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14:40 Epsom Downs

Vodafone Diomed Stakes (Class A)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 114y
  • Going: Good
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 1m 41.37s
  • 10 Ran
1(7)
Silk - Dark Blue, Yellow spots, Yellow sleeves, Dark Blue armlets and spots on Yellow cap

Atavus

26
12/1
  • Form 050-462
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-4

led, steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened rapidly over 1f out

2(10)
Silk - Royal blue

Blatant

26
5/1
  • Form 2112-3
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-4

chased leaders, driven well over 1f out, soon beaten

3(6)
Silk - Red, Orange chevron, sleeves and cap
  • Form 2024-03
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-4

held up, ridden 3f out, never able to challenge

4(4)
Silk - ORANGE, BLACK hoop, WHITE cap
  • Form 4020-40
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-4

held up, not handle downhill into straight, soon behind

5(2)
Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue epaulets

Dupont

42
6/1
  • Form 11440-0
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-4

in touch, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened

6(9)
Silk - Yellow, Dark Blue chevron and armlets

Gateman

20
13/2
  • Form 3230-23
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-4

pressed leader, led 2f out, driven final furlong, ran on well

7(3)
Silk - Royal Blue, Yellow chevron, Yellow cap, Royal Blue spots
  • Form 1/1002-0
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-4

held up in touch, headway over 1f out, ridden, edged left and disputed 2nd inside final furlong, one pace final 100yds

8(11)
Silk - Royal Blue, Red star, Red sleeves, Royal Blue stars, Royal Blue cap, Red stars
  • Form 30-0035
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-4

held up in rear and well off pace, headway 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on final 100yds, no chance with winner

9(8)
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, ORANGE disc, ORANGE and ROYAL BLUE striped sleeves and cap

Smirk

42
5/1
  • Form 151-032
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-4

in touch, not handle downhill into straight, soon lost place and behind

10(1)
Silk - Red, White sash, Royal Blue cap
  • Form 3411-50
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-6

tracked leaders, switched left to inside rail over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong

11(5)
NR
  • Form 2-111
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-6

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

The 2002 Craven winner, King Of Happiness, can bounce back to his best and land the Diomed Stakes, with his main rivals possibly being Atavus and Gateman. In fairness, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Spinning World has been disappointing overall since then but his patient trainer looks to have earmarked him for this and the hint should be taken. His best recent effort was beaten a short head by Atavus in a Group 3 event last season, and he's now four pounds worse off. However, we'll take a chance that his trainer's patience will be rewarded. Atavus is one of only two course winners in the race although his best trip is arguably seven furlongs. The other course winner is Gateman, narrowly beaten by Tillerman in a Group 3 event at Leicester this season, and he too should go well. David Loder runs Excellento, one of only two three-year-olds in the contest but, much as he's improving, he will need to do so again to win here. Godolphin run Blatant, who also needs to show a little more than on his Windsor return, admittedly when his stable were a little out of sorts. Battle Chant and dual Classic winner Dupont came into the season with big reputations and need to start delivering now. Reel Buddy is capable of nicking some place money if at his best and last year's Guineas seventh, one of two Gerard Butler runners, also adds spice to the event. On jockey bookings, the Group 2 placed Common World would seem to represent his stronger entry.