Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from day 2 of the Epsom Downs Betfred Derby & Oaks Festival on 1 June 2024.
EPSOM DOWNS DERBY FESTIVAL DAY TWO
Race1 No8 PORTSMOUTH
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
PORTSMOUTH did himself no favours by taking a keen grip on the latest start in testing conditions at Newmarket. A winner at this track on his handicap debut, the Gleneagles gelding plugged on gamely when collared running out of the Dip in what was a commendable effort. Drawn on the rail here, he needs to play a stalking roll just behind the leaders for his track craft to pay dividends at the business end of affairs. BUBBLES WONKY is one that should also get into the shake-up on handicap bow for Tim Easterby. He’s well drawn in stall 3 and represents top owners King Power Racing. WHISKEY PETE came back with a genuine excuse from York and should not be written off.
Race 3 BETFRED DIOMED STAKES (Group 3)
No6 ROYAL SCOTSMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
ROYAL SCOTSMAN refused to settle and gave himself no chance of getting home when returning from the injury list in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. The talented son of Gleneagles finds himself in calmer waters and is worth giving the chance to bounce back. Much will depend if Spencer can get him settled which will not be easy on these undulations. REGAL REALITY regularly turns up for the race that remembers the first Derby winner and in spite of increasing years, he’s worth a saver.
Race 4 No16 GRANDLAD (Each Way)
Trainer: James Horton – Jockey: Adam Farragher
GRANDLAD has limited experience, but what we’ve seen from him since he went handicapped has been very impressive. He and the runner-up came clear when he scored at Goodwood for which a 3lb rise in the weights may not prevent him from completing what would be a fine hat-trick. Yorkshire raider DUE FOR LUCK is probably well drawn and needs respect for trainer John Quinn. For exotic wagering, I shall also include STURLASSON and MASHADI.
Race 6 BETFRED DERBY (Group 1)
No6 DANCING GEMINI (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: Dylan McMonagle
It’s been a long time since one of our ‘smaller’ trainers have plundered the Premier Classic and while I say that respectfully it will be a major source of inspiration to all licence holders should DANCING GEMINI deliver for Roger Teal. The Camelot colt was a Listed winner last year, and while finishing just out of the money in a Doncaster Group 1 at the back end he looked most unfortunate not to win the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp last month. Not only did rapidly softening ground go against him, but he didn’t quite enjoy a smooth passage, but for which a neck defeat could have been victory. ‘Could haves’ don’t always win you Classics, but Dancing Gemini appears to be carrying out for a longer trip, while his connections’ prayers that the ground might dry up look like being answered in the affirmative. Furthermore, he’s developed a good rapport with his jockey, who did nothing wrong in France. AMBIENCE FRIENDLY has hugged the headlines since the extraordinary decision of his owners to jock off Callum Shepherd and replace him with Rab Havlin. That aside, Ambiente Friendly was a decisive winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial in which he handled the switchback terrain and stayed all the way to the line and past it. LOS ANGELES showed he enjoys quicker ground when making it three wins from as many outings for Aidan O’Brien in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. The son of Camelot appeals as a less risky proposition than CITY OF TROY, whose ‘wonder horse’ reputation was left in tatters with his underwhelming run in the 2000 Guineas. He’s been easy to back with Hollywoodbets. If there was to be a major upset DEIRA MILE could produce it. He impressed Jim Crowley in some work on the course in which he came clear of a useful lead horse. Listening to the confidence of his jockey, you would want to have a bit on, or at least put him in all permutations.
Prediction: 1st DANCING GEMINI, 2nd Ambiente Friendly, 3rd Los Angeles, 4th Deira Mile, 5th City Of Troy
Race 7 No8 FLASH BARDOT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
FLASH BARDOT was far from disgraced in a better race than this at York when horses that were held up were at a big disadvantage. She had been a ready scorer on her first run of the season at Doncaster, and having worked with aplomb since the Knavesmire reverse is fancied to bounce back.
