15:50 Epsom Downs

Monday 29 August 2022

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Garden Cider Amateurs' Derby Handicap (Gentleman Amateur Jockeys)

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 2m 40.87s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Sarvan⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: George Scott| OR: 86

12/1

Belatedly added to 2020 maiden success when bagging back-to-back 1¼m Lingfield handicaps (AW) earlier this year. Will get plenty of assistance from the saddle with top amateur Sam Walker booked, but he has failed to fire the last twice and has yet to prove himself over this trip.

Form: 76-1108

(10)

Mascat^p1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁴⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 85

12/1

Winner of just one of his 19 starts in this sphere, but that statistic doesn't do him justice and he went close over C&D off this mark on debut for the Tizzard yard in April. Successful over hurdles since and should be in the mix if responding well to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 853-239

(3)

Way Of Life³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J Harding| T: J G Portman| OR: 83| D

16/1

Progressive on the AW, winning four on the bounce between November and April, and continued the good work back on turf when scoring at Newbury (1½m, good) in May. Shouldn't be judged too harshly on latest effort at Wolverhampton and likely to be on the premises.

Form: 112325

(5)

Heart Of Soul^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr J Reddington⁽⁴⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81| D

11/1

Sported usual cheekpieces when registering a quick-fire double in May, and the return of that headgear could be a positive here following a string of low-key efforts in a visor. Still, others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 411704

(7)

Saratoga Gold^b¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Daniel Kyne⁽⁶⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 80| D

5/1

Followed Goodwood reappearance success with several below par efforts, but the addition of blinkers did the trick at Newbury (1½m, good to firm) where he landed an amateur riders' event in good style 16 days ago. 4 lb rise fair and big chance if the headgear works equally well second time round.

Form: 155681

(4)

Fast Steps²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Patrick Millman| T: B R Millman| OR: 80| C

7/2

Winner of 8.5f novice here last spring and went close in 1¼m handicap on this card 12 months ago. Deservedly got his head back in front at Sandown (1¼m, good) last time and, still on a handy mark up 4 lb, he'll be a danger to all if coping with this step up in trip.

Form: 753221

(1)

Magna Moralia²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr R Birkett| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 78| D

11/1

Added to fine record on heavy ground when scoring at Pontefract on return in April. Hasn't been at the top of his game since, but was just touched off over C&D on sole previous visit here last summer and will not be without hope if there's some give underfoot.

Form: 20-1904

(2)

Furzig²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr E Cagney⁽²⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| D

18/1

Enjoyed a productive 2021 campaign, winning three times, and stepped up on his low-key reappearance when finishing fourth at Ripon in July. However, failed to land a blow at Doncaster since and is essentially opposable, for all that he's edging down the weights.

Form: 816-040

(12)

Restorer^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Luke Scott⁽²⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 77| D

9/1

Definite chance judged on his solid third off a significantly higher mark at Chester in May, but not in the same form since and it's been almost two years since he last hit the target.

Form: 643666

(6)

Captain Haddock⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Henry Main⁽²⁾| T: H Main| OR: 75| CD

6/1

Sole previous visit to this course resulted in a four-length victory in this race 12 months ago. Competes off a 3 lb lower mark this time round and while his most recent efforts have lacked spark, the 5-y-o's campaign has presumably been fine-tuned around this target.

Form: 3-32799

(11)

Thibault^t¹¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Matthew Wilson⁽⁶⁾| T: A West| OR: 70

25/1

Made winning turf debut in this sphere when landing a 2m Chepstow handicap in April. Followed-up over hurdles a month later and, though absent since, there's surely mileage in this revised mark and he'll be a threat if this drop back in trip doesn't prove to be an issue.

Form: 5/74-751

(8)

Psyche¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁴⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 66| D

17/2

Resumed winning ways at Brighton in June and struck again at Wolverhampton a month later. Not disgraced when 6¾ lengths third to Saratoga Gold at Newbury recently, but a 5 lb pull at the weights is unlikely to be enough for him to reverse placings with that rival here.

Form: 622113

Forecasts

Fast Steps (7/2), Saratoga Gold (5/1), Captain Haddock (6/1), Psyche (17/2), Restorer (9/1), Magna Moralia (11/1), Heart Of Soul (11/1), Mascat (12/1), Sarvan (12/1), Way Of Life (16/1), Furzig (18/1), Thibault (25/1)

Four-year-olds boast a good record in this race in recent years and SARATOGA GOLD is taken to continue that trend. Admittedly, he doesn't boast the most compelling profile, but the addition of blinkers clearly had the desired effect at Newbury and he'll take plenty of stopping off just a 4 lb higher mark if able to back that up. Fellow 4-y-o Fast Steps is proven round here and will be a threat if his stamina holds out, while Mascat and last year's winner Captain Haddock are others to consider.