3.15 Epsom

[Seen2001]

Looking at the past stats on 5f Epsom hcaps on easy ground, high drawn runners really should have the edge here. Draw - horse - Betfair odds 9 - ATLANTIC VIKING - 12.0 10 - PLATEAU - 10.5 11 - FURTHER OUTLOOK - 17.0 12 - BRAVE BURT - 8.2 13 - SIR EARNEST - 70.0 14 - WHITBARROW - 14.0 ATLANTIC VIKING seems best on fast ground so it discarded. PLATEAU went close over CD 3 runs ago but also may need faster ground. Shortlisted. FURTHER OUTLOOK is a course winner and likes cut but hasn't won a hcap for 4 years. BRAVE BURT has placed twice here and likes cut but has been well beaten the last twice. He probably found 6f too far and then possible didn't take to Chester, so shortlised. SIR EARNEST hasn't won a hcap or on a straight track and has finished last on his last two starts, which explains why he is 69/1. He does have bits of form however, including when runner-up on easy ground at Haydock in June. Might improve for this downhill track and worth a saver at those odds. WHITBARROW looks totally out of form since his last win 8 runs ago (form since reads 7709890) but he's been badly drawn on most of those starts and has the plum draw here. He likes cut and has run well on both starts here, and is probably best on an easy track like this. My idea of the winner is WHITBARROW, with the dangers being PLATEAU and BRAVE BURT. SIR EARNEST is a lively longshot. Any views?