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16:40 Epsom

Good To Soft

HKJC World Pool Handicap

  • First Prize: £38655
  • 1m 0f 113y
  • Class 2
  • 18 runners
ITV
Epsom

Runners: 18 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

1 (4)
Ozat uniform
Form: 5248-0 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Ex-French gelding who won four times there, the last two coming over 8.5f (AW) and 1m1f (good) at Chantilly last spring; changed hands for 75,000euros in November; 80-1 when 19th of 24 at Newbury (1m, good) in April on his British debut and he's probably one for further down the line.
2 (15)
Popmaster uniform
Form: 212270
OR: 97
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 8 yo Gelding
Seven wins include three on good to soft/soft; also won on AW at Kempton (1m) in February but only midfield in valuable events at Newcastle (AW) and Ascot (good) on his last two starts; however, latter effort was better than it looks having been poorly drawn.
Form: 140-16 BF
OR: 97
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Unraced on ground softer than good; Chester maiden (7.5f) winner who made all on Newmarket's July course last August; had been gelded when repeating those tactics on his comeback at Newmarket (also 1m) in April but below that form back there at the Guineas meeting the following month; not dismissed, with Oisin Murphy sticking with him.
Form: 02-700
OR: 96
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Soft-ground specialist who landed a fifth success when scoring at Ayr (1m) in September; yet to get going in three starts this year but he's edging down the weights and the booking of Colin Keane catches the eye; requires monitoring in the market with every drop of rain in his favour.
5 (10)
Mirsky uniform
Form: 09-310 CD
OR: 96
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
7yo who was 6lb lower when landing this race (good to soft) last season; this year's running is more competitive but his success in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) last month was close to a career best and he had a possible excuse when failing to back that up at York; can't be ruled out.
6 (18)
Nizam uniform
Form: 2156-0
OR: 95
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
He has a similar profile to stablemate Ozat, boasting good form in France but 80-1 when down the field in that same Newbury race on his British debut; others look more likely.
Form: 1820-7 D
OR: 93
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Proved progressive last year having joined this yard, winning three times (good to firm/AW) including when making all at Wolverhampton (8.5f) in July; also ran really well when second of 17 at Ascot (1m, soft; off current mark) in September but he was beaten a long way on his final start of that term and again at Lingfield on his reappearance four weeks ago; needs to put those efforts behind him but that's not out of the question.
Form: -60731
OR: 92
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Versatile regards ground and he was winning his 12th race when beating Jimmy Speaking and Final Night at Newmarket (1m, good) three weeks ago; that was a comfortable win and he has the assistance of Ryan Moore but this demands more (has never won off a mark this high).
OUR TIP
Form: 411-45 D
OR: 89
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
He had been gelded before winning at Windsor (good to firm) last May and finished that season with further wins at Sandown (also 1m, soft) and Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm); was on the premises when he suffered race-ending interference at Newbury last time and this tactically versatile sort is well drawn to sit handy; interesting.
Form: 345-01 D
OR: 89
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Heavy-ground winner of a Glorious Goodwood handicap (1m) last July and he had dipped below that winning mark when scoring at Nottingham (8.5f, good) last time; 2lb nudge shouldn't stop him being competitive again.
11 (14)
Stem uniform
Form: 3022-9
OR: 89
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Wide-margin win (7f, heavy) on his sole start at two promised plenty and after being campaigned over 1m2f and 1m4f he recorded a clear career best when second of 15 over 1m at Newbury (good to soft) on his final start at three; subsequently gelded and his reappearance when beaten less than 4l at Newbury in April was perfectly respectable; unexposed and he's respected.
Form: 32/1-5 CD
OR: 89
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Won on good to soft as a juvenile and reappeared with good-ground C&D success at last year's Spring meeting; that was his only start in 2025 and he made a respectable comeback despite hanging when fifth of 11 at Newbury (1m2f) three weeks ago; drops back down in trip with cheekpieces added and his best days are almost certainly ahead of him; player.
Form: 224-77 D
OR: 89
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
He only made his debut as a 4yo but it was a winning one at Newcastle (1m); subsequently useful form on AW included another narrow win back at that venue (1m2f) in August for George Scott and he went mighty close over latter C&D on stable debut in November; niggled along at various stages when seventh on his turf debut (10.5f) last month and some guesswork is involved as to whether this test will bring out the best in him.
Form: 10-310 D
OR: 88
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Four-time winner who landed a third success at Pontefract (1m, good) on his penultimate start, having attracted support; also effective on a softer surface but it was this mark he raced from when well held at York three weeks ago and this demands a career best.
Form: 62-232
OR: 88
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Won a Salisbury maiden (1m2f, good to firm) around a year ago when sporting first-time cheekpieces for previous yard; yet to score for current stable but he's been placed on six of those seven starts and it was a narrow defeat when second of ten at Windsor (1m, good to firm; visored) under Silvestre De Sousa latest; soft conditions would ask a question but he's well drawn to go forward and newly fitted blinkers might eke out more.
16 (12)
Hot Cash uniform
Form: 654-02 C
OR: 85
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Acts on soft going; picked up a course maiden (7f, good) in July 2024 on his debut; fair run of form last year ground to a big halt when virtually tailed off over C&D (good to soft) in September; subsequently gelded and he was back to near his best when second of 13 at Thirsk (1m, good) last time; far from dismissed.
Form: 00-112 D
OR: 84
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Acts on soft ground; better than ever this season, winning at Doncaster (good to soft) on his return then following up at Southwell (again 7f, AW); solid second to Sterling Knight (1m, good) last time but he'll need more from the same mark.
18 (17)
Final Night uniform
Form: -31623
OR: 80
W: 8st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Four-time AW winner who is 0-6 on turf but his 40-1 second of 13 at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) was a good effort in May and he backed it up when third to Sterling Knight over that C&D (good) a fortnight later; sole start on good to soft (1m2f) was inconclusive but he'll do well to defy this career-high mark.

Terms and conditions

*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.

Betting Forecast

50/1 Ozat, 33/1 Popmaster, 11/2 Mister Winston, 25/1 Thunder Roar, 12/1 Mirsky, 50/1 Nizam, 16/1 Mr Swivell, 12/1 Sterling Knight, 7/1 Man Of La Mancha, 8/1 Principality, 11/2 Stem, 5/1 Celeborn, 16/1 Bragbor, 20/1 Walsingham, 10/1 Asmen Warrior, 16/1 Hot Cash, 16/1 Jimmy Speaking, 20/1 Final Night

Verdict

Stem and Celeborn (second choice) are two unexposed sorts who warrant close inspection, while Mister Winston and Mr Swivell are contenders to step up on their latest starts. However, MAN OF LA MANCHA was done few favours at Newbury last time and is selected to gain compensation. Principality, Asmen Warrior and last year’s winner Mirsky are others who need considering.[Richard Russell]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Man Of La Mancha

POSTDATA:

Asmen Warrior

TOPSPEED:

Mr Swivell