Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Hoping for a Sweet Reward at Epsom

The broadcaster and journalist casts his expert eye over the card at Epsom.

Epsom, Friday

ORBAAN looks sure to at least run a bold race (2.35pm). He has run two belters in this the last two years, latterly off a much higher mark than today’s. He’s not getting any better, but he comes here in very good heart judged on his most recent run, and it is worth noting de Sousa’s excellent record at this track – 50 winners at a 20% strike rate.

FEED THE FLAME looks to have a golden opportunity to win over some UK fans in the Coronation Cup (3.10pm). He was a smart winner of the Grand Prix de Paris last year before going over the top somewhat in the autumn. His two runs this season (the second much better) have been over an inadequate test in falsely run races and – with Hamish in the field – he should have a sustained gallop to run at. The small matter of Emily Upjohn stands in his way, but she has not replicated her win in this race last year in her subsequent efforts, and easy ground isn’t ideal.

SWEET REWARD has claims in the 10-furlong handicap (3.45pm). The Burke pair are tough here, with Bolster preferred of the duo, but the selection gets chunks of weight at a course that he loves, on the ground that he enjoys, and with the strong possibility of the run of the race.

YOU GOT TO ME has appealed to me as an Oaks winner since her trial (4.30pm). Indications from inside the Beckett camp are that she isn’t the flashiest worker of his quartet, but there was something quite unusual about the way in which she set herself against her rider at Lingfield, yet just kept rolling relentlessly. That untested form ostensibly requires significant improvement, but second and fourth are both strongly fancied here, and she ground them into submission. She might perhaps prefer a drying morning.