Epsom Tips: Gosden’s happy to play Devil’s Advocate in Classic Trial

Lots more racing action in store on Tuesday, including the start of a new season at Epsom, one of five UK meetings alongside Yarmouth and Thirsk on the Flat and jumps card at Kelso and Hereford. It's the start of a brand new season on the Epsom Downs and that means the Betfred Blue Riband Trial (14:10) is taking centre stage as some possible Classic hopefuls strut their stuff.

They race at Epsom from 13:35-17:00 on Tuesday, with conditions forecast to be 'good-good to firm in places on the sprint course' and below are my horse racing tips for Tuesday.

13:35  – Michaela's Boy @ 10/1

The opening Betfred Handicap over five-furlongs could be a decent chance for MICHAELA'S BOY to get an overdue second win on turf.

The Ribchester gelding has four all-weather wins from 13 starts compared to just one turf win in 17 previous attempts.

He has, though, spent much of the last two seasons competing in valuable sprint handicaps from marks in the high 90s when trained by Mick Appleby.

He moved to Robert Cowell last year and went close first time out at Newbury (5f, good to firm) in August after a wind op.

He's won at Lingfield and Wolverhampton on the synthetics during the winter months and ran well at the latter venue last month finishing a close third.

Michaela's Boy is back on grass now rated 1lb lower, taking his place off 89 here, and he looks to hold solid claims with Sean Levey on board for the first time.

Money back as a Free Bet if your horse finishes 2nd. T&Cs Apply.

14:10 – Devil's Advocate @ 5/2

Aidan O'Brien sends Trinity College to Epsom for this Blue Riband Trial, the Ballydoyle trainer seeking to add to his win with Cape Of Good Hope in 2019.

The Dubawi colt benefits from plenty of experience, more than his six rivals, but could be vulnerable.

John Gosden has been responsible for the winner of this contest five times since 2015, most recently when Epictetus scored in 2023 providing the Clarehaven handler with a first win in conjunction with son Thady on their joint license.

They saddle DEVIL'S ADVOCATE now, a Godolphin-owned colt by Too Darn Hot that will have William Buick in the plate.

There was promise in his Newmarket debut (1m2f, good to soft) back in September as he finished third despite getting a bit unbalanced and looking quite raw in the dip.

Devil's Advocate stepped up to 1m2f at Chelmsford in October and blew away four rivals under Robert Havlin. The second, third and fourth have won four races between them since.

He's got more on his plate rising in grade now but this promising colt can extend an already excellent recent record for the Clarehaven team in this race.

This is an Extra Place Race, meaning that Betfred will be paying 3 Places (1/5 Odds) instead of 2. T&Cs Apply.

17:00 – Port Road @ 4/1

The finale is the Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Handicap over the extended-mile trip and recent Brighton scorer Kracking may prove popular for the Stuart Williams yard. He won well at the Seaside track and that form should translate well to this venue, but he's 7lb higher in a stronger grade now.

Simon Dow's PORT ROAD is preferred on his turf bow. The four-year-old hasn't been with this trainer long and has finished second in handicaps at Kempton over 7f and Lingfield over a mile in his last two starts, with the form of both contests advertised positively since.

He's 0-9 so far but has time on his side and he should be getting his head in front before long, with a mark of 74 clearly in his wheelhouse for this first turf start.

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