Tips and odds for Epsom's competitive Handicap races There are two Group 1 races on Epsom’s Friday card, the Coronation Cup and the Oaks, but the handicap action is also worth looking forward to. We’ve got three thoroughly competitive races to look at, all run over varying distances. We have had a close look at the action and provided selections and analysis for each handicap race. These include a John & Thady Gosden runner in the £100,000 Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap. Paddy Power Epsom Betting Offer If you already have a Paddy Power account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses 3.15 Epsom - 1m2f Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) The fourth race on the card is the first handicap and the lightly raced four-year-old MUTAAWID is hard to look past. Trained by John & Thady Gosden, the son of Frankel made a very good impression when winning a Class 2 Kempton novice by six lengths in July. He ran well enough on handicap debut at Ascot after that, finishing fourth in a very competitive 1m4f event. Mutaawid was then probably unfortunate with the draw at Yarmouth after that and could only manage sixth of eight on the day. He appeared to need the run when fifth at Goodwood on seasonal debut and his demolition job at Newmarket last time out proved that to be the case. The handicapper has put him up 10lb but that might not be enough and he could be a Group horse in a handicap. Selection: Mutaawid 4.35 Epsom - 1m 1 / 2 f Trustatrader Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105) This looks like a thoroughly competitive race and there are several candidates on the shortlist. It’s William Muir & Chris Grassick’s EBT’S GUARD that gets the nod, however, with all three of his career successes having come over a mile and he’s been in good form this year. The son of Cable Bay began the season with a game victory at Newbury in April. Hitting the front with a furlong or so to go, he kept on well to hold off his rivals and score by a neck. A 4lb rise was probably fair with that in mind and the 7f trip wouldn’t have suited at Ascot. It was a much better performance when third at Newbury last month and although a 1lb rise isn’t too helpful, he should run his race once again. Favourite Flight Plan deserves his place at the head of the market but Ebt’s Guard is more than capable of challenging here. Selection: Ebt’s Guard 5.10 Epsom - 7f Debenhams Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-100) This race is open to three-year-olds, who get a pretty significant 10lb allowance, but only one lines up here. MAJESTIC WAVE represents the Simon Dow yard and as the only recipient of that aforementioned allowance, he could well be the one to side with. Dow’s colt was a consistent performer for John O’Donoghue in Ireland last summer and placed several times before getting off the mark in a Navan maiden on his final start for previous connections, where he got the better of the now 80-rated Chester Nimitz. His fourth in an All-Weather Championships qualifier at Lingfield in February was a very good effort, especially as it was his stable and seasonal debut. He’ll need to improve on his two subsequent runs but remains lightly raced in handicaps and has been dropped 1lb. Selection: Majestic Wave
