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Friday 31 May 2013

The Investec Specialist Bank "Dash" - Epsom



The Investec Specialist Bank "Dash" - Epsom
History :
Draw Record last 5 years :
2012 - 2, 16, 15, 3 (20 ran) Good to Firm - 53.69s
2011 - 9, 13, 10, 1 (16) Good to Firm - 54.30s
2010 - 15, 14, 16, 9 (19) Good to Firm - 54.22s
2009 - 18, 12, 11, 1 (18) Good to Firm - 54.67s
2008 - 8, 19, 12, 17 (19) Good - 55.33s
Age of Winner - 4, 6, 6, 9, 6
2012 : 1st Stone of Folca, 2nd Desert Law, 3rd Catfish, 4th Taajub
2011 : 1st Captain Dunne, 2nd Confessional, 3rd La Fortunata, 4th Sohraab
2010 : 1st Bertoliver, 2nd Hawkeyethenoo, 3rd Rocket Bob, 4th Judge N'Jury
2012 Review : The winner was having his first start since being gelded and was on a handy mark as he had been dropped 6lb from his last run in 2011. He was quickly away from his low draw and crossed over to take position in the front rank before taking over a furlong and a half out, keeping on strongly to win by half a length.
Going - Good to Firm
Time - 53.69s ( 0.09sec outside the hand-timed track record, recorded by Indigenous back in 1960)
20 ran
Dandy Nicholls has a good record in this race having had the winner in 02, 03, 05 and 09. His 41 runners have brought 4 wins and 5 places.

EPSOM DOWNS - Flat (Updated:31/05/2013 at 17:23:57)
GoingGood to Soft, Good in Places
(GoingStick: Derby Course 7.1 , 5f Course 7.3 on Friday at 17:00)
Stalls5f - Stands Side
WeatherExpected to remain dry overnight and Saturday - circa 17 degrees.

Trainers Comments :
Duke of Firenze - Sir Michael Stoute
"He seems to be OK over five furlongs. A few things went wrong at York. He bumped his head then Ryan lost an iron. We wouldn't be frightened to step back up to six, but it's an interesting race. He came out of York OK so we'll have another go - with sprinters you can go from race to race. We haven't discounted six but as he's in, we may as well have a go."

Ajjaadd - Ted Powell
"It was a brilliant run last time and I wasn't really expecting it. The horse is fit and well and anything can happen in the Dash. You have just got to have faith. I'm happy with the draw (stall nine). I don't think you want to be too tight against the rails on Derby day with all the crowds, even if the ground is slightly better. We've won on soft before so the ground is not a worry and although we've lost Willy Twiston-Davies and his claim, I'm happy enough to have Kieran O'Neill on the horse as he knows him well."

Humidor - George Baker
"We're looking forward to it and I think he has got a pretty reasonable draw. The horse is in good form at home and deserves to win one of these big races after running so well in Group company. I think we are on the right side of the track and I couldn't be happier with the horse. He is taking a slight dip in company as he's running in a £100,000 handicap rather than taking on 115-rated runners in a Group Three. He's at the top end of the handicap but there's nothing in there that you would be running away from."

Captain Dunne - Tim Palin
"He kind of lost his way a bit last season but we found he had a breathing problem, we had it operated on and he seems to be back on form now. That problem means he's actually fairly well handicapped for this as he's on 95 when he won off 105 two years ago. We were delighted with his run at Chester and we would be quietly confident here. His draw in 18 looks ideal as David (Allan, jockey) will be able to break and get over to the rail and then it should be typical catch-me-if-you-can style from Captain Dunne. He will be able to handle the ground and everything seems to play to his strengths here. There's plenty of others in there, Sir Michael Stoute's horse and Smoothtalkinrascal, amongst others, but it would be great if we could get a one-two."