Matt Brocklebank looks ahead to the fiercely competitive Investec Dash at Epsom on Derby day, with a 33/1 selection in the big sprint handicap.
Copper Knight was cut across the boards for the Investec Dash following his impressive victory at York's Dante Festival and he's going to be well-in under a 4lb penalty if taking up his engagement at Epsom.
Tim Easterby strongly suggested post-race on the Knavesmire that the intention is that Copper Knight will also be joined on Derby day by Copper Knight's stablemate EEH BAH GUM and it's the four-year-old who looks worth getting on side at the general 33/1 on offer.
Gate speed is essential in a race like the Dash and it's something that Eeh Bah Gum has demonstrated in the majority of his races since setting out down the handicap route for Easterby.
The gelded son of Dandy Man arrived at his current trainer rated just 56 after showing only a modicum of promise in three starts for David O'Meara, and his form simply took off last year, the horse improving 33lb after a string of progressive efforts which featured five wins.
All of those victories came at the minimum trip and four were achieved on ground officially described as good to firm - it was good ground for the other.
So pace is Eeh Bah Gum's absolute forte and while the handicapper's reaction to his steadily increased level of performance throughout 2018 was always going to make life tougher this time around, his York run was one of a horse potentially still on the up.
Prior to that, we can safely put a line through his Musselburgh comeback run (14th of 16 at 25/1) as it had rained and the draw wasn't kind at all either, and it was good to see him bounce straight back on the Knavesmire last week.
The draw might not have been ideal for him there, too, most of the action unfolding centre to far side as Rachael Richardson looked for an early position from stall 20 near the stands' side on Eeh Bah Gum.
He ran on gamely to finish just a length and three-quarters away from his stable companion in fourth and, from 4lb better off, he looks a great bet at the respective prices to reverse the form on June 1.
The other tempting one at this stage is Clive Cox's Kick On Kick On, but unfortunately he's already been pretty well found in the market at no bigger than 14/1.
He's always been quite well regarded by Cox and has got some attractive form with Copper Knight from last season having been third at Nottingham when receiving just a pound from the Easterby horse.
Kick On Kick On made a decent start to the year when third behind Stake Acclaim at Newbury and his subsequent Goodwood effort can be ignored as he was badly hampered and never really got a fair crack of the whip.
The son of Swiss Spirit is a lot better than that effort and while he's passed over at the current odds, he's definitely one to keep in mind closer to the event, especially if there's rain around which would inconvenience the majority of those towards the top of the market, as well as main selection Eeh Bah Gum.
Posted at 1230 BST on 19/05/18
Matt Brocklebank's Antepost Angle
Investec Dash - 19/05/19
- 1pt e.w. Eeh Bah Gum at 33/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4)
Investec Oaks - 12/0519
- 1pt e.w. Manuela De Vega at 33/1 (1/5 1,2,3)
Investec Derby - 23/04/19
- 1pt e.w. Mount Everest at 25/1 (1/5 1,2,3)
- 1pt e.w. Almania at 50/1 (1/5 1,2,3)
QIPCO 2000 Guineas - 08/04/19
- 1pt e.w. Skardu at 33/1 (1/5 1,2,3)
PROFIT=5.6pts
QIPCO 1000 Guineas - 15/04/19
- 1pt win Fairyland at 12/1
- 0.5pts win Zagitova at 50/1
- 0.5pts win Secret Thoughts at 33/1
LOSS=2pts
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