15:45 Epsom Downs

Friday 2 June 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1017:45

Betfred Handicap

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 2m 5.51s

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(9)

Savvy Victory²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: S Woods| OR: 106| BF| D

15/2

Improved during second half of last year, resuming winning ways at Goodwood (9f) before big effort to finish fifth in Cambridgeshire. Produced just about his best effort yet when second in 9-runner Chester handicap (10.3f) 3 weeks ago and he's in the mix once more.

Form: 2153-52

(8)

Cadillac^p1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: K Stott| T: G Boughey| OR: 105| D

12/1

Won listed race at Leopardstown and good second in Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot for Jessica Harrington last June. Hasn't scaled same heights since, never better than midfield (also gelded) on return at Newmarket 4 weeks ago. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 12234-0

(3)

Masekela¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 99

8/1

Listed winner at 2 who was an excellent fourth in the Derby last June. Signed off last season with pair of good in-the-frame efforts and not better for return when ninth in 13-runner York handicap (10.2f) 14 days ago. Eased 3 lb subsequently.

Form: 5942-69

(10)

Honiton¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97| D

7/1

Sandown maiden winner (10f) last summer who left his reappearance run on testing ground in his wake when doubling his tally in 10f Newmarket handicap 14 days ago, asserting final 1f and staying on well. Only 3 lb higher now and type his excellent yard can eke a little more from.

Form: 2310-41

(4)

Bad Company^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 96| CD

16/1

Reliable operator who was all the better for his reappearance effort when landing heavy ground C&D handicap in April. Beaten only by another arriving at top of his game at Goodwood (9.9f) 4 weeks ago. This mark demands more but highly likely he can give another good account.

Form: 222-812

(11)

Lord Protector²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 94| D

33/1

Back to winning ways in 1¼m Sandown handicap last June. Unlucky not to finish closer when fifth of 18 at Glorious Goodwood next time but was well held at the Ebor meeting on final 2022 start and something to prove following pair of low-key efforts so far this term.

Form: 6150-79

(6)

Marhaba The Champ^t1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| D

4/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who resumed progress on back of 7 months off/returned to firmer ground when landing 13-runner York handicap (10.2f) 2 weeks ago, an effort backed up by the clock. 2 lb rise in weights shouldn't prevent another bold bid. Tongue tie on 1st time.

Form: 5/4218-1

(1)

Dual Identity¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: N Callan| T: W J Knight| OR: 92| D

9/1

Improved throughout last year, finishing third behind Majestic in Cambridgeshire (first home in his group). Enough encouragement to glean from pair of efforts this spring to suggest current mark is workable and not underestimated here.

Form: 1233-74

(2)

Majestic¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Channon| OR: 92

10/3

Won the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on final 4-y-o start and essentially made solid return to action, quickly back to his best when staying on fourth in 13-runner York handicap (10.2f) 2 weeks ago. May have a little more to offer at this trip on that evidence.

Form: 261-494

(7)

Toshizou¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 90

9/1

Useful operator for Joseph O'Brien and not far off that level for new yard when fourth in big field Newmarket handicap (9f, soft) on penultimate start last month. Not ideally drawn and unable to land a blow when eighth in handicap at York (7.8f) since and he's on a handy mark on balance.

Form: 25-0348

(5)

The City's Phantom^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Spencer| OR: 83| D

50/1

Built up an excellent record when fresh (all 3 career victories at Yarmouth) but without cheekpieces (refitted here) he ran below form on the back of 7 months off when fourteenth in 17-runner Newmarket handicap (9f, soft) 4 weeks ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 90046-0

Forecasts

Majestic (10/3), Marhaba The Champ (4/1), Honiton (7/1), Savvy Victory (15/2), Masekela (8/1), Toshizou (9/1), Dual Identity (9/1), Cadillac (12/1), Bad Company (16/1), Lord Protector (33/1), The City's Phantom (50/1)

Plenty of these arrive with claims and with that in mind it may pay to take a chance on TOSHIZOU. There's been encouragement to glean from his exploits over shorter trips in recent weeks and, still unexposed at 1¼m, he could well represent a spot of value from his easing mark partnered by Hollie Doyle. Honiton and Dual Identity are others to consider, with York-scorer Marhaba The Champ also firmly in the mix.