How To Bet £20 on Derby Day: Percy can be a pal

Clarendon House looks to have the attributes to hold his own in pattern company as a sprinter this summer and he can prove the point by defying a lofty mark in the Aston Martin “Dash” Handicap at Epsom on Saturday. 

This 5f cavalry charge is always one of the highlights of the Derby Day but this renewal has a different feel with the field of 15 being the smallest since 2003 and five of those in the line-up languishing out of the handicap. 

It’s the presence of the 111-rated Clarendon House that has changed the shape of things and he’s clearly got a class edge over the opposition, which is reflected by the fact that he has got to concede 9lb and upwards all round. 

The six-year-old looks up to the task after his fluent victory at York a fortnight ago when he was ridden by Tom Marquand for the first time. The combination swept through in the closing stages to win with authority and a 6lb rise looks fair enough. 

His connections afterwards said he would be back to contest the Nunthorpe later in the summer. That Group One assignment will ask a lot more from him when the time comes but his high cruising speed and and turn of foot will stand him in good stead. 

He’s got unfinished business in this race – he was a close third in an eventful renewal last year when headed close home – and hasn’t stood still in the interim. It’s easy to see why Sily Wilkie is proving popular at the top of the market as he’s 8lb lower than when touched off 12 months ago and is equipped with first-time cheekpieces, but Clarendon House arrives at the top of his game and appeals at the general 6/1 on offer. 

Running Lion is going to be the shortest-priced runner on the card, in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a year on from being a late non-runner in the Oaks after getting upset in the stalls. 

She’s not got her head in front in the interim, though, and it was a little disappointing she couldn’t finish the job off on her return in the Dahlia Stakes, at Newmarket, when she traded 1.01 in-running on Betfair. 

At the prices, I’d rather be with general 7/1 chance Breege, a likeable but luckless filly whose efforts last season included finishing second at both Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. 

She again hit the post on her return, when beaten two short heads in a Listed event at Goodwood, but it’s surely only a matter of time before she is rewarded for her consistency. She has her optimum conditions and I fancy she will turn the tables on Royal Dress, who took the spoils at Goodwood. 

One horse who will undoubredly be primed for the day is Regal Reality in the Betfred Diomed Stakes, as he is owned by the race sponsor. 

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained veteran took the spoils 12 months ago, when he collared Highland Avenue in the closing stages, and could well repeat the trick, having shaped as if retaining plenty of ability in his two races this term. 

I’ll be having a small saver on him but my main fancy in the race is Sean, who looks overpriced at double-figure digits given how will he ran in Dubai earlier this year, when pipped by Warren Point in the Dubai Millennium and then when third behind Naval Power (has twice since ran well in Group One company) and San Donato (since not disgraced in the Dibai Turf) in the Singspiel Stakes. 

Sean does have a habit of starting slowly and getting going too late but that’s offset by the 11/1 on offer. His latest effort, when failing to make an impact on the all-weather at Jebel Ali, is easy enough to overlook. 

Bubbles Wonky, chalked up at 7/1, is interesting in the opening 1m 2f Hong Kong Jockey Club Lester Piggott Handicap, not least because he’s a rare runner for Tim Easterby at the track (just three runners at Epsom in the past five seasons) and William Buick has been snapped up to ride. 

This will be Bubbles Wonky’s first run in a handicap and the assessor hasn’t done him any favours. However, this colt has shown promise in his three races closer to home and could have plenty more to offer now that he is upped from 7f because he’s shaped as if crying out for further, which tallies with a pedigree. 

Another Yorkshire raider worth a second look is Percy Shelley, trained by David O’Meara, in the perhaps aptly named Long Shot Northern Dancer Handicap. 

Percy Shelley is chalked up the outsider of the field at 25/1, having failed to pull up any trees in five starts O’Meara after showing plenty of ability in France, and that is tempting as he ran better than the bare form suggests when sixth to runaway winner Crystal Delight at York last time. 

Equipped with a first-time visor, Percy Shelley was anchored in rear racing exuberantly and never really put in the race. However, he caught the eye with the way he stayed on in the latter stages, with the sectionals showing he was second quickest over the final three furlongs. 

He’s slipped 11lb in the ratings since joining O’Meara and that run on the Knavesmore effort suggests he’s going to be taking advantage sooner, rather than later. 

Finally, I’ll be looking to play up some winnings – or get out of jail – with Apollo One in the JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap. 

This six-year-old chestnut was beaten a neck in last year’s edition and subsequently was runner-up in the Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup. 

He picked up from where he left off when runner-up in a big field at the Guineas meeting. 

Nobody could begrudge him a big win and, despite his string of big efforts, he’s only 5lb higher in the ratings than 12 months ago. I’d make him clear favourite but you can get 7/1. 

1.25 Epsom: Bubbles Wonky £2 win at 7/1 with bet365 

2.00 Epsom: Breege 7/1 £1.50 win at 15/2 with William Hill 

2.35 Epsom: Sean 11/1 £1.50 each-way at 11/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power 

2.35 Epsom: Regal Reality £1 win at a general 9/2 

3.45 Epsom: Clarendon House £2.50 win at a general 6/1 

4.30 Epsom: Macduff £2 each-way at a general 14/1(all firms offering at least four places) 

5.15 Epsom: Percy Shelley £1.75 each-way at 25/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power (four places) 

5.50 Epsom: Apollo One £2.50 win at 7/1 with SkyBet 

1.25 Epsom: Bubbles Wonky (7/1) 

3.45 Epsom: Clarendon House (6/1) 

5.50 Epsom: Apollo One (7/1) 

2.00 Epsom: Breege (7/1) 

2.35 Epsom: Sean (10/1) 

4.30 Epsom: Macduff (14/1) 

5.15 Epsom: Percy Shelley (22/1)