15:55 Epsom Downs

Saturday 3 June 2023

All12:5013:3014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Betfred Lester Piggott Handicap

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 2m 7.21s

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Selected odds by:

(12)

Cite D'Or²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 97

50/1

Useful filly who showed she's trained on when third in a C&D listed race in April but well held in the Cheshire Oaks since and surely vulnerable to less-exposed sorts on this rather belated handicap debut.

Form: 6-68836

(4)

Torito¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95

4/1

Half-brother to very smart 1¼m-1½m winner Journey. Confirmed debut promise when landing short odds on Nottingham return and progressed again when second in useful 1¼m Sandown novice since. The handicapper hasn't missed him with an opening mark of 95 but there's surely more to come.

Form: 3-12

(11)

Lose Your Wad²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 93

20/1

Muhaarar colt who made it second time lucky in 1m Kempton maiden on reappearance in April. Advanced his form in the face of a stiff task when 8 lengths fourth in Dee at Chester 23 days ago but it's hard to argue an opening mark of 93 looks generous.

Form: 4-14

(7)

Forca Timao¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: R Hannon| OR: 93

22/1

Useful form, finishing a very creditable 1½ lengths fifth of 14 in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1¼m, good to firm) 14 days ago. That is usually a very strong race and he has to enter calculations here.

Form: 71-55

(14)

Promoter²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89

16/1

Beat a now useful rival when the ready winner of a 7f Chepstow novice last September. Some promise when 4 lengths fifth of 7 in 7.5f Chester handicap on reappearance, finishing with running left. Stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree and this longer trip could unlock some improvement.

Form: 715-5

(5)

Maasai Mara^b²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 87| D

15/2

Has reacted well to blinkers, winning an 11f Kempton novice and a 1¼m Ascot handicap this spring. 4 lb higher in a deeper race now but it'd be dangerous to rule out further improvement for top stable.

Form: 424-121

(9)

Sol Cayo²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: James Horton| OR: 86

28/1

Ended 2022 with a 9.5f Wolverhampton nursery success but reappears in a tough race and others in this line-up have more obvious scope for further progress.

Form: 733221-

(2)

Fox Journey¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 85| D

3/1

Left last autumn's efforts in maiden/novice company behind when making a successful handicap debut over 1¼m at Newmarket 16 days ago, drawing clear in the closing stages. Even a 9 lb rise may not stop him for a leading yard no stranger to success in this race.

Form: 644-1

(8)

Perfect Play⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| D

8/1

Built on his good reappearance second at Beverley when making all in a 1¼m Chester handicap last weekend. It's unlikely he'll be able to dictate in quite the same fashion in this stronger race but further progress can't be discounted given who trains him.

Form: 2814-21

(3)

Silver Sword⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Greg Cheyne| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 82

14/1

Refused to race on first 2 starts but hard to knock since then, making short work of his rivals in a 1m Southwell maiden in April. Pitched in at the deep end for handicap debut but may have more to offer.

Form: RR52-1

(1)

God Of Fire¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 81

50/1

Progressive in maidens, winning a 12-runner event over 9.5f at Wolverhampton in January. Disappointing when a well-held last of 3 on Sandown handicap debut 4 months later, though. Others much more obvious.

Form: 54-13

(6)

Balance Play³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R M Beckett| OR: 81

4/1

Has had the form of his second in a 7f Salisbury novice on reappearance strongly boosted by the winner and third since so an opening mark in the low 80s could prove lenient. Bred to stay this sort of trip.

Form: 43-2

(10)

Blue Universe¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: C Johnston| OR: 76

40/1

Much improved on return from wind surgery when scoring at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in April. Failed to translate that improvement to turf when 7 lengths second of 3 at Sandown 18 days ago.

Form: 5433-12

Non-Runners

(13)

Kadovar²⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: W Buick

Forecasts

Fox Journey (3/1), Torito (4/1), Balance Play (4/1), Maasai Mara (15/2), Perfect Play (8/1), Kadovar (10/1), Silver Sword (14/1), Promoter (16/1), Lose Your Wad (20/1), Forca Timao (22/1), Sol Cayo (28/1), Blue Universe (40/1), God Of Fire (50/1), Cite D'Or (50/1)

FOX JOURNEY won in the style of a colt going places at Newmarket and is selected to make light of a 9 lb rise. Andrew Balding has won this 3 times since 2017 so his course-scorer Kadovar has to enter the reckoning under William Buick. Handicap-newcomers Balance Play, whose Salisbury reappearance form looks strong, and Torito complete the shortlist in this good-quality 3-y-o handicap.