held up, outpaced 3f out, weakened 2f out
behind, driven over 2f out, never near leaders
soon led, headed 8f out, tracked leaders, ridden to lead again over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
tracked leader, disputed lead over 5f out, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd inside final furlong
behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to chase winner inside final furlong, always held
behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
led early, tracked leaders, led again 8f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, lost place 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, soon lost place, weakened 2f out
EPSOM SALTS loves it here and is taken to make it a hat-trick of Derbies at the main expense of Worth A King's. The selection will need a career best to score off a mark of 79, but he has already carried Serena Brotherton home in front over course and distance in the Ladies' Derby and Sam Thomas to success in the jump jockeys¿ equivalent this season when the ground was slightly quicker. 2m 2f proved well beyond the bounds of his stamina at Newmarket last time, but returning to this place will surely see him to much better effect and the ground should not be a problem, so we will side with him. Worth A King's caught the eye when winning comfortably on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton last time, and on the evidence of that effort he should remain hugely competitive from a mark of 80 today. He acts on the ground, and the drop back in trip should not be a major problem, so it would be no surprise if he were good enough. Ethics Girl is worth a try at this trip for the first time but looks in the grip of the handicapper at the moment, while Turjuman is just 3lbs higher than when scoring on good ground over this trip at Windsor and should not be far away. Tilos Gem is respected given his connections and pilot, after a good first try over 1m 4f at Newbury last month. Free Tussy has a 4lb pull for being beaten two-and-a-half lengths by the selection here in September, and now that the yard is back among the winners the Gary Moore inmate can get very competitive, though preference remains with course specialist Epsom Salts.
Epsom Salts 20-1 (8-3) Held up well in rear, ridden 4f out, headway 2f out, went remote 3rd over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Bernie The Bolt (7-12) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Sir Boss (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Took keen hold, held up in rear on outside, effort over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 10, 14l behind The Which Doctor (9-8) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Worth A King's 11-4 (9-7) Led early, chased leader, led over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep beating Dice (9-9) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Tilos Gem (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Sweet Hollow (8-12) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Ethics Girl (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 4l behind Ordoney (9-3) at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Free Tussy (ARG) 7-2 (11-1) In touch, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, edged left and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, shd behind Astronomical (10-7) at Nottingham 1m 2f am hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sep.
Turjuman (USA) 9-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, weakened entering final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Trachonitis (8-13) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Locum 9-1 (10-4) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway 3f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Crossbow Creek (11-6) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Taste The Wine (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 8, 4l behind Stormy Morning (9-3) at Bath 1m 5f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
