14:05, Princess Elizabeth Stakes
Shes Perfect 4/1, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)
Charlie Fellowe's 4 year old filly was unjustly disqualified from the French 1000 Guineas last year and hasn't been allowed the chance to gain revenge on the track since. She ran a creditable race on comeback at Goodwood last month behind a top notch rival and is fancied to get on the scoresheet here. She acts on any ground and has the class edge on the field.
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15:15, Betfred 'Dash' Handicap
Lexington Blitz 13/2, 2pts win
Eclairage 9/1, 2pts win
Eclairage 9/1, 2pts win
The dash is often a bit of a lottery but it pays to side with horses with plenty of early boot. Lexington Blitz was 2nd in the 3YO version of this last year and looks a better horse this time around after his demolition job at Goodwood last month. He has a big chance here for shrewd connections whilst Eclairage was just touched off in Ireland last time out and is still unexposed now facing Epsom for the first time. She's drawn well in 14 and the jockey booking of Billy Loughnane catches the eye.
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16:00, The Derby
Pierre Bonard 8/1, 2pts win
Maltese Cross 11/1, 2pts win
Maltese Cross 11/1, 2pts win
Constitution River's shadow lingers over this race but it's still the Derby and we have a cracking field with the winners of most of the major trials here. Benvenuto Cellini has been all the rage in recent weeks but the prospect of soft ground dampens enthusiasm whilst Item must too have a question to answer about give in the surface along with the trip. James J Braddock downed Pierre Bonard last time out in a trial but had the jump on the Camelot colt a bit that day and this race will be run completely different. Christophe Soumillon's mount looked the most likely Derby winner in the Autumn but hasn't really hit the right notes in two starts to date but that could all change here. This step up in trip back on an easier surface is exactly what he wants and it's expected the big strapping colt will be fully fit now. At slightly bigger odds it could be that William Haggas's Maltese Cross has been overlooked. He bids to emulate Anthony Van Dyke by winning the Lingfield Derby Trial on the way to Epsom glory and it's knuckling down quality with could serve him well in what looks set to be a brutal running of the Blue Ribband. He's stamina laden and progressing at the right speed. He nearly won on soft ground on debut and although by Sea The Stars the dam side suggests soft ground will be no problem at all.
