Alan Thomson’s Tips: Warrior can fight to the finish

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SAXON WARRIOR (4.30) has drifted to a reasonable price to land the Investec Derby on Epsom Downs.

Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Qipco 2000 Guineas winner has been uneasy in the market since drawing the stall one “coffin box” but with only 11 rivals that disadvantage should not be insurmountable.

Ryan Moore will need to plot a path through the field but Saxon Warrior is taken to land the Blue Riband, setting up an exciting shot at the Triple Crown.

At an each-way price, Ballydoyle stablemate Delano Roosevelt is a feasible alternative as he was cutting into Hazapour’s advantage at Leopardstown and seems to be crying out for this 1m 4f distance.

Court House and POET’S PRINCE (2.00) are the early-season form horses in the opening 1m 2f handicap but both encounter vastly different ground conditions.

A chance is taken Mark Johnston’s gelding will handle it okay, especially given his rock-solid credentials. After running William Haggas’s smart Formation close at Redcar, Poet’s Prince won at Chelmsford City a week later. He was then sent to Newbury where he found only stablemate Communique too hot to handle in a race that traditionally throws up serious Royal Ascot handicap
contenders.

One who won’t mind it soft is Ship Of The Fen, a narrow winner at Doncaster on an easy surface. She beat last week’s easy Haydock winner Baileys Excelerate at Nottingham last season (good to soft) and should be on the premises.

DASH OF SPICE (5.15) has twice given Ajman King a race at Epsom, once on heavy ground, so his chance is pretty obvious in a typically tough handicap over the Derby trip.

William Haggas is always to be feared when sending runners to Musselburgh and DYNAMIC (2.40) has a first-rate chance in the Class 3 fillies’ handicap.

The track will be riding very slick after a prolonged dry spell in the Edinburgh area and Dynamic finished runner-up on good to firm last October at Newmarket. More recently in another Class 2 contest, she ran fourth to stablemate Urban Fox at Ascot. Stall one is ideal and the filly wears a tongue-tie for the first time.

Another Haggas filly, BESHAAYIR (3.25), is stepped up in grade with an obvious chance in the Stobo Castle Ladies’ Day Gold Cup.

The Newmarket trainer saddled the third 12 months ago in Glitter Girl, so he should know what is required. Beshaayir remains unexposed after landing odds of 1-5 at Wolverhampton in April and can make the most of her 10lb age allowance over last year’s winner Unforgetable Filly, trained by Hugo Palmer.

Roger Varian’s Madeline sets a high standard on the pick of last season’s form, which include an excellent third to Clemmie and Different League in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at HQ. However, it’s a bit off-putting that she ran so keenly before dropping out quickly in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at unconsidered odds of 66-1.

ROCKWOOD (4.00) could pop up at a nice price in the 1m 1f handicap, especially with trainer Karen McLintock enjoying a purple patch.

She had a couple of winners from a handful of horses early in May and her last two runners both won last week (Trinity Star and Gurkha Friend). Rockwood ran well enough at Hamilton when third to Vive La Difference to suggest he should take a hand, especially with Vive La Difference running so well earlier this week at Beverley (neck second to El Principe).

If you fancy a flutter at Chepstow this evening two horses return after winning over course and distance last June on similar soft ground. They are GRAMS AND OUNCES (6.00) and KINGLAMI (8.30).

Recommended Bets

• Epsom 4.30 – Saxon Warrior (10-11, McBookie)
• Delano Roosevelt ew (14-1, McBookie, bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power)
• Epsom 2.00 – Poet’s Prince (5-1, Paddy Power)
• Epsom 5.15 – Dash Of Spice (5-1, bet365)
• Musselburgh 2.40 – Dynamic (7-4, bet365)
• Musselburgh 3.25 –  Beshaayir (9-4, bet365)
• Musselburgh 4.00 – Rockwood ew (8-1, McBookie)
• Chepstow 6.00 – Grams And Ounces ew (12-1, bet365)
• Chepstow 8.30 – Kinglami (100-30, Ladbrokes)

Johnb's Saturday Tips

• Epsom 4:30 – Dee Ex Bee to place 5-2 skybet (4 places)
• Epsom 4:30 – Knight To Behold to place 5-2 skybet (4 places) NAP
• Epsom 4:30 – Dee Ex Bee 33-1 bet365 ew 1/4 odds 3 places
• Epsom 4:30 – Knight To Behold 25-1 bet365 ew 1/4 odds 3 places
• Epsom 2.35 – Lincoln Rocks 7-2 888sport NB
• Doncaster 4.15 – Odds On Oli 5-1 betvictor

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