4.50pm Epsom Tips & Betting Preview 29/08/2017

A field of eleven go to post for the penultimate race of the day at Epsom on Tuesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: Oh It’s Saucepot arrives here on the hat-trick and this improving filly should go close again off her new mark, but she isn’t sure to appreciate this better ground. Preference is for David O’Meara’s MARAAKIB, who is now seventeen pounds below his last winning mark and arrives on the back of a decent effort at Beverley off four pounds higher. He was last but only beaten around four lengths, with this latest drop in the weights meaning he can sneak into a Class 5 for the first time since November 2015, his last victory.

1 SQUIRE – Latest 1m 2f turf win two years ago for Michael Attwater and he’s been slowly regressing this year for connections. He was last seen at Brighton where he was never going the pace to challenge and stepping up to this trip doesn’t look certain to suit at all, as it’s his first attempt since July 2016. Adam Beschizza is struggling for winners at present and the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

2 MARAAKIB – Five year old for the in form David O’Meara team who hasn’t been seen to best effect this season and has now dropped to a mark which cannot be ignored. He is now seventeen pounds below his last winning mark and he now sneaks into Class 5 company, which means this will be his easiest test for a very long while. His last win came in this grade back in November 2015 which underlines the significance of his latest drop in the weights. His latest start at Beverley was far from a disgrace as he wasn’t beaten far and off four pounds lower, he should be very tough to beat here.

3 THE GAY CAVALIER – Course and distance winner who is weighted to his best at present, placing off this mark when second at Sandown four starts ago. He was seen just two days ago at Goodwood in an Amateur Riders’ Handicap where he was only able to manage fifth, looking very much one paced. He goes well here so he has place claims but he looks vulnerable for win purposes.

4 GALINTHIAS – Won here over the one mile trip three starts ago, but that was a four runner race and he only just scraped in on that occasion. He has looked very one paced on his latest two starts and his only previous attempt at the 1m 2f trip ended in him fading away inside the final furlong. He’s now back onto his last winning mark but he’s hard to recommend on balance.

5 PINK RIBBON – Now two pounds under his last winning mark, though that is only due to some lacklustre performances of late for this Sylvester Kirk inmate. He had everything how he wanted it at Brighton on his latest start but his rivals breezed past when push came to shove. He’s back down in class and two pounds lower in the handicap, but others have less to prove and he can only be given each way claims.

6 OH IT’S SAUCEPOT – Improving filly for Chris Wall who has won her last two races, winning a 1m 1f handicap at Yarmouth comfortably under today’s rider Ted Durcan. She is now four pounds higher but she remains unexposed at the middle distances. She should stay this extra distance but she does need to prove herself on ground that is firmer than good to soft. She is hard to rule out but does come with risks attached.

7 ROYAL HALL – Has shown very little in Britain since joining the Gary Moore team, with three flat results showing very little. He was well beaten in fifth at Chelmsford on his latest start, never better than that position and he makes his handicap debut off a mark of 62. Market support on handicap debut would be interesting but the percentage call is to avoid him.

8 AV A WORD – All three of his wins have come over the 1m 2f distance at Brighton, with the latest of those coming eighteen days ago where he came home with a rattle to get on top late. He’s now four pounds higher and the fact he does very little out in front has likely saved his handicap mark. Silvestre De Sousa retains the ride and he should be on the premises with conditions fine.

9 BAYSTON HILL – Has won on a downhill track before so he should be suited by the challenge of Epsom, though he does arrive here on the back of a mediocre sixth at Windsor earlier this month. This is no easier and he’s still yet to really prove himself over this distance, as his only close effort over this distance came on his first attempt at it. Possible each way claims under Daniel Muscutt but he looks vulnerable for win purposes.

10 RETRIBUTION – Has improved for the step up in trip to 1m 2f the last twice, narrowly denied at Lingfield on his first attempt at this distance. Despite a five pound rise he was far from disgraced on his latest start at Yarmouth, only beaten by roughly two lengths. He remains unexposed at this distance and looks set for a big run again under Tom Queally, so he is respected.

11 EPSOM SECRET – Won at her first attempt of the 1m 2f trip on her penultimate start before finding her stamina limit at the 1m 4f trip when last seen, fading out of things inside the final furlong. She is now five pounds above her last winning mark but back down in trip she has definite place possibilities as she remains unexposed at these middle distances for Pat Phelan.