4th-Aug-2023

Nostrum is the correct favourite for this, but I think that Epictetus should be closer to him in the betting than he is.

The Gosdens’ horse was a high-class juvenile last season, he finished second in the Autumn Stakes and he finished second to Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity Trophy on his final run last term, and he won the Blue Riband Derby Trial at Epsom on his first run this term.

He hasn’t won again since, but he has been highly tried, he ran in the Dante and in the French Derby, and he ran better than his finishing position in 13^th place suggests in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.  He was up there early with a fast pace in a race in which the hold-up horses came to the fore.  It was understandable that he would weaken late on.

He is interesting now here, dropping back down to a mile for the first time this season.  That is the distance over which he put up the best performances of his career last season and, if it brings about a little improvement, he could give Nostrum a real race.  His draw in stall one is ideal.

EPICTETUS WON (ADV 8/1, SP 6/1)