15:15 Epsom
Good To SoftBetfred “Nifty 50” Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
- First Prize: £61152
- 1m 2f 17y
- Class 2
- 17 runners
ITV
Runners: 17 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Form: 341-54 D
OR: 113
W: 10st 1lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Usually races prominently (didn't when trying 1m4f last time); a mostly solid 2025 included 1m2f Listed wins in May and November; has started 2026 in downbeat fashion but today's ground could prompt something better, as his top three ratings have been registered on softer than good; below-form favourite in this race two years ago but was denied a clear run; needs to be back in peak form to have any chance.
Form: 44559- CD
OR: 108
W: 9st 10lb
Age: 6 yo Horse
Four wins in 2024 included this race on good to soft, with the other three on soft; performed near his best only a couple of times last season, which has been followed by gelding and wind operations; also now wears first-time headgear; some warning signals and he's not slipped far in the weights.
Form: 1135-2 BF
OR: 107
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Has run respectably on soft; hooded on last two starts, with a back-to-form second of six when stepped up to 1m2f for C&D handicap (good) on 2026 reappearance; raised 5lb since and probably not straightforward but that was a promising effort here from out the back (ran on well with too much to do) and he has to be in serious calculations.
Form: 5-2131 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Appeared to act on good to soft last term (unraced on soft); has gone from strength to strength this year, first on AW but most strikingly when returned to turf for a dominant, front-running display as 10-11 favourite in 11-runner race at Chester (1m2f, good); 9lb higher today but highly respected.
Form: -32236
OR: 101
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Acts on good to soft, much more to prove on soft; won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f, good to firm; 10lb higher today) last October and had some very solid AW form over 1m2f-2m this year, prior to tailing off at 50-1 in the Group 3 Ormonde at Chester four weeks ago; he's not on a bad mark but plenty needs to go right if one of his late rushes is to prevail in this.
Form: 960-71 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Won on good to soft in 2024, unraced on soft; lightly raced for his age but led in the final 1f of 11-runner race at Newbury (1m2f, good) three weeks ago and scored by 2l going away; back up 5lb; how he'll take to this new track and possible soft ground are greater worries but he makes appeal otherwise.
Form: 14631- D
OR: 100
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Unraced on softer than good; London Gold Cup third at Newbury last May was a promising start to handicap life and he built on that with a last-gasp win from out the back at Royal Ascot (again 1m2f on good to firm); unraced since, having left Andrew Balding for 775,000gns that July and been gelded in September; 7lb higher than at Royal Ascot but he's had just six races.
Form: 3555-9 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Won on soft as 2yo; reappearance win last April saw him pitched afterwards into Listed and Group events, in which he was initially on the premises but his handicap mark shot up as a result; ninth of 12 to Respond at Chester wasn't a greatly auspicious return to handicap company on reappearance this season and connections now reach for headgear.
Form: 44/00-
OR: 100
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 8 yo Gelding
Probably acts on soft; ended his time with Charlie Appleby on a low note (March 2024) and no revival in his four races at Meydan for another yard the following winter; has switched stables again and needs to be back to his best after an absence of 483 days.
Form: 156800 D
OR: 97
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Below form in this race in 2024 and also last April on his only other visit here; had an excellent autumn last year on AW and won again in January, but he's struggled to make an impact in more recent AW starts and finished last at York on return to turf; return to 1m2f would suit if he were in better form but this may be a tough turf mark.
Form: 001-83 DBF
OR: 97
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Failed to figure from the widest draw behind Respond at Chester (went well there previously) on reappearance but a close third of six when favourite at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) 11 days ago; with a good soft-ground record too, he could be a major player.
Form: 14-515 D
OR: 95
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
6yo who has a career-high mark on the strength of his win at Pontefract (1m2f, good; acts on soft/heavy) in April; creditable fifth at York next time but the chief disincentive is probably that he ran poorly in this race last year on his only visit to Epsom.
Form: 867-53 D
OR: 94
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Unraced on softer than good; failed to make a significant impact in his first four handicaps but did so at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) on latest outing, running on well into a close third of 12 off today's mark; return to 1m2f could help and he needs a second look.
Form: 2381-1 D
OR: 92
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Won a soft-ground maiden in 2023 but peak efforts have been on good in the last 13 months; unraced here but scored twice over 1m2f at the similar Chester track, including on his only start this season; all three handicap wins were in tight finishes, but he's gone up just 3lb since latest and is likely to be seriously involved if he goes on the ground.
OUR TIP
Form: 0226-5
OR: 92
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
All four of his wins were on soft or heavy ground, three at Goodwood; runner-up on his only two visits here, including at this meeting (good to soft) last year and he's 1lb lower today; that was over 8.5f and his creditable fifth on reappearance ten weeks ago was in the 1m Lincoln at Doncaster, but he stays 1m2f; strong each-way claims.
Form: 523-62
OR: 91
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Acts on good to soft, unraced on soft; fit from AW and hurdling when good second of seven at Redcar (1m2f) five weeks ago, keeping on strongly; up 2lb and into a better race but needs a second look.
Form: 08-422 D
OR: 85
W: 8st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Rather disappointing for Dermot Weld in Ireland after winning a soft-ground maiden; has still not added to that 2024 win but he's been highly competitive in 1m2f handicaps on all three starts for new connections, runner-up to an unexposed rival in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar (good to firm) 11 days ago; each-way claims again.
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
14/1 Liberty Lane, 16/1 Bolster, 7/2 Sallaal, 100/30 Respond, 33/1 Beylerbeyi, 7/1 Hand Of God, 12/1 Quai De Bethune, 33/1 Great David, 66/1 Dhahabi, 40/1 Kings Code, 14/1 Auld Toon Loon, 18/1 Have Secret, 7/1 Tycoon, 10/1 Lets Dream, 14/1 Alpha Crucis, 25/1 Ammes, 12/1 Spoken Truth
Verdict
The handicapper has piped up loudly since Respond won with such authority at Chester and since Sallaal appeared to run with such promise here in April, but both have to go on the shortlist. Hand Of God would have something to prove if the ground is soft, as well as on this track, but ALPHA CRUCIS would be in his element if such conditions prevail and he gets the vote, with Auld Toon Loon (second choice) and Spoken Truth also to be considered seriously.[Richard Austen]