17:15 Epsom Downs

Saturday 1 June 2024

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1517:50

Long Shot Northern Dancer Handicap

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 2m 40.13s

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Selected odds by:

(11)

Lucander^b,t1⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 102

33/1

Did well in Bahrain for this yard over the winter, winning a handicap in December. Not disgraced in Local Group 1/listed events thereafter and returns to these shores after 3 months off back in a handicap. First-time tongue tie applied.

Form: 431-335

(1)

Relentless Voyager^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 101| D

7/1

Landed the odds in great style in a Kempton maiden last March and improved efforts in defeat upped in class/fitted with tongue tie next 2 outings. Made a promising return to action on his first outing since finishing last at Royal Ascot last June and tongue tie is reapplied. Respected.

Form: 2/1436-3

(6)

If Not Now²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 101

14/1

Won 3-runner Sandown handicap (1¼m, good to soft) last season prior to creditable fifth in the German Derby. Gelded and shaped quite encouragingly after 8 months off when third of 6 in handicap at Lingfield (11.6f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago and remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 1/3158-3

(2)

Not So Sleepy⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Morrison| OR: 100| C| D

20/1

Gained a first Flat win in over 3 years at Newbury last September and went down on his sword for all he failed to make the frame for the first time in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (18f) 3 weeks later. Hurdles winner since, and returns following a solid fourth on Flat 6 weeks ago.

Form: 953/17-4

(10)

Struth^p²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Johnston| OR: 95| D

18/1

Won at Chester last May and generally held form well in defeat later in the season, headed only late on when runner-up in the November Handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) on his final outing. Sweated up beforehand too keen in the race itself on return so worth another chance.

Form: 20442-9

(5)

Ziggy³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 92| D

4/1

Struck twice in 2022 and in the placings on both AW starts in January 2023. Returned from 15 months off with a most encouraging effort when second of 7 at this course (10.1f, good to firm) just under 6 weeks ago, finding just a well-handicapped stablemate too strong. One to be interested in.

Form: 101/23-2

(9)

Flash Bardot¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 92| CD

15/2

Won 5 times in 2023, latterly at Catterick (12f, heavy) in October and she again handled conditions best when seeing off a host of similarly useful fillies on return at Doncaster (11.9f, soft) in April. Not so good at York subsequently and may need soft/heavy to be seen at her best.

Form: 8118-18

(8)

Think First²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Coen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 90

28/1

Useful performer who is unexposed for this stable (ran with some encouragement on hurdling debut) and finished well when runner-up over C&D on return to the Flat in April. Unable to repeat that effort in a first-time hood at Ascot 3 weeks ago, so needs to bounce back quickly.

Form: 5967-28

(13)

Parlando²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89

11/1

Useful sort who scored in Bahrain in February (seeing off Box To Box) but was some way below form at Doncaster a month later. Stuck wide and ran better without getting back to his best when sixth of 7 at Chester (10.3f, good to firm) just over 3 weeks ago and likely to come up short.

Form: 45-4106

(7)

Percy Shelley^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 89

25/1

Useful performer in France who was successful 3 times in 2022. More encouraging signs for this yard fitted in a first-time visor when sixth of 13 in handicap at York (11.8f, good) last month, the only one from off the pace to make ground. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 606-696

(4)

Dream Harder²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87

9/1

Likeable sort who was just about better than ever when winning at Chester last July. Excellent return to action when third at Wolverhampton in March and unlucky not to finish closer when fourth at former course last month (finished with running left). Threatening to come good again soon.

Form: 43-3074

(12)

Kotari²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: G & J Moore| OR: 87| D

7/2

Has returned better than ever, completing the hat-trick in a much stronger race in 14-runner handicap at Ascot (12f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago, as expected having no issue with the extra distance. Another 5 lb higher and with potentially having even more to offer at this trip, he's respected.

Form: 22/6-111

(15)

Asgard's Captain¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 84

12/1

Won twice for Thomas Dowling in 2023 and has kicked on again for new yard this year, scoring 4 times on the AW at up to 1¼m. Ran just about as well as at Windsor upped in trip when fifth of 20 at York (11.8f, good) recently and holds solid each-way claims.

Form: 111825

(3)

Maso Bastie^v⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82

40/1

Followed up from his Lingfield victory on return at Nottingham (10.1f, heavy) last year but failed to kick on in handicaps thereafter (sold from James Fanshawe for 37,000 gns prior to penultimate 2023 start). Hardly set the world alight on both starts this term, so others look stronger.

Form: 9206-64

Non-Runners

(14)

L'astronome²³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: H Palmer J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Kotari (7/2), Ziggy (4/1), Relentless Voyager (7/1), Flash Bardot (15/2), Dream Harder (9/1), Parlando (11/1), Asgard's Captain (12/1), If Not Now (14/1), Struth (18/1), Not So Sleepy (20/1), L'astronome (20/1), Percy Shelley (25/1), Think First (28/1), Lucander (33/1), Maso Bastie (40/1)

ZIGGY made a promising return to action from 15 months off when finding his well-handicapped stablemate too strong here over 1¼m just under 6 weeks ago, and with that outing sure to have blown away any cobwebs, Harry Eustace's 6-y-o is taken to notch career victory number 4 at the expense of Dream Harder, who is threatening to come good again soon judged on his recent Chester fourth. Kotari arrives in search of a 4-timer, and he can fight out minor honours with Asgard's Captain.