Tipping / Carl Harris / 05 June 2009 /

Carl Harris is off to Epsom Downs, where he believes the favourite will prevail in a top quality field...

One non-runner and an easy winner made it a pretty good day for us yesterday which was just an hors' d'oeuvre before today's five star banquet of racing.

Epsom stages a card of the highest quality including two group one races with the Oaks taking centre stage at 4.05. I have already backed Sariska following a very impressive win in the Musidora Stakes at York and I think this filly is by far the best in the field. The daughter of Pivotal stretched clear of a good field showing that she is definitely a group one performer who will be suited by this step up in trip. The last eight winners of the York Oaks trial have been beaten at Epsom but this is a route her trainer has successfully followed before.

Michael Bell won an Epsom classic with Motivator, in 2007, who he readied perfectly for the big day and backers can be sure that Sariska will line up trained to the minute for the fillies classic. Although lightly raced Sariska ticks all the boxes and I think she will win the Oaks and more group one races in the future. She is likely to be well supported so I advise taking the early price which, in my book, looks very good value.

The group one Coronation Cup (2.45) is as competitive as it is interesting with a field of eight runners all of whom have a realistic chance of winning. There is a mix of proven group one performers as well as improving types who could be anything. This is a hard puzzle for punters to solve but I am going with a horse who has improved hand over fist since joining John Gosden.

John Gosden has stepped Duncan up from a handicap, then to listed company and now he is straight in to group one company. There are plenty of pattern races which would be far less competitive so Gosden, one of the best trainers in the world, must think Duncan is a very good horse. The way he won last time at Ascot, when we were on him, suggested that he had plenty in reserve but now faces top quality opposition. It is the fact that Duncan is in the race that gives me the confidence to back him at a very attractive price.
I am really looking forward to today and then the Derby. Good luck!

Fridays Bets
2.45 Epsom - Duncan - win @ [7.0]
4.05 Epsom - Sariska - win @ [3.9]

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