Today's Horse Racing Tips: Expect a Hurricane at Epsom

There are five bets for today’s racing at Epsom, including one in the Group 1 Cazoo Derby at 16:30.

Epsom Tips

14:35 – 1m½f Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)

The lightly-raced four-year-old PARENT’S PRAYER (1 point win bet at 9/2) continues to improve and looks more than capable of winning at this level. Twice placed already in Group 3 company, this Listed winner has gone close in both starts this season. A little outpaced over seven furlongs at Lingfield last time out, the step back up to a mile should suit and Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle. He has been in fine form of late and has a good strike-rate when teaming up with Archie Watson. The returning Nazuna is feared most.

15:45 – 5f World Pool “Dash” Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)

With a host of seemingly exposed runners in the lineup, a chance is taken on two of the younger contenders, both of whom remain open to further improvement.

EXALTED ANGEL (1 point win bet at 25/1) has some smart All-Weather form and was a Listed winner at Lingfield last season. His three runs this year have all been over six furlongs with one in Group 3 company and the other two in conditions races. His last five starts in five-furlong sprint handicaps have produced form figures of 11223, so today’s conditions look ideal. A line can be drawn through his run at Haydock last time out as it came on his first try on very testing ground. His Abernant Stakes run was very respectable and he was just a head behind Summerghand on his seasonal reappearance.

MONDAMMEJ (0.5 point win bet at 14/1) is another that had been running well on the All-Weather but he also has some decent form on turf having won a Class 2 Pontefract sprint in decisive fashion. He was just five-lengths behind the impressive Pendleton at York last time out and drying ground will suit him.

16:30 – 1m4f Cazoo Derby (Group 1)

Bolshoi Ballet is clearly held in very high regard and it’d be no surprise to see Aidan O’Brien win another Derby. However, slight preference is for the unbeaten HURRICANE LANE (1 point win bet at 6/1), who won the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York last time out. Historically, that is one of the best trials for this race and he hit the line strongly to give the impression that 1m4f will be well within his capabilities. A 200,000gns yearling, this son of Frankel is an exciting prospect, will have no problem with the ground and has William Buick in the saddle again. Mac Swiney completes the shortlist.

17:50 – 6f Cazoo Handicap (For The Tokyo Trophy) (Class 2)

ATALANTA’S BOY (NAP – 1 point win bet at 6/1) is lightly raced for a six-year-old sprinter having made just 16 career starts. He has won six of them including a fourth success at Goodwood last time out. The latest of those came in the style of a horse at the top of his game, and the Stewards’ Cup back there in August is his big target.

It looks likely that he can reach a rating of 100+ by the end of the season, so David Menuisier’s son of Paco Boy should still be very competitive off his current handicap mark of 95, especially given that regular jockey Thomas Greatrex can still claim 3lbs.

His seasonal reappearance should have put him spot on for this and he goes on any ground. Stall 6 looks ideal and if he breaks smartly, he could take some catching.