2021 Epsom Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
2021 Epsom Friday Tips
Our good run came to a shuddering halt last weekend. Muntadab at 16s was our only place. Queen Jo Jo never raised a gallop and Hayadh couldn’t land a blow either. Jazzy Princess was green as grass but she kept on well from the back and don’t write her off just yet. Ishvara simply wasn’t good enough and Show Me Show Me was probably ridden a bit too aggressively. This weekend is a massive one with a trio of top-class Group 1s at Epsom. The Oaks is the feature on the first day, check out Dave Stevos’ 2021 Epsom Friday tips for all live ITV races below.
2.00 – Woodcote Stakes (Class 2)
First up on Friday at Epsom is the 2yo Woodcote Stakes. This 6F sprint has been won by some classy sorts in the last few years, including Pinatubo and Buratino. Is there anything of their calibre in this year’s renewal? I’m not too sure. Only one horse has winning form over 6f in this race, Oscula for Mark Crehan and George Boughey. The Boughey operation has had plenty of success with their juveniles in 2021, sending out 10 winners so far. Oscula was beaten into 3rd on debut at Kempton (6f) but the switch to quick ground saw him win quite easily at Brighton (6f gd). He should handle Epsom fine and the son of Galileo Gold will probably be thereabouts.
Of those at bigger odds, Bath (5f gd/fm) debut winner Blue Collar Lad appeals most. This son of Ardaad won on his debut, beating the Brockelsby runner-up by 0.5L. On his next start over the same C&D he ran a nice race under a penalty, finishing 3rd behind Vaunted and Mercurial. The runner up won at Chester on his next start and he was then beaten just 2L in the Two Year Old Trophy at Beverley. I think it is a pretty decent level of form and on pedigree, 6f should suit. In an open looking heat, Blue Collar Lad is the speculative e/w pick.
2021 Epsom Friday Tips: Blue Collar Lad e/w @ 50/1
2.35 – Coral Handicap (Class 2)
The one I like in this handicap is locally trained Corazon Espinado. Simon Dow’s 6yo son of Iffraaj likes it here, as his course form figures of 17231218 indicate. His three Epsom victories came of marks of 77, 80 and 82, including this race in 2019. He shaped like he was coming back to form on his last outing when 2nd off 84 at Lingfield in April and Hollie Doyle gets the leg up on him now.
He is in off 84 again today, 3lb lower than when beat 0.75L over C&D in 2018. The booking of Doyle catches the eye (3 wins, 15 top 4s from 36 rides for Dow) and 1 of those wins came for this owner. He wouldn’t want the ground overly quick. However, they have been watering the track so conditions should be perfect for him. 14/1 looks a big price about Corazon Espinado and he is the each-way selection.
2021 Epsom Friday Tips: Corazon Espinado e/w @ 14/1
3.10 – Coronation Cup (Group 1)
The first big race of the day at Epsom is the Group 1 Coronation Cup. Just the six will go to post and I am going to keep the faith with our old friend Pyledriver. This admirable son of Harbour Watch produced a career best over this 12f trip last August at York when winning the G2 Great Voltigeur. He followed that up with a cracking effort in the Leger when beat just over 1L by Galileo Chrome. The 14f distance may have just stretched his stamina and today’s distance will suit much better.
Pyledriver needed a run to hit top gear last season and he ran a lovely race on his comeback at Newmarket (12f gd/fm). William Muir and Chris Grassick’s charge was just over 2L behind Sir Ron Priestly and that outing will have him spot on for this race. The one worry is that he ran poorly in the Derby here last season. However, he was badly hampered on that occasion so you couldn’t say that he didn’t handle the track.
Al Aasy is odds on for this race and he is clearly a talented animal. He has won a pair of G3s at Newbury on his last two starts but this will be his first run at the highest level. Japan won last time but I think he is best on easier ground than he gets today. Mogul proved no match for our selection at York last year and neither did Highland Chief. 9/1 looks a big price and at those odds, Pyledriver is certainly worth backing each way.
2021 Epsom Friday Tips: Pyledriver e/w @ 9/1 NAP
3.45 – Cazoo Handicap (Class 2)
The one I like at a massive price in this 10f handicap is Lawn Ranger. Trained by Michael Attwater, this late maturing son of Cityscape should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of runs at Kempton and Chester. I fancied him to run a big race last time out at the May Meeting but he looked like he blew up in the closing stages. A confirmed front runner, he is drawn to attack in stall 2 and this track should be right up his street.
This horse has yet to run at Epsom but his liking of tight, sharp tracks suggests it will suit him. He has won twice at Chester and twice at Windsor with his last two victories coming off 90 and 88. At Chester last September (just 4 runs ago) he was beat a short head off 92. So, he is not handicapped out of this off his current rating of 88. Good ground is fine and two of Attwater’s last three runners won. He has likely targeted this race at his local track and at odds of 25/1, Lawn Ranger looks well worth chancing each way.
2021 Epsom Friday Tips: Lawn Ranger e/w @ 25/1 NB (4 places)
4.30 – Cazoo Oaks (Group 1)
The feature race on Friday is the Cazoo Oaks. This 12f race for 3yo fillies has been dominated by Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden in recent years. Ralph Beckett was the last trainer other than those two to win the Oaks back in 2013. John Gosden doesn’t have any entries this year but O’Brien is firing five bullets. Ryan Moore is on Santa Barbara, Frankie is on Snowfall and Seamie Heffernan rides the ante-post plunge horse Divinely. Wayne Lordan gets the leg up on Willow and William Buick rides rank outsider La Joconde.
Of the O’Brien battalion, Snowfall looks the most solid option. She disappointed as a 2yo but she clearly matured over the Winter and she returned to action with a dominant G3 win at York (Mystery Angel 4L behind). The daughter of Deep Impact looks a straightforward ride and I am a bit surprised Moore picked Santa Barbara ahead of her. She is completely unexposed after just two runs but she didn’t exactly look like she was crying out for 12f in the 1000 Guineas.
Beach Looks Overpriced
Given that she finished ahead of Santa Barbara in the 1000 Guineas, Saffron Beach is surely overpriced at 12/1. This daughter of New Bay won her first two starts as a 2yo at Newmarket, both over 7f. She returned to action with a fine effort behind Sacred at the same track and she found only Mother Earth too good in the 1000 Guineas. She finished her race off really well that day and she looks well worth trying at 12f. The Chapple-Hyam filly admittedly has a speedy pedigree but her sire won over 12f and at the prices, she is worth a small each-way interest.
At an absolutely huge price, La Joconde could go well now back on better ground. She was disappointing at Chester but the rain that fell there excuses that run. The daughter of Frankel was much better previously when chasing home Alazenya at Leopardstown (10f gd) and the 4th home in that maiden hacked up by 4L next time out. She is a half-sister to last season’s Irish Derby winner Santiago and given her sire, this trip should be ideal. With 5 places on offer from Skybet, she might be worth chancing at 66/1.
