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Epsom Downs will be centre stage of the horse racing world with the two-day Betfred Derby Festival beginning on Friday with Ladies Day, featuring a competitive and high quality seven race card.
The first race is always intriguing and will test the two-year-old's ability on the roller coaster track that is Epsom Downs. Twelve runners have been declared for the 6f Woodcote Stakes (2:00), which is a conditions race for two-year-olds. Valour And Swagger has shown plenty of promise so far with a debut six-and-a-half length success at Windsor preceding a smart second in an Ascot novice race. The colt will be tackling the slightly longer journey for the first time but rates highly.
Haatem has form on an undulating track with a good third at Goodwood over 5f followed by a six-length success at Bath in maiden company. James Doyle rides Balon D'Or following a solid third at Chester in the Class 2 Lily Agnes conditions race. Ryan Moore gets back on board The Camden Colt after he won second up at Haydock over this trip last week. Yorkshire Terrier is the one of the most experienced in the line-up which could be an advantage. Bobsleigh looks interesting after winning on debut four weeks ago over 5f at Brighton, a very similar track to Epsom.
A competitive class two handicap over 1m 1f is the second event on the programme. All The King's Men represents last year's race's winning trainer and jockey combination and the five-year-old arrives in strong form. He ran well in an easier level handicap at Thirsk when third over 7f and has plenty of good form from France earlier in his career. Revich was second in this race last year with Fantastic Fox in third. The former won last time in this handicap grade at Chester and could be reaching peak form. The latter arrives in good order and could feature. Dutch Decoy is an experienced handicapper for the Owners Group and was not disgraced at Hamilton last month when fourth.
In the 1m2f Betfred Handicap (3.45pm), Honiton looks likely to be one of the market leaders following a success over the same distance in a lower-class handicap at Newmarket. Progressive four-year-old Marhaba The Champ proved himself at this level when a narrow winner at York a fortnight ago. Savvy Victory won at Goodwood last season so is likely to handle the course and the four-year-old showed best form at Chester three weeks back when second. Dual Identity was a strong third in last year's Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket and is not dismissed alongside the winner that day, Majestic.
The Listed Surrey Stakes at 5.10pm over 7f for three-year-olds looks intriguing. Holguin holds a consistent profile and placed second in last year's Listed Two-year-old Trophy at Redcar. Olivia Maralda was seventh at a massive price in the Group 1 1000 Guineas and is expected to appreciate the drop in class. The filly was placed at Group 2 level last year in Ireland. Secret Angel is a Listed Deauville winner and Streets Of Gold won five times as a two-year-old and is not discounted.
The final contest is an open and competitive class two handicap over 7f for three-year-olds and upwards at 5.45pm. Urban Sprawl won last Saturday at Goodwood in good style making all and similar front running tactics are likely again. Spanish Star arrives in solid form over 6f including a Goodwood handicap victory two outings back. On A Session was fourth in this event last year and races off the same rating following a runner-up effort at Chester in this grade last weekend. Pocket The Profit was sixth in this contest twelve months ago, and can handle the Epsom undulations well.