Top commentator Simon Holt has been in fine tipping form of late and he has a 20/1 fancy in Friday's Investec Coronation Cup.
Recommended bets:
1pt e.w Marmelo in 3.10 Epsom at 20/1
1pt win Mountain Angel 3.45 Epsom at 9/2
2pts win Maqsad in 4.30 Epsom at 7/1
MAQSAD, an easy winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Guineas meeting, can prove herself the class act in Friday's Investec Oaks at Epsom.
The daughter of Siyouni cantered through the race that day on the Rowley Mile course, winning by a leisurely five lengths from Shambolic who ran well at Goodwood last Saturday, and has now won both her starts this season having previously landed a useful maiden, again at Newmarket.
Maqsad will need to prove she can stay beyond a mile and a quarter here, especially as her smart sire was a miler, but the fact that she is out of a Galileo mare offers plenty of hope. I was impressed how she travelled last time, moving into the lead on the bridle, and expect her to prove that the form of her odds-on defeat by Medaayih at Yarmouth last October was all wrong.
Since quickening clear of her rivals on soft ground in the Cheshire Oaks last month, Medaayih has been a strong market leader for this Classic though her rivals that day seemed to get in each other's way slightly on the inside.
Runner-up Manuela De Vega had to wait for a run but, even so, it's hard to envisage her making up four-and-a-half lengths on the winner here even though she looks all about stamina.
On official ratings, Medaayih has a bit to find with Maqsad yet is a much shorter price. She clearly has leading claims but I would have the same regard for her trainer John Gosden's other runner Anapurna who came six lengths clear of Tauteke to win the Lingfield Oaks Trial despite drifting badly right in the closing stages.
This lightly-raced daughter of Frankel, who appeared to take a big step forward that day after her previous maiden win on Lingfield's all-weather course, may improve again.
Aidan O'Brien's best chance appears to be with Pink Dogwood, a daughter of Camelot, who finished off well to win a listed race at Navan over a stiff mile and a quarter at the end of April.
Third placed Tarnawa, who re-opposes here, gave the form a lift when narrowly winning a Group Three at Naas subsequently.
O'Brien's other runners Delphinia, Fleeting and Peach Tree are all outsiders so Pink Dogwood, the mount of Ryan Moore, looks the main contender and, while only workmanlike during her career so far, could well improve a good deal over this extra yardage.
Meanwhile, Maqsad's trainer William Haggas, who won the Oaks with Dancing Rain in 2011, also runs the recent Musidora Stakes joint runner-up Frankellina. Another daughter of Frankel, she showed her inexperience that day when slowly into stride but kept on well in the closing stages behind Nausha in a bunch finish and looks likely to stay a mile and a half.
She should also make further progress, though this comes soon enough after York where she was making just her second racecourse appearance.
Earlier, the Investec Coronation Cup has attracted a very strong line-up with Kew Gardens, La Ti Dar and Old Persian who finished first, second and fifth respectively in last year's St Leger figuring at the top of the market.
It was a surprise to see Kew Gardens beaten so far by Morando in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester on his reappearance, but the soft ground conditions suited the winner that day and Aidan O'Brien's lovely colt could be a different proposition here.
Lah Ti Dar should also improve for her reappearance win at York over this longer trip while Old Persian won both his races at Meydan earlier in the year and looks on the up.
However, with enough runners, there could be some each-way value about MARMELO who has been a wonderfully consistent horse for Hughie Morrison and proved he is not just a stayer when landing the John Porter Stakes over this distance at Newbury first time out.
Second to Cross Counter in the Melbourne Cup at the end of last year, the six-year-old seems to get better and better and, at generous odds, could shake up a few of the others.
In the Investec Wealth & Management Handicap, MOUNTAIN ANGEL can follow up his course and distance win in last month's City And Suburban Handicap.
That form has worked out well with the second and third Aquarium and Aasheq finishing first and third at Chester subsequently while Mythical Madness (fourth) won next time at Chelmsford and Lucius Tiberius (fifth) was beaten only a neck by the much fancied UAE Prince at York.
Mountain Angel, whose trainer Roger Varian took this prize 12 months ago with Ajman King, hit the line strongly and looks the type to progress this season.
