Saturday Racing Multi Tips: Back four Epsom sizzlers in a big price Derby Day Lucky 15

Epsom, 14:05, Princess Elizabeth Stakes Tip: Back Pina Sonata @ 6/17.00

6 (1)

Pina Sonata

• J: Daniel Muscutt
• T: James Fanshawe
• F: 4/1106-1

• SBK 5/1
• EXC 7

James Fanshawe has an improving filly in Pina Sonata and another crack at a Group race looks worth taking a punt on here for the 14:05 Princess Elizabeth.

She couldn't have been any more impressive in landing the Listed Snowdrop at Kempton last time with a straightforward 'A' to 'B' win by sitting on the pace and travelling very nicely with a strong finish. The 113-rated Cathedral was in third, who has since ran well in a Group race at Newmarket.

Pina Sonata was worthy of a Group 1 tilt last term in France at Deauville but disappointed, but maybe connections went there in search of softer going, but the ground ended up being 'good' officially.

Fanshawe said after her novice win: "She's a big, strong filly and she's very classy. We're going to have to aim for black type now, but which race to go for I'm not sure. I wanted to get this out the way before we made any real plans."

Black type achieved, and the trip with easy going will suit and ran well on good to soft on her debut against Verse Of Love in 2024.

Epsom, 14:40, Coronation Cup Tip: Back Calandagan @ 10/111.91

2 (2)

Calandagan (Ire)

• J: Mickael Barzalona
• T: Francis-Henri Graffard, France
• F: 2/221111-1

• SBK 1/1
• EXC 2.18

If you're going to put a banker in a Lucky 15, you may as well go with the one of the world's best racehorses and another advert for the brilliant training skills of "The Lawman" Francis Graffard.

I say Lawman, he has a degree in law don't you know. And in 2025, Calandagan was named the Longines 2025 Horse Of The Year.

Epsom, and the Derby meeting needs a runner of this calibre rated officially 130 and he just keeps on reeling off Group 1s - the latest in Meydan over 1m4f in the Sheema Classic.

He was outstayed in this race 12 months ago by Jan Brueghel off a steady pace with a finishing speed of 111%, and Graffard while on weather watch for what seems like an eternity for the race, has form in soft and off a break since Meydan, the worry for the backers is a prep for Ascot, but I wouldn't be in a rush to take him on.

Epsom, 16:00, Epsom Derby Tip: Back Item @ 4/15.00

9 (3)

Item

• J: C. T. Keane
• T: Andrew Balding
• F: 11-1

• SBK 4/1
• EXC 5.9

Andrew Balding's Derby contender Item has proved to be somewhat weak in the betting this week but at 4/15.00, he cannot go unbacked for the Classic.

A winner of the Dante, his stamina kicked in so well at the end, he was the only horse in the field at business stage of the race to record a sub-13 seconds sectional at 12.92 at 10f, well clear of the next best timed at 13.21.

He does have plenty of stamina in his pedigree and was an intended runner in the Futurity last year as a juvenile but the heavy going put paid to that.

Perhaps we are reading too much into the going? No trainer is ever keen running a top juvenile in bottomless going are they?

A nice spin around Bath was an unusual route prior to the Dante, but a key trial win, unexposed at the distance and sure to stay, there is a lot more to come from him and I like the drift.

Epsom, 17:20, Northern Dancer Handicap Tip: Back Regal Ulixes @ 15/28.50

4 (14)

Regal Ulixes

• J: Oisin Murphy
• T: Andrew Balding
• F: 1/17-61647

• SBK 7/1
• EXC 9.6

We're sticking with Balding for the final bet of the bet and Regal Ulixes has frustrated me umpteen times.

He ran a quick time at Lingfield at the turn of the year in February, running a final furlong in a mega 11.04 seconds to beat the 100-rated Beylerbeyi easily.

On that, I backed him to progress but he couldn't get involved from a poor draw in the Lincoln Trial at a track that proved a bit too quick for him at Wolves, and has disappointed both at Newcastle and York since.

Last time out over 1m2f on the Knavesmire, he got a bit lost in the straight, and in truth looked a bit slow when the pace quickened (finish speed 105%), but he did stay on and wasn't given too hard a time of things ran surrounded by runners.

The new trip might improve him and he actually ran in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, so the trainer and owner must feel 1m4f is within range.

A mark of 98 has dropped down, but he is far from regressive and deserves another chance (for now).

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