R Muir| OR: 81| C

16/1

Dual course winner but has never won from a mark this high or a trip this far and probably vulnerable after two below par efforts since the restart.

Form: 2130-36

Non-Runners

(7)

Desert Icon⁶

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: James Doyle

(1)

Wargrave¹⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: George Baker J: P Cosgrave

(4)

Sherpa Trail¹²⁹

Weight: 8-0| Age: 4

T: E Walker J: M Dwyer

Forecasts

Desert Icon (11/4), Ironclad (3/1), Caradoc (9/2), You're Hired (6/1), Johnny Drama (6/1), Tinandali (10/1), Breath Caught (11/1), Certain Lad (14/1), Data Protection (16/1), Plantadream (18/1), Sky Defender (22/1), Sherpa Trail (25/1), Sucellus (33/1), Mr Scaramanga (33/1), Dolphin Vista (66/1), Wargrave (100/1)

DESERT ICON won in great style at Newmarket last weekend and he's going to be hard to beat under a penalty here if he turns up in the same form. You're Hired may have been let in lightly by the handicapper having gone up just 7lb for his recent Newmarket win. Wargrave completes the shortlist but he won't find this field easy to dominate from the front.