Today’s Top Tips

RACE ONE

A highly competitive handicap to get us underway on Derby Day. Swilcan Bridge caught the eye when third here on Trials Day and again when narrowly beaten at Goodwood last time and Sweeping is another that we may not have seen the best of just yet. A marginal preference is for BLUE TRAIL who looked progressive over the winter and may well improve on his recent third place in Sandown Park’s Esher Cup for this step up in trip.

RACE TWO

TECHNIQUE looked to have wintered well when narrowly headed on her reappearance in the Nottinghamshire Oaks. The filly was a model of consistency last year so looks to hold decent claims. Mrs Fitzherbert and Bashkirova finished 1-2 in a Goodwood Listed race on their seasonal debuts and both will mount a big challenge to the selection. Potapova looks to be in a similar mould based on her narrow Listed defeat at Kempton Park.

RACE THREE

Megallan will have his supporters for the Gosden/Dettori pairing. He was sightly disappoining at Chester last time but it would be no surprise to see him bounce back over a slightly shorter trip today. But it was hard not to be impressed by MODERN NEWS who was an easy Windsor Listed winner last month suggesting he has plenty more to offer. Mutasaabeq is another who should be fighting out the finish.

RACE FOUR

The Dash is always a competitive affair and this year’s renewal looks equally challenging. The hat-trick seeking Live In The Dream appeals from stall 17 as does Tees Spirit from stall 10. But it might be worth taking a chance with STONE OF DESTINY who looks to have dropped to an attractive mark and is well drawn in stall 18. On his best form he shouldn’t be far away. Mid Winster and Sunday Sovereign are two more to keep and eye out for.

RACE FIVE

With 17 runners set to go to post this year’s Cazoo Derby looks a wide-open affair. Nation’s Pride, unbeaten on his last four starts was supplemented for £75,000 and he looks a colt with a very bright future. But it was hard not to be impressed by DESERT CROWN who ran away with the Dante at York and with only two starts to his name looks open to any amount of improvement. Stone Age could proove the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s trio.

RACE SIX

Soapy Stevens will be dangerous to write off based on his three starts this term. Midnights Legacy is only 3lb higher than when winning this race last year and arrives fresh after a hurdling campaign so looks of interest. Winter Reprise could prove a dark horse if building on a narrow defeat in France last time, as could FARHAN who looked progressive last year and he may strip fitter today with a couple of runs already under his belt.

RACE SEVEN

We finish Cazoo Derby day with a competitive 6f sprint handicap where a marginal preference is for last year’s Stewards’ Cup winner COMMANCE FALLS. His form dipped after his Goodwood success but he looked to have bounced back on his reappearance at Doncaster. Regional looks an interesting contender with not many miles on the clock whilst Many A Star has been consistent this year and so shouldn’t be far away.