Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Epsom

Leg 1 Selections: Twilight Madness, Rum Cocktail, Kape Moss 

A tightly-knit sprint contest for leg 1 to start the card and I will take a chance on TWILIGHT MADNESS, who completed a three-timer towards the end of last year and went close in his four-timer bid in late-December. 

He is up in grade but Hollie Doyle is booked to ride and his stable have been amongst the winners. His early speed will be a vital asset around this course. 

RUM COCKTAIL won twice for previous connections and is three pounds lower than when scoring at Goodwood in June.  She is on a nice mark and is drawn well in stall 1, so a bold performance could be on the cards. 

KAPE MOSS is largely consistent and her third at Goodwood when just behind Silky Wilkie (won since) is really strong form. She has a fine chance from a nice draw in stall 2. 

Leg 2 Selections: Epictetus

The Gosden stable has an excellent record in this race and while his price is relatively short compared to the rest, EPICTETUS sets a clear standard and should be extremely hard to beat. 

He beat no fewer than three subsequent winners on debut at Newmarket and was a neck second in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes before filling the same spot in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster. 

This is by far easier, so it would come as a major shock if Frankie Dettori couldn’t ride him to straightforward success before bigger assignments await later into the season. 

Leg 3 Selections: Harrovian, Rhythmic Intent, Fantastic Fox 

HARROVIAN posted some good efforts on the all-weather over the winter and while he wasn’t at his best at Newcastle last time, he is the class act in the field and is more than capable of being competitive off this mark at this level.

The fitness of RHYTHMIC INTENT has to be taken on trust after an absence but his last start saw him finish third in this grade off a pound higher mark and has the capabilities to run well off this mark (last win was off a mark of 95). 

FANTASTIC FOX had excuses when finishing last at Chelmsford and is better judged on his third at this course at last year’s Derby meeting, which came off a pound higher mark. He has gone well fresh (third to Snow Lantern and Derab) and could be ready to go close. 

Leg 4 Selections: Captain Kane, Dark Pine

George Scott has an impressive 20% strike-rate at this course and CAPTAIN KANE, who is three-from-six over this distance and is drawn well in stall 6. He has a good rider in the plate and is only three pounds higher than when third at Thirsk. He could pose a threat in leg 4. 

DARK PINE has only competed twice this year but he should improve from those efforts and he placed twice last year off marks of 96 and 97, so his initial mark of 90 makes him very well treated. His last win was off a three pounds higher mark, so he is more than capable. 

Leg 5 Selections: Hey Lyla 

Charlie Johnston’s HEY LYLA is taken to land leg 5, who has made the frame in all of her last five starts and her previous second on the turf to Dreams Of Love reads well in the context of this assignment. 

She could get an uncontested lead if William Buick can get a good start out of her from stall 1. She is more exposed than most but brings the best form to the table of those with experience and is the one to beat. 

Leg 6 Selections: Rule Of Thumb, Serious Look

RULE OF THUMB has taken a step forward from his debut effort in his two recent starts and makes his handicap debut from a nice mark plus his stable do well at this venue too. He is drawn nicely in 4 and could improve enough to give a few of these something to think about. 

SERIOUS LOOK ran a satisfactory race to finish fifth at Nottingham last time and he won very easily on his only previous visit to the course. I think he remains well-handicapped off 80 and William Buck rides, so he could have the ammunition to defy top-weight in leg 6.