Tanya Stevenson
Tanya's Blog
Watched Daybreak this morning and I was a bit disappointed they didn’t afford more time to Kate Miller when they were promoting Epsom. The fashion expert was given a couple of minutes and Kate a couple of seconds, poor show.
At present it’s overcast and gloomy only a few miles from Epsom as the crow flies, fingers crossed that clears up as all roads lead to the Downs. Running rails sit precariously on the undulations daring the runners to lean into them, the camber down the home straight severe, the test the ultimate. Don’t forget to tune in to Racing UK with expert additions from James Willoughby. I will be watching with curiosity and anticipation, it’s a great card and I’ve entered the Bodugi.com competition, more in hope than in judgement.
Here it goes, in the first I have picked CLINCAL, a horse of Sir Mark Prescott’s who had Classic aspirations last year and the form the great man is in and his liking for the Surrey venue she seems a massive price.
TARTAN GIGHA deserves to land the hat-trick in the Investec Mile, I flagged him up in the Lincoln at the start of the season, but for many reasons I could have been more competitive. This is his course, he thrives round the quirks Epsom has to offer.
Apologies now to all the Elite Racing Club members, I sent James Given a good luck message for DANDINO in the Coronation Cup. My luck at present is on annual leave but at the start of the flat season DANDINO was my horse to follow for the year. He is two from two. Negatives with the favourite are he beat nothing at Chester, ok he beat nothing very impressively and Midday well she is the one to beat but even she took a while to get into her stride at York. In the 3.25 I have gone for Oriental Scot.
Then as for the Oaks my 1-2 is a repeat of the Cheshire version with WONDER OF WONDERS beating Blaise Chorus. The latter is a massive price if adopting the same tactics, she could get lose if slipping round Tattenham Corner on the rails and can hold on to a place. Wonder Of Wonders looked imperious at Chester, going better the further they went.
POINTERS
Five of the last seven favourites have won Epsom’s 1.40
Four of the last five winners of Epsom’s 1.40 won on their latest start
Saeed Bin Suroor has won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes three times from just six runners
Tartan Gigha is attempting his third straight win in Epsom’s 2.10
Aidan O’Brien has won three of the last five Coronation Cups
Eight of the last ten favourites have been beaten in the Coronation Cup and Epsom’s 3.25
Seven of the last ten Investec Oaks winners won on their last start
Fourteen of the last 20 Investec Oaks winners came from the first three in the betting
Sir Michael Stoute has had seven winners from his last sixteen runners
Sir Mark Prescott has a 50% strike rate at Epsom at present
