7.15pm Epsom Tips & Betting Preview 06/07/2017

A field of nine go to post for the third race of the day at Epsom on Thursday evening, see our betting tips and the full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: Lots of potential each way players including both Major Pusey and Storm Cry, but this can go to David Drinkwater’s ASHPAN SAM. He is now five pounds below his mark when placing here in August and his penultimate seventh at the same venue showed he was coming to the boil. Conditions will suit and William Carson takes the ride, so he should be very hard to stop if building on that latest course run. Another to note is Highland Acclaim, who was back to form when second last month at Thirsk and is only up two pounds.

1 REPUTATION – Inconsistent sort for John Quinn who won over course and distance on his penultimate start, keeping on strongly to lead close home. The four pound rise however was enough to find him out as he was well beaten at York on his latest start and he does have something to prove on that basis. His overall profile is far from compelling with lots of bad efforts dotted around and despite him having conditions to suit, others make far more appeal.

2 HIGHLAND ACCLAIM – Returned to form on his latest start when second at Thirsk in June, only beaten around a neck and the handicapper has raised him two pounds. That doesn’t seem excessive and if he’s in the same form again for David O’Meara he has live each way claims. The problem however lies in his overall profile, as he’s never been the most consistent and he’s far from assured to back up that effort this time around. Others have more convincing claims.

3 MAJOR PUSEY – Front runner for John Gallagher who arrives at his peak, winning at Windsor on his penultimate start in empathic style before a close second here on his latest run, only headed in the final strides. He is up a further two pounds as a result but he’s clearly at the top of his game and a return to better ground is of no concern for him. George Buckell takes the ride and five pounds off his back, so a big run looks on the cards.

4 ASHPAN SAM – Dual course and distance winner for David Drinkwater who has been out of form of late for connections, well beaten on his last four runs. As a consequence, he’s now dropped to a mark of 83, which is five pounds below his mark when placing at Epsom in August. He is clearly well treated and his penultimate run at Epsom showed he was near the boil, so he looks set to go very close under Willie Carson.

5 ATHASSEL – Has won eight races on the all weather since December for David Evans but a return to the grass is unlikely to see him returning to winning ways. He is zero from twenty-five on the turf and has been soundly beaten the last twice at both Goodwood and Epsom, doing little to show that he’d be winning on the turf anytime soon. Kieran Shoemark takes off three pounds but he’s likely to struggle.

6 JUAN HORSEPOWER – Has won twice this year but the handicapper seemingly has him firmly in his grip and he looks vulnerable again off this mark. He took that win at Bath in May, but a subsequent four pound rise has been enough to find him out the last twice where he has soundly been beaten at both Catterick and Leicester. The handicapper has only relented a pound and others are far for likely.

7 STORM CRY – Has reached the frame on her last three starts, last seen at Newmarket where she was beaten around three lengths by an improver. That effort was no disgrace but she clearly has little room for error off this mark and although a return to better ground should, there is a strong suspicion she will find at least one too good in this field. Likely each way contender but her consistency is her enemy at present.

8 FARLEIGH MAC – Struggled in seven furlong handicaps in May for Andrew Balding and the drop back to six turned out to be a good move on his latest start as he won at Windsor after making all. He’s up six pounds though and pitched into a tougher race, with the prospect of a soft lead all but impossible. He will need to have improved substantially to feature under Rob Hornby and he looks set to miss out.

9 TAAJUB – Ten year old who clearly isn’t the force he once was, though he hasn’t disgraced himself of late for Peter Crate. He ran soundly enough when second at Lingfield on his penultimate start, but more often than not he’s very inconsistent and fails to back up his good runs, as proven by his latest start at Sandown where he was well beaten in fifth. This is likely too competitive for him at this stage of his career.