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TV TIPS (FRIDAY)

14:00 Epsom Richard Hannon has won three of the last four renewals of the Woodcote and looks to have a cracking chance of adding to this impressive tally with his runner De Bruyne Horse, who beat a highly regarded Charlie Appleby runner by seven lengths at Ripon in May. A similar run here would see him very tough to beat. The trainer also saddles Campion who, although the stable second-string looking at jockey bookings, has improved with each of her three career runs so far and finished strongly when winning at Bath last time out so could improve further now upped in trip. Zap and Holdenhurst are both proven over todays’ trip but the bigger danger looks to be Cardsharp who won on debut before another decent effort next time out and races for Mark Johnston who has also won this race a couple of times in recent years. De Bruyne Horse (WIN) – NAP

14:35 Epsom Sixties Groove has course form having won by seven lengths over a slightly further trip here last summer, however returns from a seven month break off a 7lbs higher mark and usually needs his first run following a break. G K Chesterton has placed twice over todays’ trip but both career victories came on soft ground so despite being the early favourite may be worth taking on unless we have a change in the ground conditions. John Gosden has won eight from twenty two in the last three years at Epsom so top-weight Remarkable is worth a second look but i’m opting for Mutarakez who won a class 2 handicap off a mark of 95 and notched up a hat-trick of victories earlier in his career so racing off a mark of 88 today looks a decent each way option at early odds of around 8/1. Mutarakez (E/W)

15:10 Epsom Aidan O’Brien saddles three here in a bid to improve his already impressive record of six wins from the last ten renewals of this race. If jockey bookings are to be followed then Highland Reel, the choice of Ryan Moore, looks the most likely of his trio to prove successful. Career victories include the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Hong Kong Vase but he needs to bounce back from a poor run at Meydan when last seen and his price doesn’t represent value to me. Hawkbill was an impressive winner at Newbury a few weeks ago and has Group 1 winning form but really needs soft ground to be at his best so preference is for John Gosden’s Journey who has won his last three, has excellent form over today’s trip with four wins and a second from five runs and has previously won on return from a break so shouldn’t be found wanting for fitness. Journey (WIN)

15:45 Epsom A tough race to be overly confident in any selection, specially when considering the last two winners obliged at odds of 25/1 and 16/1. Fidaawy won well on seasonal re-appearance and maintains the partnership with Jim Crowley who has an excellent strike rate when riding for Sir Michael Stoute, however has been beaten twice in this grade previously and looks worth taking on. J J Quinn has won three from eight here in the last twelve months so his runner Speed Company deserves respect, while Imshivalla returns to defend her crown but hasn’t won in thirteen races since and with just one win from sixteen runs over todays’ trip she doesn’t inspire too much confidence. Grapevine is a rather tentative considering the competitive nature of this race however has made the frame in five from seven over ten furlongs and won over course and distance the only other time he has visited Epsom so looks to have a decent each way chance. Grapevine (E/W)

16:30 Epsom We reach the feature race of the day and another in which Aidan O’Brien has an excellent recent record, winning three of the last five. It is worth noting that half of the last ten renewals have produced winners of 20/1 or higher yet in this instance I find it very difficult to get away from the favourite Rhododendron. This is a big step up in trip but she has already won at Group 2 and Group 1 level and was only a couple of lengths behind stablemate Winter in the 1000 Guineas last month. Alluringly was put in her place by Enable when they met at Chester last month and the John Gosden trained filly should be able to confirm this form again here but Coronet beat a couple of useful opponents in Cunco and Permian at Newmarket last year and placed in a Group 1 in France on seasonal re-appearance so rates as the main danger and looks a reasonable each-way alternative to the favourite. Rhododendron (WIN)

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