Epsom Tips: Saligo Bay bound to enjoy Surrey venture

Following a one-day blackout, racing in Britain returns with a bang as Doncaster’s St Leger weekend gets underway on Thursday. However, the Yorkshire venue is not the only course hosting top-class Flat action as there is an exciting seven-race card to enjoy at the iconic Epsom Downs.

They go from 13:37-17:00 in Surrey and we've got three Epsom tips - all each-way plays.

14:12 - Mafnood @ 6/1

Despite winning his third race as a novice, it has been a frustrating handicap career for MAFNOOD thus far, with plenty of near-misses but no victories from his subsequent 19 efforts.

However, there have been some positive signs of late that the elusive second win may not be too far away, especially as he has now dropped even further down the weights to a mark of 79.

His last-time-out third at Epsom made it four runs at the track without missing the frame, meaning this is the perfect place for him to finally get back to winning ways.

The booking of Jamie Spencer, who has an 18 per cent strike-rate over the past fortnight, could bring out further improvement and he should go well at a decent price.

15:18 - Saligo Bay @ 8/1

There is an intriguing twist to the card’s fourth race as the contest is a Flat heat over 1m4f in which only jockeys who specialise in jumps events take to the saddle.

Harry Cobden and Brendan Powell are among the big-name jump jockeys heading to Epsom, but it is Jonathan England’s partner, SALIGO BAY, who makes the most appeal.

A dual-code horse, Saligo Bay won two Flat races - the second over this distance - in the spring before a respectable third in the Class 3 Queen Mother’s Cup at York in June, suggesting this is well within his reach.

His latest Flat effort, a fourth of nine at Haydock, was less encouraging, but that came over 1m6f and this drop back to a trip he has won twice at, as well as a slight drop in the weights, should see him bounce back to his best in this sphere.

17:00 - Wilhelmina @ 17/2

The final race from Epsom has the second-smallest field on the card, but it may very well be the most competitive heat, with two last-time-out winners and a course-and-distance victor among the eight runners.

However, looking past the three standout contenders, WILHELMINA makes great appeal. The daughter of New Bay won over this distance at Beverley in April and, while her follow-up effort at Chester resulted in a disappointing seventh of nine, that came in a Class 4.

She drops back to Class 5 for Thursday’s content and has kept her mark of 74. Many of the other contenders have seen significant rises to their weights and the more proven Wilhelmina looks like a safer bet.

Click the links for all the latest Horse Racing Odds and Fast Racing Results

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights