Serpentine caused a huge shock with the bravest, and perhaps maddest of runs, to claim Epsom Derby 2020 glory. He hit the front early and just set off, somehow staying to see off his more fancied rivals who waited for an implosion that never came.
Love blew the field to pieces in The Oaks, romping home by nine lengths to set a race-record time from Ennistymon and Frankly Darling.
As expected it was another thrilling day’s racing and we’ve rounded up the drama as it happened for you here.
13:50 Investec Woodcote EBF Stakes 6f 3y – Twaasol
Twaasol finished quickly to fend off strong interest from fellow joint-favourite Modern News.
Twaasol impressed, coming up on the outside to take the opener as the 9/4JF. Mutazawwed, ridden by Jim Crowley, was beaten into third.
1: 4. Twaasol 9/4JF
2: 2. Modern News 9/4 JF
3: 3. Mutazawwed 11/4
14:25 Investec Surrey Stakes 7f 3y – Safe Voyage
Safe Voyage left it late to show his class but, show it he did, hitting the front in the final half furlong to power home with a perfectly-timed charge.
Shine So Bright faded into third as Vale Of Kent showed the legs to take second with both heading off at 5/1.
1: 4 Safe Voyage 6/5F
2: 6 Vale of Kent 5/1
3: 5 Shine So Bright 5/1
15:00 Investec Handicap 1m 2f 17y – Sky Defender
Sky Defender kicked early and just stayed to fend off a charge from Breath Caught to win at an SP of 22/1.
Tiandali headed the rest, which was a tight bunch, ahead of Data Protection and You’re Hired in fifth.
Paddy paid out 5 places instead of the usual three on this race. Cheers, Paddy.
1: 5. Sky Defender 22/1
2: 12. Breath Caught 11/1
3: 2. Tiandali 10/1
4: 15. Data Protection 16/1
5: 9. You’re Hired 6/1
15:40 Investec Oaks 1m 4f 6y – Love
Love destroyed the field to romp home miles clear in the the 2020 Epsom Oaks. Ryan Moore let her go early and she just accelerated away with second-favourite Frankly Darling some way behind in third.
Ennistymon looked to be in the hunt in the final third but couldn’t handle the heat and finished nine length behind the brilliant winner who set a new race-record time in the process.
1: 5. Love 11/10F
2: 2. Ennistymon 6/1
3: 3. Frankly Darling 7/4
16:15 Princess Elizabeth Stakes 1m 113y – Summer Romance
Summer Romance led the whole way round and had plenty in the tank to keep Cloak Of Spirits at bay in a race which she looked completely at ease, setting off at 9/1.
Cloak Of Spirits didn’t have enough to overhaul the lead and Rose Of Kildare rounded off the top three while 5/4 SP fav Fooraat disappointed and never really looked in the contest.
1: 6. Summer Romance 9/1
2: 1. Cloak Of Spirits 10/3
3: 5. Rose Of Kildare 14/1
16:55 Investec Derby 1m 4f 6y – Serpentine
Serpentine pulled of a stunning shock in the 2020 Epsom Derby. Making all the early running, he pulled away from the pack round the bend and he just kept going and going and going all the way to glory. He’s probably still going now.
We waited for him to fall away, but if he hit the wall he smashed straight through it and stayed incredibly well, upsetting his more favoured competitors the shape of English King, Kameko, Vatican City, Russian Emperor and Mogul who left it way too long and were all left trailing in Serpentine’s wake.
He set off at 25/1 and was followed home by Khalifa Sat (50/1) and Amhran Na Bhfiann (66/1) in a race that went completely against the script. SP favourite Kameko was in fourth and he filled the final place that Paddy paid out on this race.
1: 14. Serpentine 25/1
2: 7. Khalifa Sat 50/1
3: 1. Amhran Na Bhfiann 66/1
4: 6. Kameko 5/2F
17:35 Investec Zebra Handicap 7f 3y – Muntadab
Muntadab set off as 7/2 favourite in a competitive field and got the job done ahead of 16/1 SP Count Otto, Alemaratalyou (28/1) and Knowing Glance (22/1) to round off a stunning, if surreal, day at Epsom.
1: 12. Muntadab 7/2F
2: 11. Count Otto 16/1
3: 4. Alemaratalyou 28/1
4: 15. Knowing Glance 22/1