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Epictetus can take Epsom Trial by storm

3 minute read

Epictetus could offer some early Classic insight in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Blue Riband Trial at Epsom.

EPICTETUS. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

John and Thady Gosden's charge brings the very strongest form to the table, having chased home 2000 Guineas and Derby favourite Auguste Rodin in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final run last term.

The son of Kingman was beaten three and a half lengths by last season's star juvenile, with the Gosden runner meeting a bit of trouble in running, although it did not impact on the overall result, with Auguste Rodin having plenty in hand.

Epictetus' penultimate start was also out of the top drawer, running subsequent Breeders' Cup second Silver Knott to a neck in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

While this colt might struggle to see out the 12 furlongs of the Derby, for which he is already entered, this mile and a quarter should just about be in his remit.

It could be a profitable afternoon for the Gosden team, with Harrovian taken to defy the burden of top-weight in the Betfred City And Suburban Handicap.

The seven-year-old has not managed to get his head in front since the autumn of 2021, but has been in good form on the all-weather this winter.

He was not disgraced when finishing fourth behind multiple Group One-winning stablemate Lord North on his penultimate start and he was last seen finishing third in the Easter Classic at Newcastle.

Harrovian has his sights lowered on his return to the turf, reverting to handicap company for the first time in almost two years, and a bold bid is anticipated.

Kape Moss warmed up for the opening Indigenous Handicap with an all-weather win at Southwell last month.

She came from last to first that day, swooping in the final strides to beat Angle Land by a head and a 3lb rise might not be enough to stop her.

Beelzebub catches the eye as he returns to turf in the Quinnbet Acca Bonus Handicap at Yarmouth.

He finished a well-beaten fifth on his only turf outing to date, when making his debut at the backend of last season at Newbury.

James Ferguson's runner has since won two of three spins on the all-weather and as a relation of Winter Power among others, he has the pedigree to rise through the ranks a bit from here.

Kalpaga rates the best bet over the sticks at Ffos Las.

The Tim Vaughan-trained seven-year-old had hinted at ability on a couple of occasions, but took her game to another level when bolting up by 10 lengths at Hereford recently.

The handicapper has not missed her, handing her an 11lb rise, but she is clearly in good heart and may well be capable of following up in the Oil 4 Wales Mares' Handicap Hurdle.

The Punchestown Festival kicks off and it looks set to be another day of Willie Mullins domination.

Energumene is unopposable in the William Hill Champion Chase following his Cheltenham demolition job, while Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Facile Vega can bounce back to winning ways in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.

Sir Gerhard could be another Grade One scorer for the Closutton team in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase after turning in an improved round of jumping at Fairyhouse over Easter.

SELECTIONS:

EPSOM: 1.50 Kape Moss, 2.25 EPICTETUS (NAP), 3.00 Harrovian, 3.35 Captain Kane, 4.10 Jalapa, 4.45 Alpha Crucis.

FFOS LAS: 1.40 Polyphonic, 2.15 Kalpaga, 2.50 Eaton Collina, 3.25 Copper Cove, 4.00 King Of Brazil, 4.35 James Jet, 5.10 Natty Night.

PUNCHESTOWN: 3.40 Ladybank, 4.15 Facile Vega, 4.50 Telecon, 5.25 Energumene, 6.00 Speculatrix, 6.35 Sir Gerhard, 7.10 Old Style Humor, 7.45 Ninth Loch.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.55 Haseef, 6.25 Eight Mile, 6.55 Good Morals, 7.25 Eden Storm, 8.00 Ask Peter, 8.30 Native Beach, 9.00 May Remain.

YARMOUTH: 2.05 Eleven Eleven, 2.40 Sir Bolton, 3.15 Bear On The Loose, 3.50 Beelzebub, 4.25 Zebra Star, 5.00 Han Solo Berger, 5.35 Mr Fayez.

DOUBLE: Kape Moss and Epictetus.