Tuesday’s Epsom Tips
14:10 – Lihou
14:45 – Chief Little Rock
15:20 – Qitaal
15:55 – Champagne Piaff
16:30 – Midair
17:05 – Mr Baloo
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
14:10 – Lihou
An open sprint handicap which seems sure to be run at a strong gallop and last year’s winner, LIHOU, may be worth chancing on his return to turf. He was 7 lb higher in the weights 12 months ago, staying on late in the day for a narrow success, and he also went on to win another handicap at Goodwood later that season. He hasn’t been in such good form on the all-weather of late, but the return to turf may spark him back into life and he is definitely handicapped to strike. Paul Midgley’s Glory Fighter and Match Play are both of firm interest also.
14:45 – Chief Little Rock
Aidan O’Brien last won this Derby Trial in 2019 and, while his representative this year, CHIEF LITTLE ROCK, doesn’t actually hold an entry in the Derby itself at the moment, he does set the bar pretty high in terms of form. He finished runner-up in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket when last seen in October, and that form was boosted by the winner following up in a Group 1 at Doncaster, so Chief Little Rock looks very interesting on his return to action, especially considering that he will relish this step up to a mile and a quarter. Feigning Madness has the makings of a smart middle-distance performer so rates a big threat, while Arabic Legend is worth another chance for his new yard.
15:20 – Qitaal
QITAAL seemingly hasn’t been the easiest to train, but he is a very lightly-raced five-year-old who looked well ahead of his mark when defying nearly a two-year absence back with this yard at Doncaster last month. He went with plenty of enthusiasm that day and readily stretched clear of another interesting type in the closing stages. A subsequent 7 lb rise looks lenient and shouldn’t be enough to prevent him following up provided he goes the right way from that run. Silent Film is interesting under Ryan Moore, while Harry Eustace has an interesting pair in Ziggy and Crystal Delight.
15:55 – Champagne Piaff
It’s likely that CHAMPAGNE PIAFF will be well found in the market with Ryan Moore booked on the back of an encouraging return from a monster absence at Bath. However, that’s just about the only negative mark against this lightly-raced six-year-old, who was a winner at this course off this mark on his sole previous visit in September 2021 and he shaped at Bath as though this step back up in trip would be ideal. Splendent and Hope You Can Run are put forward as the main dangers given doubts surrounding The Goat.
16:30 – Midair
This could develop into a potential match between MIDAIR and Involvement with preference for the former. He is from a good Juddmonte family and ran his best race last season when runner-up at Goodwood on his second start and he looked like opening his account at Kempton on his final start – traded at 1.04 in running on Betfair – only to be reeled in late in the day by a big improver. There should be more to come from Midair now and he can deservedly open his account.
17:05 – Mr Baloo
MR BALOO is progressing well, winning back-to-back handicaps over seven furlongs at Bath and this course towards the end of last year, and producing a career-best effort after six months off when resuming winning ways at Kempton 13 days ago. He’s an uncomplicated sort who should stay this longer trip – there is stamina on the dam’s side of his pedigree – and a subsequent 2 lb rise probably underestimates him, so he’s fancied to go in again at the possible expense of Portsmouth, who is a notable handicap debutant.
Tuesday’s Epsom Tips
14:10 – Lihou
14:45 – Chief Little Rock
15:20 – Qitaal
15:55 – Champagne Piaff
16:30 – Midair
17:05 – Mr Baloo
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
- Get all the latest Horse Racing News and Racing Tips at Paddy Power News
- Irish Jump Jockeys’ Championship 2023/24: Who currently tops the standings?
- British Jump Jockeys’ Championship 2023/24: Who currently tops the standings?
- Horse Racing calendar: Key Flat fixtures and races for 2024 including Royal Ascot
- Paddy’s Hall of Fame: Racing punter cashes out £36,000 Cheltenham Day 1 acca
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
