Races
Epsom Downs: Spring Meeting | Season Opener Preview
Epsom Downs hosts race action on Tuesday afternoon with the Spring Meeting set for a 1:45pm start
Racing returns to Epsom Downs on Tuesday afternoon with the Spring Meeting raising the curtain for flat action in Surrey in 2021.
The card gets underway at 1:45pm with the feature event taking place at 2:15pm in the form of the Blue Riband Trial, a Listed contest ran over a trip of just over one mile and two furlongs.
John & Thady Gosden’s unbeaten Uncle Bryn bids to maintain his winning streak on the Downs under Frankie Dettori, with Aidan O’Brien sending representation across the Irish Sea in the form of Hector De Maris.
2018 Derby winning trio Charlie Appleby, William Buick and Godolphin team together once again with Wirko who went one better from his Wolverhampton debut when landing a Kempton novice on his most recent start.
The same connections also boast Silent Film in the 3:20pm Spring Meeting Novice Stakes later in the afternoon, with the Lingfield successor once given recent Listed victor Highland Avenue a run for his money on debut in January.
He faces an interesting task with Simon & Ed Crisford’s Noble Patron, who finished third at Nottingham earlier this month.
The son of Sharmadal improved hugely on his only run last campaign at Lingfield and remains on the turf this Tuesday, partnered by Silvestre de Sousa.
Course-and-distance specialist Soto Sizzler returns to the Home of the Derby after duel victories here in April and June 2019, winning this race on the aforementioned date from a 9lbs lower mark.
He tackles some unexposed sorts, including Roger Varian’s Valyrian Steel, who finished fourth on handicap debut at York following two wins to kickstart his career, and he’s been given some lenience by the handicapper as a result.
The fixture concludes at 4:30pm and is the one and only race meeting at Epsom Downs until the two-day Derby Festival on Friday 4th June.
