".... taking aim on Derby Day at Epsom...."

Friday, 5th June 2026

“…. taking aim on Derby Day at Epsom….”

Picks for this afternoon at Epsom >>>>>

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in the handicaps on ITV on Saturday at Epsom….

I’m on JAMES J BRADDOCK in the 4.00 – up at 11s & 10s….

…. I’m on ARKLOW LAD at 11s in the 3.15….

…. I’m on TOO SOON at 11s in the 5.20….

…. and I’m on GOLD STAR HERO at 8s & 15/2 in the 5.55….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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…. the Derby – Epsom – 4.00....

Some say it’s the gypsies…. others say it’s the racing fairies…. nobody knows for sure….

…. but every year ahead of this race some mystic seer predicts the winner – in chalk – on the well of the Amato pub in Epsom….

How the record stands, I couldn’t tell you but – for those who believe in magic – Andrew Balding’s Item is the horse immortalized in chalk this time around….

…. and fair enough given that he won the Dante – the race many consider the best trial – and that RPRs have him as the best horse in the race….

…. but I won’t be backing him…. I’m going to back JAMES J BRADDOCK at the 11s & 10s….

He’s creeping into the contest under the radar with so much focus applied this week to the weather…. the ground…. and – as per usual – Aidan O’Brien….

Fair enough – Aidan’s the top man, he’s been the top man for a long time and – at just 56 years of age – he could well be the top man for some time to come….

…. but he won’t have it all his own way forever….

…. and son Joseph O’Brien is one of very few trainers who could develop into a serious and permanent rival to the father….

He’s already established a cracking record of wins in the biggest races on the flat and over jumps….

…. he wants more – there’s no doubt about that…. he’s got something like 300 horses to go to war with….

…. and if you want to win a Derby then getting a good colt in a weak year represents a bit of luck….

This is a weak year – with the runners producing just a single G1 win between them….

…. and James J Braddock is one in tomorrow’s field who looks certain to be a better horse for the step up to 12f….

He’s already beaten the Aidan O’Brien second string – who continues to trade at half his price….

…. he isn’t a 10f horse trying desperately to stretch to 12f – he’s a horse that’s been racing at 10f that will relish the extra quarter mile….

…. and at 11s & 10s – all things considered – he just seems wrong at the prices….

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…. the Dash - Epsom – 3.15....

Trap 20 wouldn’t be the plum box for this if you look at the stats….

…. but Spartan Arrow was second from 18 last year – and I’m fast hardening to the view that draw stats are as likely to steer you away from winners as they are from losers….

It boils down to the horse, that’s my focus, and the one I like is ARKLOW LAD at 10s….

He’s been a revelation for Michael Appleby since being purchased by new connections last autumn – posting form figures of 1315….

I particularly liked his win at Pontefract in April….

To some it might have looked workman like – as though he’d ground it out….

…. but I thought he won with more in hand than it appeared – given he’d used up energy to cut across quickly from a wide draw, sat just off a really strong pace, and then worked hard to stay ahead….

He was good value for more than the half-length he finished ahead of the fast-closing second….

…. and he can handle the 4lb rise he got for the win – as illustrated when running another solid big-field race at York in the Lindum….

He’s going well, there’s more to come, and he’s a nice price….

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…. the Northern Dancer – Epsom - 4.40....

I’m going to chance Gary & Josh Moore’s TOO SOON at the general 11s in this one….

I thought he was badly handicapped last year as a 3yo….

…. starting that campaign rated 101 on account of finishing fourth in a juvenile G3 at Newmarket at the back end of 2024….

…. the form of that didn’t amount to much – and Too Soon was consigned to spending last season going through the motions and getting that big rating down….

He ran a cracker on his second go back at Ascot this term….

…. he wasn’t quite so good at Goodwood next time….

…. but he turns up back here tomorrow – the scene of his maiden win on heavy ground….

…. officially rated just 88….

…. and with Warren Fentiman booked to take off an extra 3lb….

I’m not expecting proper soft ground tomorrow – but a bit of cut won’t hinder this lad….

…. and he can run big on a day I think they’ve been thinking about….

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…. the JRA Tokyo Trophy – Epsom – 5.55...

There’s a stack of exposed sprinters lining up for this and I’m taking them on with the very progressive GOLD STAR HERO at the general 8s & 15/2….

He’s an interesting horse – having been seen to much better effect on the AW than on turf up to this point….

But he was gelded last November, he won his next three on synthetics – readily – the procedure’s clearly helped him, and it will be interesting now to see how he fares back on turf….

He’s certainly streaked up the rankings quickly – rising from 79 to 96 on the back of those three AW wins….

…. but they were all just egg and spoon races and – in terms of what he’s actually won and achieved – you’d think the big dig is still very much ahead of him….

I just think he asks a question – have they blown the mark on him for peanuts or is he pretty good and going places….

If it’s the latter than he can run a big one tomorrow….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more next week….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd