Tuesday 25th April 2023

 


15:00 Epsom

Epsom looks to have got a right downpour late in the day on Monday and with the likely change in going I want to chance one in the 1m2f handicap. The rain will bring doubts into play about many of these ability to handle the ground, including current favourite Educator, but one who should relish conditions is LORD PROTECTOR for the in-form Beckett stable who have had 3 winners from their last 4 runners. He won on soft ground in a Salisbury handicap as a 3yo off 88 in a race which worked out well at the time with the 2nd winning his next two starts and shooting up 17lb in the handicap as a result. Lord Protector is only 9lb higher, and although that was nearly two years ago, he has only run 7 times since.

More recently, he won a Sandown handicap off 92 last season before running a hugely eyecatching race in a typical Goodwood handicap hard luck story off his current mark. His final start last season went into the too bad to be true category and it's interesting that he's had wind surgery since we saw him last. Fitness has to be taken on trust and he did need his reappearance last season, but with the yard going as well as they are I'm willing to take a chance (win only due to the high chance of non-runners affecting each-way terms with the change in ground).


LORD PROTECTOR 5/1 - 1 Point Win

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