Five horses to take out of the 2019 Investec Derby Festival at Epsom

We were treated to some brilliant action at the 2019 Investec Derby Festival and a number of horses caught the eye in defeat.

Racing TV's Angus McNae and James Willoughby have analysed all the key races over the two days at Epsom in The Verdict - including the Derby and the Oaks - and you can watch what they had to say here.

Below are a handful that caught my eye and are worth adding to your Racing TV tracker.

Oh Purple Reign flew home to finish second behind the unbeaten Pinatubo in this 6f contest on Friday.

A step up in trip surely beckons for the son of Sir Prancealot who was outpaced by the runaway leader – and the winner- with two furlongs to go before he got going too late. The track may not have played to his strengths, either.

Richard Hannon’s youngster also shaped as though an extra furlong or two would be within reach when successful on debut over the same trip at Nottingham in May plus he is a half-brother to 7f winner Warsaw Road.

Oh Purple Reign is potentially useful and it would be a surprise if he is not capable of getting back to winning ways sooner rather than later.

Pink Dogwood looked to have made the perfect challenge in the Investec Oaks before she was narrowly denied by Anapurna, but it was her stablemate Fleeting that caught the eye and looks the one to take out of the race.

Last year’s May Hill winner disappointed when last in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her seasonal debut, but clearly relished the step up to twelve furlongs here as she was arguably an unlucky loser.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly was denied a clear run at a crucial stage before staying on encouragingly to finish a never-nearer third and would have finished an awful lot closer had she not met interference.

The daughter of Zoffany holds an entry in the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 28 and the Kerrygold Irish Oaks at the same venue on July 20.

She remains unexposed over trips further than a mile and can gain compensation before the end of the season.

The consistent Alkaamel fared better than his finishing position suggested when third behind the impressive Le Don De Vie in this extended ten-furlong contest.

He did not enjoy the clearest passage and fared best of those held up in a race run at a moderate pace early which suited those who raced prominently.

This was also Alkaamel’s first try over this distance and has shaped as though a step up in trip would suit on more than once occasion this year.

There should be more to come from William Haggas’ three-year-old and he is likely to remain competitive in similar handicaps throughout the rest of the season over similar distances.

There was lots to like about Japan’s effort in the Derby and I believe he looks tailor-made for the St Leger.

Held up during the early stages, the son of Galileo kept finding for pressure up the straight and stayed on to snatch third near the line leaving his run in the Dante well behind him. He may have also finished closer had his rider not dropped his whip in the final 100 yards.

He may head to Royal Ascot now for the King Edward VII Stakes or wait for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh the following week, but I think he will be a serious player in the William Hill St Leger on September 14.

His breeding, plus the way he shaped in previous starts, suggested he was always going to be suited by a step up in trip and I do not see the extra two furlongs in the Doncaster showpiece – which he is a best-priced 6-1 with Ladbrokes for - being a problem.

Spanish City caught the eye when a fast-finishing fifth in this 6f handicap which was run at a fierce pace.

He was done no favours by the draw, and the track probably did not suit the six-year-old who got outpaced, and was still in last place two furlongs out, before he endured trouble in running and got going too late to make a challenge.

He will have a good chance if he lines up in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22 as a return to a stiff 6f is certain to suit.

Roger Varian’s gelding went close in a valuable handicap at Ascot in September over seven furlongs where he hit the front over a furlong out, and he has also produced two other good efforts in defeat at the track.

I would not put you off backing Spanish City – who holds an entry at Newmarket on Saturday – for the Wokingham which he is a best-priced 33-1 with Bet365 for.