27th August 2012
Epsom Betting: Course specialsit Lady Gibraltar can go in again at Epsom for Alan Jarvis
3.05 Epsom: Totepool Mobile Text Tote To 89660 Handicap (Class 2) (5f)
Plenty of racing on this Bank Holiday and Epsom stages a pretty decent 7-race card and the feature handicap is the 5f sprint which is a competitive Class 2 event. The ground is good at the moment but with rain forecast for most of the day we might need something that can go with a bit of cut in the ground. The favourite at the moment is Lady Gibraltar and is as short as 5/1 with Paddy Power and is one of six course and distance winners in the field.
The 3yo filly won here last month when the ground was much firmer than today but then went on to dead heat at Goodwood with Jwala under a 6lb penalty on good ground. She obviously likes these types of tracks and has another 5lb rise to contend with here. The top weight is interesting Stone Of Folca, he won the Epsom Dash at the Derby meeting at a price of 50/1 and to be honest hasn’t really showed that form since but has been contesting Group races so this is a big step back down in class and could bounce back to form if in the mood.
Local trainer Simon Dow runs Fair Value, yet another Epsom winner, she won a Class 4 event last month in good style and then led for a while in the Stewards Cup consolation race at Goodwood off 6lbs higher suggesting she can win off this mark in the right company. Fathom Five is dropping down the handicap at a fair rate and you would think it’s a just a matter of time until trainer Gary Moore finds an opening for this once very useful sprinter, in his prime he was rated 100 and now turns up here on 78 and has won here twice before and is respected despite his average current form.
David Barron makes trip down with Long Awaited and Richard Hughes gets the ride, he’s one that wont mind if the ground turns and comes here after a return to form last time out at Goodwood when fourth to Time Medicean, he wore blinkers that day and they are on again here. Prior to that he had shown nothing in three runs including in the Dash here in June. He’s reasonably handicapped and could go well. Damika has been in decent form lately, he led the field on the far side at Ripon last time only to fade close home and despite now being a 9yo he still has the ability.
A couple of others to mention are the bottom weight Sandfrankskipsgo the mount of Jimmy Quinn, he has been placed three times this season and ran well here and at Goodwood so the course suits and could run well along with the Mick Channon trained Waseem Faris who ran very well at York just the other day and if he takes his chance would be dangerous.
Many in with chances as you would expect for a sprint at Epsom and it’s always worth paying attention to those who have ran well here before. I don’t think the draw will be too crucial with just 12 runners but the ground may be a factor come off time. Of those course winners I like Lady Gibraltar, she’s in terrific form and see no reason why she wont produce her best here while of the others Long Awaited seems to have been woken up by the blinkers last time and if they have the same effect looks well treated.
Selections:
2pts Lady Gibraltar 6/1 Skybet
1pt Long Awaited 8/1 BetVictor
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Author: Ray Singpost
